Healthy Families - Family Support Specialist

Rooted in our Christian faith, Bethany Christian Services works to ensure children are safe, loved, and connected through family. Across 29 states, we strengthen families, support foster care and adoption, and walk alongside refugees with compassion. Here, living out your faith means using your gifts to bring hope and make a lasting impact.

Working at Bethany means joining a team of dedicated professionals with diverse skills, serving communities across the country. Together, we’re united in our Christian mission and these shared values: We’re motivated by our faith, we support one another, we champion justice, we pursue excellence, and we’re in it for the long haul.  As a Family Support Specialist, you’ll help carry this mission forward and make a meaningful impact every day.

How Your Role Makes a Difference

• Initiate and maintain regular and long-term (up to three or five years) contact and support with families, occurring primarily within the family’s home with each visit lasting for at least one hour to identify strengths, priorities, needs, and goals. Virtual visits may take place as needed;
• Interventions should be family-centered, strength-based, and directed at establishing a trusting relationship, strengthening the parent-child relationship, promoting healthy childhood growth and development, and enhancing family well-being by reducing risk and building protective factors;
• Assist families in identifying realistic, meaningful, and achievable goals, identifying steps and resources necessary to achieve their goals based upon each family's strengths, needs, culture, circumstances, goals, and preferences;
• Document home visits, family contacts, screenings, assessments, family goals, referrals, followup activities, and other required services;
• Support families through transitions, changes in circumstances, and challenges that may affect participation;
• Support parents and caregivers in developing nurturing, responsive, and developmentally appropriate relationships with their children;
• Promote positive parent-child interaction, attachment, bonding, and responsive caregiving;
• Increase parent and caregiver knowledge of infant and child development, developmental milestones, and age-appropriate expectations;
• Administer the Family Resilience and Opportunities for Growth Scale (FROG) Scale as needed, and screening tools such as the ASQ, ASQ-SE, Depression Screens etc.;
• Identify and refer families for other supportive services, including health care services;
• Implement activities outlined on the Family Service Plan to address areas of concern that were identified on the FROG scale;
• Stay abreast of all agency, federal, and state regulatory requirements related to social services;
• Essential job responsibilities may vary based on the specific needs of each program/department;
• May be required or asked to participate in a Bethany sponsored event;
• Complete other duties as assigned.

What Will Make You Successful

• High School Diploma or equivalent;
• Bachelor’s level degree in Human Services, Social Work or related field of study from an accredited college preferred;
• At least two (2) years of experience working with or providing services to children and their families;
• Ability to establish trusting relationships and demonstrate acceptance of individual differences honoring diverse family structures and parenting practices;
• Experience and humility to work with culturally diverse families;
• Knowledge of infant and child development, infant mental health endorsement preferred (if available in the state);
• Willing to engage in building reflective capacity (e.g., capacity for introspection, communicating awareness of self in relation to others, recognizing value of supervision, etc.);
• Demonstrated strong engagement skills;
• Demonstrated knowledge of the strength-based approach and interventions;
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills;
• Demonstrated excellent assessment and crisis intervention skills;
• Prior work experience with multi-problem families in a home setting;
• Ability to work independently and exercise a high level of confidentiality;
• Must be willing and able to work outside of normal business hours to include some evenings and weekends;
• Computer skills sufficient to perform essential functions including knowledge of Microsoft Office Suite;
• Must be 21 years old with a valid driver's license with at least 3 years driving experience in the U.S. to operate a vehicle on behalf of Bethany;
• Must pass a Motor Vehicle Records (MVR) check and maintain a reliable vehicle with proof of adequate coverage;
• Pass a criminal history screen, including state and local child protection agency registries;
• Subscription to and integration of the agency Statement of Faith, Mission Statement, and Commitment to Unity.

We Invest in You

• Experience a team environment with other professionals who are motivated by faith, support one another, pursue excellence, and are in it for the long haul
• Access to training, professional development, and career growth opportunities
• Comprehensive health insurance (medical, dental, and vision)
• 403(b) retirement plan with employer match eligibility
• Generous time off (11 paid holidays, PTO YourWay, paid parental leave, separate sick and paid absence banks)
• Access to education reimbursement for those that qualify
• Comprehensive employee assistance and wellness program
• Employer paid long-term disability and group term life insurance

 

 

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