Family Support Specialist

Family Support Specialist

HOME START INCORPORATED

El Cajon, CA Job Details Full-time $24 - $27 an hour 21 hours ago Qualifications Computer literacy Driver's License Home visits (communication methods)

Full Job Description Position:

Family Support Specialist Classification:

Non-Exempt Reports to: Family Support Specialist Supervisor Job Summary The Family Support Specialist (FSS) is responsible for delivering high-quality, strength-based, and family-centered home visitation services to support healthy parent-child relationships, child development, and overall family well-being. The FSS maintains regular long-term contact with families (up to three to five years), primarily in the home, to build trust, reduce risks, and strengthen protective factors. Services are designed to promote secure attachment, enhance family resilience, and connect families with needed community resources in accordance with Healthy Families America (HFA) and First 5 First Steps standards. Duties and Responsibilities Develop and implement family service and curriculum plans using the Healthy Families America model and Baby Talk curriculum tailored to family needs. Provide case management services, including identifying family goals, monitoring progress, and supporting goal achievement. Deliver supportive services such as crisis intervention, parent education, mentoring, motivational interviewing, and strengthsbased support. Educate families on child development milestones and provide interactive activities to enhance parentchild learning and bonding. Administer and interpret assessments and screening tools (e.g., Family Resilience and Opportunities for Growth (FROG) Scale, ASQ, ASQSE, depression screens, Healthy Families Parenting Inventory). Observe and assess parentchild interactions and collaborate with families and supervisors to strengthen relationships. Identify protective factors within families and develop individualized Family Service Plans to address needs and build resilience. Assist families in accessing health, educational, and social services, empowering them to advocate for and meet future needs independently. Maintain accurate, timely documentation, including case notes, assessments, and required reporting for program fidelity. Develop and facilitate parenting groups and workshops to support protective factors and program goals. Maintain confidentiality in compliance with HIPAA and program guidelines. Actively engage in reflective supervision and professional development, cultivating continuous learning. Participate in team meetings, training, and collaborative community partnerships. Maintain a flexible schedule, including evenings as needed to meet family needs.

Qualifications Education:

Minimum of a bachelor's degree in child development, social work, psychology, education, public health, or related human services field. Equivalent experience in inhome family services may be considered.

Experience:

Experience working with children and families, preferably in homevisiting or family support programs.

Knowledge:

Child development, parenting practices, community resources, traumainformed care, and family systems.

Skills:

Effective communication, active listening, flexibility, crisis intervention, and computer literacy.

Abilities:

Ability to establish trusting relationships, respect diversity, demonstrate cultural humility, and work independently and collaboratively. Reflective capacity and openness to supervision are essential.

Other Requirements:

Valid driver's license, reliable insured vehicle, and willingness to use it for work. Infant Mental Health endorsement desirable. Proficiency in Spanish, Arabic, or another clientrelevant language is preferred to support effective service delivery. Physical Demands Frequent use of computers is needed for documentation. Extended sitting for home visits, meetings, and supervision. Regular travel by car to family homes. Walking to and from visits; sitting on the floor with families during visits. Work Environment Combination of officebased and inhome settings. Shared office space with fluctuating noise levels and frequent interruptions. Equal Opportunity Home Start, Inc. is an equal opportunity employer and prohibits discrimination in hiring and employment practices based on gender, race, color, religion, creed, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, pregnancy, age, marital status, sexual orientation, medical condition, genetic information, gender identity or expression, disability, veteran status, or any other protected category under applicable law. About

HOME START INCORPORATED

Guided by our mission to assure the safety and resiliency of children by strengthening families and their communities, Home Start, Inc., a non-profit child abuse prevention and treatment agency, has strengthened and developed San Diego's families, communities, and systems of care since 1972. To effectively prevent and treat child abuse, Home Start addresses the conditions that can contribute to risky or abusive situations - poverty, unsafe neighborhoods, lack of affordable housing, and unemployment - while concurrently addressing individual self-sufficiency and emotional needs.