Family Support Specialist
Full-time, Regular Status, FLSA Nonexempt
Location: Auburn, WA; South King County
$44,600 – $56,400 annually
Dependent on education and years of experience

Childhaven is an equal opportunity employer that is committed to diversity, inclusion, and equity. We are upholding this by recruiting candidates of every race, creed, color, religion, national or ethnic origin, gender or gender identity, age, veteran status, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, and all other historically marginalized and excluded communities other protected status as provided by law.  Qualified individuals who bring diverse perspectives to the workplace are highly encouraged to apply!

ABOUT CHILDHAVEN
We are proud to be a values-driven organization that serves families from diverse communities. Our values guide us in the way we treat each other, the decisions we make, and the success we achieve. The following are the values guide our work:

• TEAMWORK:   Relationships come first.
• EQUITY:           There’s infinite value in every human.
• EXCELLENCE:   Constructively dissatisfied with the status quo.
• DEDICATION:   Do more. Do better.
• RESPECT:         Meet people where they are.
• REFLECTION:   Feelings Matter. Stepping back and exploring possibilities.

Childhaven is a leader in serving children, families, and communities that have experienced trauma and adversity. We are building a continuum of care model that is growing to respond to the changing needs of families by combining our legacy of healing-centered care, with the expertise of community partners. Going forward, we are embarking on a new and ambitious strategic impact plan to further strengthen programs, expand impact, and embrace innovation.

ABOUT YOU
You are a passionate and dedicated individual who shares our vision: To help ensure that all children are safe and healthy; thriving physically, socially emotionally and educationally; and well nurtured by family and by their community.  You too are constructively dissatisfied with the status quo. You are equal parts learner, leader and mentor and see around the corners of a challenge, replaying the question of “What if…” with a reply of “Why not…” If this sounds like you, then we want to meet, get to know you, and talk more about the positive impact we could have together.

ABOUT THE ROLE
The Family Support Specialist (FSS) reports to the Early Learning Program Director and operates out of our Auburn Branch. The FSS role is an essential component of the Parents as Teacher (PAT) affiliate model. The Family Support Specialist advances Childhaven’s mission, vision, values, and goals by providing culturally relevant home-based parenting education and support to caregivers who are parenting children under six years old. To be successful in this role you must be able to establish relationships with at-risk youth and families, and manage the needs of an assigned caseload.

TYPICAL DUTIES

• Assist families in identifying their child’s strengths and needs and develop plans to ensure they have access to any services for which they are eligible.
• Assist parents in a variety of areas (e.g., filling out forms/surveys; health; nutrition; living skills; budgeting; job skills; goal setting; etc.) for the purpose of developing an action plan to remove barriers to child’s success in school and supporting the family in basic life skills and economic stability.
• Recruit and enroll eligible children and families. Encourage family involvement in program.
• Visit children’s homes for the purpose of enrolling students in program, interviewing parents, informing parents of school and/or community resources and providing child development/parenting information, and setting family goals.
• Develop individualized health, nutrition, and family support plans for all enrolled children for the purpose of furthering family goals, plans, and success strategies.
• Provide outreach to low-income communities, community leaders and organizations for the purpose of recruiting families to Early Learning, developing resources, and building partnerships with community members.
• Maintain relationships with social service agencies and family service providers in the community so that outside referrals can be made in a timely manner as needed.
• Maintains a variety of manual and electronic documents, files, and records for the purpose of providing required information and/or documentation.
• Screen new referrals to ensure the program is appropriate for their needs, provide an initial needs assessment, complete onboarding paperwork, and provide timely follow-up with referring agencies.
• Provide culturally competent home visits to each participant 2 times per month using the Parents as Teachers
• Screen new referrals to ensure the program is appropriate for their needs, provide and initial needs assessment, complete onboarding paperwork, and provide timely follow-up with referring agencies.
• Assist in the planning and implementation of monthly group meetings.
• Conduct annual developmental progress assessments that include social-emotional, vision, hearing, and health issues.
• Actively participate in reflective supervision meetings, team meetings and monthly staff meetings.
• Participate in professional development opportunities regarding antiracism, oppression, and cultural competency and regularly assess own performance and program for related improvements.
• Participate in ongoing job-related professional development, in-service trainings, and continuing education.
• Comply with all Childhaven policies and procedures.
• Comply with the agency’s policy and procedure regarding the identification and reporting of child abuse.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• High school diploma or GED required.
• At least 1 year of experience working in a childcare or preschool setting.
• Previous experience working with refugee and/or immigrant families in a volunteer or professional capacity.
• Ability to communicate effectively both orally and in writing with people from diverse cultures and backgrounds.
• Able to maintain a high degree of sensitivity, tact, and diplomacy during stressful situations.
• Knowledge of family support principles, parent-child interactions, and child development.
• Must have reliable transportation, valid driver’s license, safe driving record, and auto liability insurance.

DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS
We are dedicated to recruiting candidates who reflect the diversity and lived experiences of the communities we serve. Multilingual and multicultural candidates are encouraged to apply! In addition to position specific qualifications, preferable skills include:

• Bilingual English/Spanish highly desired.
• Coursework in early childhood development, parent childhood interactions, or family support principles are a plus.
• Previous experience in home visiting.

COMPENSATION
Childhaven has committed to equitable compensation practices, including pre-determining what roles require and the qualities needed from the individual that will fill the role. To achieve this, Childhaven uses a grade and step approach to determine the compensation of each team member.

WHY CHILDHAVEN?
We strive to make Childhaven a great place to work by living our values: Teamwork, Equity, Excellence, Dedication, Respect, and Reflection. Here’s a bit of what we offer our staff:

• We believe in a fully transparent hiring process.
• We offer a comprehensive Benefits Package including Medical, Dental, and Vision insurance. Expanded benefits include a flexible spending account (FSA), healthcare reimbursement account, and 403(b) savings program. A full listing of benefits is available.
• Opportunities to attend a wide variety of trainings on clinical and educational topics, advocacy, and more.
• We’re dedicated to serving the full range of cultural diversity in our community, and to providing families with care that’s relevant to them. As a member of Childhaven staff, you’ll be encouraged to contribute to community engagement strategies and our antiracism council, which makes ongoing recommendations to ensure that our programs and protocols are doing their part to dismantle systemic racism.

Childhaven values organizational culture and professional development. Team members at Childhaven have the opportunity to develop skills and knowledge through the following:

• Trainings
• Project work groups
• Clinical and/or reflective supervision
• Community advocacy and engagement
• Diversity, Inclusion, and Racial Equity Council (DIREC)

NOTE
***HOW TO APPLY***

Please apply through our website. If you require an accommodation to participate in the application or selection process, please let us know.

This position will be open until filled; applicants are encouraged to apply. In addition to completing the application online, please attach a resume and cover letter when prompted.

Childhaven would like to get an accurate understanding of each applicant’s experience and interest.