Family Support Specialist, Outreach & Family Support Services

Position Title: Family Support Specialist

Organization: Jewish Family Service of San Diego

Department: Outreach & Family Support Services

Position Type: Full-Time (37.5+ hours/week), Non-Exempt

Work Setting: Hybrid

Reports To: Family Support Liaison Supervisor

Pay Range: $23.50 to $27.47/hour 

Total Compensation:  

In addition to standard pay, compensation for this position includes:

• Comprehensive, low-cost healthcare coverage for employees
• Generous employer 401(k) contributions
• Employer-covered life insurance

Time Away from Work:

Being able to take time away from work is critical in bringing your best self to work. Time off benefits for this position include:

• Paid vacation time and sick leave
• 15 paid holidays, including Federal and Jewish holidays (as long as the holiday lands on a normal scheduled workday), and floating holidays
• 2 Wellness Days to be taken any time during the year to support employees’ mental wellness

Position Overview: 

In collaboration with San Diego County Child Welfare System’s commitment to reducing the disproportionality of African American/Black and immigrant/refugee families who are CWS involved, the Family Support Liaison Program (FSLP) aims to support parents and caregivers as they navigate the Child Welfare System (CWS).  We help families to reunify with their child/ren, as well as to reduce future CWS involvement of families enrolled in the program.

The Family Support Specialist will play a critical role supporting families who are involved in Child Welfare Services (CWS or CPS). This position will work with CWS-involved families, who identify as African American/Black. 

The Family Support Specialist is responsible for educating families about child welfare laws and policies as well as child safety and well-being; helping families build time management, communication, and financial management skills; supporting families in navigating CWS; and providing referrals to and care coordination with community supports. A team of Family Support Specialists will partner to build trust and engagement with each family and assist the family with identifying their support network through formal and informal supports.   

This position may meet with clients in their homes, at a neutral location in the field, or at JFS or CWS offices. Family Support Specialists will provide care that is client-centered, trauma-informed, culturally sensitive, outcome-oriented, and time specific.   

JFS is looking for a compassionate, mission-driven individual to join the Family Support Liaison Program (FSLP) team as a Family Support Specialist. In this role, you have the opportunity to use your critical thinking skills and interpersonal experience to make a meaningful difference in our communities and help change lives across San Diego. The Family Support Specialist plays an integral role on the FSLP team and supports the entire agency by building trust in our communities and hope for a better tomorrow.

This position reports directly to the Family Support Liaison Supervisor and works closely with the Wraparound Coach, other Family Support Specialists, and the FSLP team.

Face-to-face work with clients is required. Please note that all reasonable safety precautions will be taken.  

Responsibilities:

• Promote an individualized, family-driven, community-based, culturally competent, and trauma-informed system of care
• Provide on-going intensive case management and crisis intervention to an estimated caseload of 12-15 families
• Work collaboratively with another Family Support Specialist (when available) to develop and support a family plan, including required tasks and timelines
• Lead or co-lead family meetings; conduct formal and informal assessments of parents and caregivers; and identify family strengths and areas of need
• Foster and maintain ongoing relationships with family members, PSWs and CWS staff, other providers, and community resources to coordinate services and advocate for families
•  Listen to each family’s perspective to help identify the strengths of the family and each family member; assist family members in seeing and sharing their own strengths
• When appropriate, share personal experiences to enhance engagement with families and increase awareness about parenting challenges and difficulties maneuvering the ‘systems’, while maintaining appropriate professional boundaries with families
• Work with each family to formulate and execute realistic and time-specific goals 
• Attend important meetings with the client, such as CFTs (Child & Family Team Meetings), court hearings, school meetings, etc
• Participate in fidelity and quality improvement efforts, including wraparound coaching, ongoing training, and supervisions 
•  Maintain accurate, timely, and complete case records in client file and in software system with integrity and in line with the quality standard set by supervisor

Skills/Experience/Abilities That Are a Must-Have:

• Parents/guardians who have previous involvement/life experience with Child Welfare Services (CWS or CPS)
• Personal experience and knowledge of the African American/Black community required  
• Excellent verbal and interpersonal communication skills, including ability to collaborate with other FSLP staff, CWS staff, and community providers
• Experience setting limits when working with stressed clients, often in some level of urgency 
• Comfort in an environment that supports intersecting identities and working closely as a team 
• Ability to maintain confidentiality with sensitive information 
• Ability to work flexible hours, including some evenings and weekends 
• Valid CA driver’s license, a reliable automobile, insurance, and willingness to drive off-site/travel throughout San Diego County. Client transport may be necessary. (please note that mileage is reimbursed)  

Skills/Abilities We’d Like You to Have:

• Experience working with families experiencing domestic violence, homelessness, and/or substance use preferred  
• Previous training in Wraparound preferred   
• Knowledge of local programs, organizations, and resources, including how to access them preferred  
• Bachelor’s degree in human services-related field preferred 

• Pre-employment background check is conducted  

Important Notice:

Incomplete submissions will not be considered. Please, no phone calls. Please, principals only. Please, local candidates only (relocation is not provided).

About Jewish Family Service of San Diego
Jewish Family Service of San Diego is a client-centered, impact-driven organization working to build a stronger, more resilient community.  For over 100 years, Jewish Family Service has been a trusted resource for the entire community, offering an array of services that are always life-changing, and often life-saving.  At Jewish Family Service, we believe our employees are the backbone of our Agency.  We strive to ensure that each employee is treated with dignity and respect.  Our goal is your success.  Come work at JFS and be our partner in Moving Forward Together.  To learn more about JFS, please visit jfssd.org. 

*Jewish Family Service is an equal opportunity employer. All applicants will be considered for employment without attention to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran or disability status.