Family Strengthening Worker / Home Visitor

Family Strengthening Worker / Home visitor Position Summary Family Strengthening Worker (FSW) / Home visitor supports playgroups and provides one on one direct services to families. During playgroups FSW welcomes, ... Read More

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Family Strengthening Worker / Home visitor

Position Summary

Family Strengthening Worker (FSW) / Home visitor supports playgroups and provides one on one direct services to families. During playgroups FSW welcomes, engages and connects with families using the Protective Factors Framework, strengths-based approach, cultural humility and work with a trauma-informed lens. Our work is multi-generational and staff will work with caregivers and children. In playgroups, we play, sing, have communal meals, connect others and support families in many different ways.

Through our home visiting program, FSWs will provide similar services and approaches in either a family’s home, on site at the Family Room or in a community setting. This position requires significant independence and self-directed initiatives as well as strong communication skills and solid teamwork with community partners and program staff. Home visitors will work with families to assess needs and develop goals, establish a consistent schedule and provide other necessary support to the family.

Responsibilities and Duties

Playgroup

• Provide a welcoming environment to all families and visitors to our programs.
• Plan, set-up, and implement developmentally appropriate activities for all programs.
• Provide one-on-one and group support for new families and children
• Provide and communicate appropriate parental education and child development information.
• Assists families with the development of skills related to the activities of daily living (including access to healthcare, housing, transportation, and entitlement programs)
• Assess children and parental needs as they arise in groups, and implement activities or share information to best support families.
• Protect the privacy and confidentiality of information pertaining to families and children
• Engage in wrap-up meetings to assess needs of individuals and groups, program planning and any follow-ups.
• Build positive relationships and communicate in a respectful manner with families, children and the communities in which we serve
• Collaboration with community partners
• Performs other duties as necessary in support the organization’s programs
• Support and comply with all The Family Room policies

Home visiting

• Recruit families for home visiting programs in on-site programs as well as internal and external referrals.
• Conducting home visits to ensure that the family receives the services they need in their own home or in a community setting
• Establish a consistent schedule based on the needs of the family.
• Use the Family Room’s internal documents and procedures to guide home visiting work.
• Gather information from conversations, enrollment sheets, and observations to create goals for home visits with home visiting families.
• Complete record-keeping, communication, case notes, data collection, and other participant documentation in a timely manner
• Maintain professional boundaries and confidentiality, with guidance from supervisor and/or peers and leadership team
• Home visitors will assist families with the navigation of systems and bridge the gaps to help overcome barriers.
• Utilize interpreters to assist with communication with families as requested or when appropriate
• Maintain knowledge of and access to community support resources such as social service agencies, child care resources, adult education programs, housing authorities, and the public library, etc.
• Bridges families to appropriate community-based services and resources
• Provide appropriate emotional support and use active listening skills and motivational interviewing during visits.
• Provide concrete support to families as needed.

Qualifications and Skills

• High school diploma or GED plus two or more years of experience, with college degree desirable, or a combination of education and experience from which comparable knowledge and skills are acquired
• Ability to navigate and triage complex and nuanced situations with families and community partners
• Must have home visiting experience within a professional role
• Proficiency in Swahili and/or French is strongly preferred.
• CPR and First Aid certification or willingness to obtain
• Knowledge and understanding of child development
• Knowledge about community resources available to families
• Ability to converse clearly and comfortably with, and to use tact, discretion and sensitivity in dealing with The Family Room parents and childrens; good informal teaching and counseling skills
• Understanding of respect for cultural diversity and the right of families to make their own decisions
• Ability to work independently and collaborate with other program staff to work as part of a team
• Flexibility and the ability to handle change in a positive manner
• Must have satisfactory completion of background check
• Ability to travel to various locations
• Valid driver’s license with reliable transportation and up-to-date auto insurance coverage.

Compensation and Benefits

This is a part-time position of 20 hours per week, with a starting pay rate of $24 per hour, depending on experience.

Eligible employees may receive benefits, including paid holidays, combined time off (CTO), and participation in The Family Room’s SIMPLE IRA retirement plan, in accordance with organizational policies and eligibility requirements.

How to Apply

Please send a detailed, personalized cover letter and resume to our Executive Director, Jackie Reno, at careers@thefamilyroomvt.org. Applications will be accepted until the position is filled.

For more information about the position and The Janet S. Munt Family Room, please visit our website: www.thefamilyroomvt.org.

Working Conditions

This position involves working with families and children in a variety of settings, including The Family Room, family homes and community locations. The role requires flexibility, the ability to work independently and collaboratively.

Reliable transportation for home visits and community-based activities is preferred.

Equal Opportunity Employer Statement

The Janet S. Munt Family Room values all members of our community. We seek to create an environment that respects and honors the diversity of individuals and their unique contributions to our mission. Many of our programs serve diverse children and families. The Family Room is dedicated to supporting the effective resolution of diversity, equity, and inclusion concerns. We have a Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) committee. Our DEI community recently held a workshop to build inclusive practices for our staff, and we continue to explore ways to make The Family Room more inclusive.

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Family Strengthening Worker / Home visitor

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• Provide a welcoming environment to all families and visitors to our programs.
• Plan, set-up, and implement developmentally appropriate activities for all programs.
• Provide one-on-one and group support for new families and children
• Provide and communicate appropriate parental education and child development information.
• Assists families with the development of skills related to the activities of daily living (including access to healthcare, housing, transportation, and entitlement programs)
• Assess children and parental needs as they arise in groups, and implement activities or share information to best support families.
• Protect the privacy and confidentiality of information pertaining to families and children
• Engage in wrap-up meetings to assess needs of individuals and groups, program planning and any follow-ups.
• Build positive relationships and communicate in a respectful manner with families, children and the communities in which we serve
• Collaboration with community partners
• Performs other duties as necessary in support the organization’s programs
• Support and comply with all The Family Room policies

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• Recruit families for home visiting programs in on-site programs as well as internal and external referrals.

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• High school diploma or GED plus two or more years of experience, with college degree desirable, or a combination of education and experience from which comparable knowledge and skills are acquired
• Ability to navigate and triage complex and nuanced situations with families and community partners
• Must have home visiting experience within a professional role
• Proficiency in Swahili and/or French is strongly preferred.
• CPR and First Aid certification or willingness to obtain
• Knowledge and understanding of child development
• Knowledge about community resources available to families
• Ability to converse clearly and comfortably with, and to use tact, discretion and sensitivity in dealing with The Family Room parents and childrens; good informal teaching and counseling skills
• Understanding of respect for cultural diversity and the right of families to make their own decisions
• Ability to work independently and collaborate with other program staff to work as part of a team
• Flexibility and the ability to handle change in a positive manner
• Must have satisfactory completion of background check
• Ability to travel to various locations
• Valid driver’s license with reliable transportation and up-to-date auto insurance coverage.

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