Family Support Specialist

Job Summary: The Family Support Specialist provides education, guidance, advocacy, and individualized support to expecting and parenting individuals and families. Through one-on-one case management, educational programming, and community collaboration, the Family Support Specialist empowers participants to make informed decisions regarding pregnancy, parenting, and adoption while building the knowledge, confidence, and life skills needed to achieve healthy family outcomes.

The Family Support Specialist connects participants with prenatal care, parenting education, housing, financial assistance, childcare, healthcare, and other community resources. The position promotes family stability by supporting participants from pregnancy through early parenthood, providing strengths-based services that encourage healthy child development, positive parenting practices, and personal goal achievement.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

- Provides individualized education, support, and case management to expecting and parenting individuals and families by:

- Responding promptly and compassionately to referrals, telephone calls, emails, and other inquiries.

- Completing assessments to identify participant strengths, needs, barriers, and goals.

- Developing individualized service plans that promote healthy pregnancies, positive parenting, and family stability.

- Providing education regarding pregnancy, childbirth, parenting, child development, infant care, healthy relationships, co-parenting, and adoption as appropriate.

- Assisting participants in accessing community resources including prenatal care, healthcare, housing, food assistance, childcare, education, employment, transportation, financial assistance, and behavioral health services.

- Providing ongoing encouragement, advocacy, problem-solving, and follow-up to support participants in achieving their goals.

- Maintaining regular contact with participants through office visits, home visits, virtual meetings, telephone calls, and other approved methods.

- Provides adoption education and support by:

- Offering unbiased education regarding adoption as one of several pregnancy options when appropriate.

- Assisting participants requesting adoption information by explaining the adoption process and available services.

- Coordinating referrals and services related to adoption planning in accordance with NCHS policies and applicable laws.

- Facilitates educational programming by:

- Planning and conducting parenting education classes, support groups, and workshops.

- Utilizing approved evidence-based or agency-approved curricula.

- Encouraging participant engagement and creating a welcoming, inclusive learning environment.

- Maintains accurate and timely documentation by:

- Completing assessments, case notes, service plans, referrals, and program documentation according to agency standards.

- Maintaining confidential participant records in compliance with agency policies, HIPAA, and applicable state and federal regulations.

- Collecting required program outcomes and reporting data.

- Collaborates with community partners by:

- Building and maintaining relationships with healthcare providers, schools, social service agencies, community organizations, and other referral partners.

- Coordinating services to ensure participants receive comprehensive support.

- Participating in multidisciplinary meetings and community collaborations as appropriate.

- Conducts outreach and community education by:

- Representing NCHS at schools, healthcare facilities, community organizations, resource fairs, and public events.

- Providing presentations regarding Family Support services, healthy parenting, pregnancy resources, and available community supports.

- Assisting with program promotion and participant recruitment.

- Maintains professional competency by:

- Participating in ongoing training, continuing education, and professional development opportunities.

- Maintaining required certifications or licensure, if applicable.

- Remaining current on best practices related to pregnancy, parenting, early childhood development, family support, and trauma-informed care.

- Demonstrates professionalism by:

- Adhering to confidentiality and ethical standards.

- Demonstrating respect, cultural humility, and sensitivity toward individuals of diverse backgrounds and experiences.

- Participating in Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) activities.

Supplemental Duties and Responsibilities:

- Commitment to NCHS mission, vision, values, CQI initiatives, and strategic plan goals.

- Maintain a positive and cooperative relationship with internal and external professionals.

- Participation in agency committees as assigned.

- Positive representation of NCHS in all community settings.

- Ability to interpret and abide by NCHS policies and procedures.

- Embracing and championing NCHSs mission, values and culture.

- Other duties as assigned by the supervisor and/or director.

- Bilingual (preferred)

Qualifications and Requirements:

- Minimum education and experience:

- Bachelor's degree in Social Work, Counseling, Human Services, Psychology, Family Studies, or a related field (required).

- One (1) to three (3) years of experience providing case management, family support, pregnancy services, parenting education, or related direct client services (preferred).

- Experience working with diverse populations and community resources preferred.

- An equivalent combination of education and experience will be considered.

- Knowledge, skills, and abilities:

- Knowledge of pregnancy, parenting, infant and child development, family systems, and community resources that support healthy family outcomes.

- Understanding of trauma-informed, strengths-based, and family-centered practices, with experience working with or providing services to children and families who have experienced trauma.

- Belief that families are the experts in their own lives and that individuals and families have the capacity to grow, learn, and achieve their goals with appropriate support.

- Commitment to creating a welcoming, inclusive environment that embraces diversity, equity, belonging, and cultural humility when serving individuals and families from diverse backgrounds.

- Ability to establish trusting, respectful, and supportive relationships while maintaining appropriate professional boundaries.

- Ability to engage individuals and families who may be hesitant to participate in services by building rapport and fostering meaningful participation.

- Knowledge of community resources and the ability to advocate for participants by coordinating services, making referrals, and assisting with access to healthcare, housing, education, employment, childcare, financial assistance, and other supports.

- Ability to assess participant strengths and needs, analyze situations objectively, develop individualized service plans, and make sound recommendations while recognizing when consultation or additional support is needed.

- Ability to work independently, exercise sound judgment, prioritize responsibilities, manage multiple participants and projects simultaneously, and meet established deadlines.

- Strong verbal, written, interpersonal, and presentation skills with the ability to communicate effectively with participants, families, community partners, and multidisciplinary teams.

- Ability to establish and maintain collaborative working relationships with internal staff, community agencies, healthcare providers, schools, and other stakeholders.

- Ability to read, analyze, interpret, and accurately complete forms, reports, assessments, policies, and other documentation while maintaining thorough and timely case records.

- Ability to respond professionally and effectively to participant, community partner, and agency inquiries while maintaining confidentiality and compliance with agency policies and applicable regulations.

- Proficiency in Microsoft 365 Office Suite and the ability to learn and utilize agency software, electronic documentation systems, and other technology applications.

- Ability to engage in reflective practice, seek supervision appropriately, incorporate feedback, and participate in ongoing professional growth and Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) activities.

- Ability to work effectively as both an independent contributor and collaborative team member while supporting NCHS's mission, values, and culture.

- Valid driver's license, reliable transportation, current automobile insurance, and the ability to successfully complete a National Safety Council-approved defensive driving course.

- Physical Demand :

- The ability to frequently communicate with NCHS team members and community partnerships.

- Able to inspect written communication and respond to directions and hazards.

- Able to move equipment weighing up to 35 pounds.

- Occasionally ascends/descends stairs in the building and home structures.

- Able to operate a computer and other office equipment.

- Able to remain in a stationary position and move about different work environments.

- This position requires access to reliable and safe transportation. A copy of insurance and registration will be required upon hiring.

- Schedule Demands:

a. Ability to adjust normal work schedule to accommodate the needs of participants, including some possible evening and weekend work.

- Site factors (work location, environment, travel, etc.):

Work in office setting and/or remotely.

- Local travel will be required with state-wide travel on occasion for meetings.

Note: The physical demands and work environment characteristics described above are representative of those that will be encountered by a person performing the essential duties and responsibilities of this job. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential job functions.

Compensation is based on education and experience.

Benefits and Perks of Working at NCHS:

- We observe 7 paid holidays each calendar year

- Team members are awarded an additional 2 days to use as floating holidays

- All team members enjoy generous amounts of flexible time off with accrued vacation, paid sick time, and well-being days.

- NCHS contributes 5% of your salary after one year of employment towards your 401k; full vestment after 5 years.

- Referral bonuses for team members who refer qualified candidates

- Medical, dental, vision, disability, and life insurance

- Company paid Dental, Life, STD and LTD for team members

- 5 free counseling sessions each year through our Employee Assistance Program

- Hybrid schedule for most positions