Find Jobs
Find Jobs Near You – Available Work in Your Location
Skip to job details
WV
West Virginia
Family Support Specialist
Career Insights for Mental / Behavioral Health Counselor
See where this job fits in the broader career landscape. Knowing your career path helps you see what's possible from here.
Scorecard
Based on West Virginia data
Review key factors to help you decide if this role fits your goals. How is this calculated?
What they do
A Mental or Behavioral Health Counselor works with patients to treat mental health problems. Assesses patients and assists with diagnosis, counseling and crisis intervention. Consults with nurses, doctors and psychiatrists. May work with specific populations, such as youth, senior citizens or substance abusers, in group settings, facilities or hospitals.
$43,112 / year median in West Virginia
+23% projected growth
Job Description
Are you a professional caseworker with experience in client interviews and eligibility evaluations looking for a role where your work will directly transform the lives of families across the state? Join our team at the Bureau for Family Assistance (BFA) as a Family Support Specialist, where your skills will help individuals and families achieve self-sufficiency by providing comprehensive case management, employment goal planning, and access to critical public assistance programs. At the Bureau for Family Assistance, we value our team members and invest in their growth by offering on-the-job training, regular performance feedback, and ongoing professional development to support long-term career growth. Employees also receive a full benefits package that includes 12 paid holidays, tuition reimbursement, paid vacation and sick leave, medical and life insurance, retirement plans, and much more! This position directly supports the mission of the Bureau to supply economic assistance through departmental programs by providing full-performance case management services and guiding clients toward long-term employment and financial stability. Family Support Specialists play a central role within the Bureau by evaluating eligibility for TANF and related economic assistance programs, creating time-limited Personal Responsibility Contracts, and partnering with community organizations to help clients reach their employment goals. Family Support Specialists serve as a key point of contact to empower clients through goal setting, aptitude assessment, and continuous guidance. Key Responsibilities Duties of the Family Support Specialist will include, but are not limited to: Negotiating and developing Personal Responsibility Contracts (PRCs) and action plans to guide clients toward employment and self-sufficiency goals. Conducting thorough telephone and face-to-face interviews to gather, evaluate, and verify social and financial information. Determining initial and continuing eligibility for TANF and economic service programs in accordance with departmental guidelines. Analyzing and interpreting aptitude and interest test results to direct vocational planning and employment goal development. Developing employability plans and providing or arranging for necessary support services and testing. Conducting job development with community employers and partners to establish sites for work experience, subsidized employment, and volunteer programs. Providing job search instruction, employment counseling, and guidance in job-seeking techniques. Assessing client social service needs and referring individuals to appropriate community resources and support agencies. Maintaining and updating accurate client case files, progress reports, and records through regular follow-ups and scheduled contact. Explaining program policies, rules, regulations, and requirements clearly to clients. Performing other related duties as assigned. A valid driver's license and reliable transportation for travel within the service area are required.