Parenting Education Specialist

Description

There is a $500 sign on bonus with this position! 

Office Location: Kalamazoo

Travel Service Location: Allegan, Barry & Van Buren County

SUMMARY:

Provides direct in-home services to families referred by Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) workers where abuse or neglect has been investigated or investigated and substantiated, allowing families to receive increased supportive services to prevent out-of-home placement or to return home children who are in out-of-home placement. Services may include teaching through psychoeducation, coaching, modeling, and reinforcement of some of the following: home and life management skills, health and nutrition, safe sleep practices, and appropriate parenting that meets the specific needs the needs of the children in their home as well as the direct provision of concrete services and linking to community resources. This position requires a flexible work schedule, which may include weekends, evenings, and/or holidays. 

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

Responsibilities associated with this job will change from time to time according to the Agency’s needs or contract. More specifically, the incumbent may be required to perform additional and/or different responsibilities from those described below:

• Provides home or community-based education and support for families through an evidence-based modality or practice consistent with the modality as required by contract.
• Accepts and manages referrals from DHHS to maintain yearly number of units.
• Completes assessments utilizing evidenced based inventories as required.
• Prepares written reports according to prescribed format and timelines to maintain contract compliance and/or model fidelity.
• Completes all case documentation in accordance with established timelines and are available upon request.
• Communicates with the referring worker regularly through face-to-face contact, telephone contact, written reports and attendance at Family Team Meetings as requested and/or required.
• Collaborates with the legal system and provides Court testimony if needed.  
• Works flexible schedule with non-traditional hours (evenings, weekends, holidays) to accommodate family schedule.
• Transports clients as needed.
• Attends Agency mandated trainings and other program trainings as required.
• Attends required unit meetings and activities.
• Collaborates with community organizations to access goods and services for clients.
• This position will be knowledgeable about and actively support 1) culturally competent, recovery-based practices; 2) person-centered planning as a shared decision-making process with the individual, who defines his/her own life goals and is assisted in developing a unique path toward those goals; and 3) a trauma informed culture to aid individuals in their recovery process.
• Perform other job-related duties as assigned.
• A commitment to value diversity in all forms, and to respect, celebrate and promote diversity in our workplace and in the community, including a personal commitment to increase one’s own cultural competencies.
• Ability to understand, demonstrate and apply the Agency’s workplace values: Respect; Integrity; Service; and Empowerment.

Employment is contingent upon successful completion of a pre-employment drug screen, background check, reference verification, and required child welfare clearances  

Requirements

QUALIFICATIONS:

To perform this job successfully, and individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Must have excellent clinical and engagement skills  
• Strong communication skills and ability to understand, motivate and/or influence people and an awareness of the importance of cultural difference within service population. 
• Must present a professional appearance and a friendly manner
• Must be dependable and punctual
• Be courteous and personable when dealing with the public
• Be self-directed, willing to take initiative, organized and detail-oriented
• Respect and maintain confidentiality of those served by Family & Children Services
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office including Word and Excel
• Must be able to transport clients in employee-provided vehicle.  
• Must be able to visually assess the safety of the environment and the physical well-being of children in the home.   

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE:

Minimum Qualifications- 

• Bachelor’s degree in a Social Work or related Human Services field from an accredited institution OR an Associate's Degree (or 72 hours) working towards a Bachelor's.
• Required experience of at least 1 year working with children/youth/families.
• Experience working with diverse economic and cultural populations.  
• Education, training, and/or knowledge of the impact of trauma on individuals, children, and families, is desired.
• Trained or willingness to be trained in First Aid, CPR, and AED

LANGUAGE SKILLS:

Ability to read and interpret documents, such as procedure manuals, and to write routine reports and correspondence is required. Ability to effectively present information in one-on-one situations to staff, service recipients, court, and others as required.

REASONING ABILITY:

Ability to apply common sense understanding to carry out instructions furnished in written, oral, or diagram form. Ability to deal with problems involving several concrete variables in standardized situations.

CERTIFICATES, LICENSES, REGISTRATIONS:

Valid Michigan driver's license, valid auto insurance, and driving record which complies with agency policy.

Must have available a personal auto for required travel. 

PHYSICAL DEMANDS/WORK ENVIRONMENT:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.  Flexible work schedule with remote opportunities available. 

• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit; use hands to finger, handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms and talk or hear. 
• Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision.  
• The employee is required to stand, walk, and may be required to carry infants in car seats and assist youth into car seats.  
• Must be able to climb stairs and enter home environments that may be cluttered or present other physical obstacles. 
• Must be able to enter homes where there may be exposure to dust, cigarette smoke, pet dander, and other typical household conditions including potential exposure to pests such as lice, bedbugs, and roaches. 
• While performing the duties of this job, the employee must be able to travel to all areas within the service area. Must be able to transport clients in own vehicle; this includes adult clients and their children. Ability to drive own vehicle and maintain a valid, unrestricted driver’s license and vehicle insurance that meets agency requirements is required for this role. Ability to drive during the day or evening, and in varied weather conditions, is required for this role. 
• Home visits are often made during evening hours as required to meet family need. A small percentage of home visits may need to be made on weekends or holidays.

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Provide out-of-office service in Allegan, Barry & Van Buren County in clients' homes and/or community settings in non-structured, unpredictable situations. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.