About this role
Help Families Grow Stronger! Join Four Oaks as a Functional Family Specialist!
Make a Difference Where It Matters Most – Helping Families Build Stronger Futures!
Are you passionate about helping children and families? Do you believe that with the right support, guidance, and encouragement, families can overcome challenges and build healthier relationships?
At Four Oaks, we believe every family deserves the opportunity to succeed, and sometimes all it takes is having the right person in their corner.
We're looking for a compassionate, motivated, and dedicated Functional Family Specialist to join our team serving families throughout Iowa's 2nd Judicial District!
If you're looking for a career where you can build meaningful relationships, help families work through challenges, and see the difference your work makes, this could be the opportunity for you!
More Than a Job. An Opportunity to Strengthen Families!
As a Functional Family Specialist, you'll work directly with families who have adolescents ages 10–18, helping them improve communication, strengthen relationships, and develop healthier ways to navigate challenges.
Using the Functional Family Therapy (FFT) model, you'll meet with families in their homes, assess family interactions, develop interventions, and help them work toward their individual treatment goals.
You'll have the opportunity to see families grow, celebrate their progress, and help them develop the tools they need to move forward together.
This isn't about simply telling families what to do. It's about meeting them where they are, understanding their challenges, and helping them recognize their own strengths.
What You'll Do
Every family has a different story, and every day brings an opportunity to make a positive impact!
Here's what your day-to-day could look like:
- Build meaningful connections! Develop trusting relationships with families while creating a supportive environment where everyone feels heard and respected.
- Meet families where they are! Provide at least one hour of home-based family therapy each week, working around family availability.
- Help families grow stronger! Use the Functional Family Therapy model to support families with adolescents ages 10–18.
- Turn challenges into opportunities! Assess family interactions, identify areas for growth, and develop interventions based on individualized treatment plans.
- Celebrate progress! Monitor treatment goals, recognize improvements, and help families continue building on their successes.
- Make a lasting impact! Manage a caseload of approximately 10–15 families, providing services over an estimated 8–26 weeks.
- Connect families with resources! Help identify community services and support systems that can contribute to long-term success.
- Keep everyone moving forward! Participate in case planning, progress evaluations, permanency planning, and discharge planning.
- Work together for success! Collaborate with schools, medical and mental health providers, referring workers, and other community partners.
- Stay organized! Maintain accurate case documentation, treatment updates, and discharge records.
- Be flexible! Adjust your schedule to meet with families when they're available and able to participate.
Who We're Looking For
We're looking for someone who understands that helping families make positive changes takes patience, compassion, consistency, and a willingness to see the bigger picture.
Someone who:
- Has a passion for working with adolescents and families.
- Enjoys building relationships and helping others work through challenges.
- Has strong communication, listening, and problem-solving skills.
- Can assess family dynamics and help develop meaningful treatment goals.
- Is comfortable working independently and providing services in family homes.
- Understands the importance of maintaining professional boundaries while building trust.
- Can manage multiple cases while staying organized and meeting documentation requirements.
- Enjoys collaborating with schools, service providers, and community partners.
- Is flexible with scheduling to meet the needs of families.
- Believes families have strengths worth building on, even during difficult times.
Why This Role Matters
Sometimes the biggest changes start with the smallest moments.
A parent and teenager finally having a conversation without arguing.
A family learning how to work through a disagreement instead of shutting down.
A young person beginning to feel heard and understood.
Or a family realizing they have the tools to work through challenges together.
As a Functional Family Specialist, you'll have the opportunity to help create those moments.
Your work isn't just about meeting treatment goals. It's about helping families build healthier relationships and develop skills they can continue using long after services end.
Why Four Oaks?
At Four Oaks, we believe strong families help build stronger communities.
Our work is centered around supporting children, strengthening families, and helping individuals overcome challenges so they can move toward brighter futures.
You'll be part of a team that values compassion, collaboration, professional growth, and making a meaningful difference in the communities we serve.
We understand that this work can be challenging, but we also know how rewarding it can be to see a family make progress and begin moving forward together.
Ready to Help Families Write Their Next Chapter?
If you're looking for a meaningful career where you can use your skills to support families, build relationships, and help create lasting positive change, we'd love to hear from you!
Every family deserves someone who believes in their potential.
Could that someone be you?
Apply today and join Four Oaks as a Functional Family Specialist serving Iowa's 2nd Judicial District!
Four Oaks – Expect Success!
Qualifications
What you need:
A Bachelors degree in psychology, sociology, social work, human services, criminal justice or a related field is needed for this position. Prior experience in family therapy or youth services preferable but, not required.