Family Support Specialist

The Immigrant and Refugee Community Organization (IRCO) is a non-profit organization established in 1976 to serve immigrants refugees and the broader community in Portland Oregon. Our mission is to welcome serve and empower refugees immigrants and people across cultures and generations to reach their full potential. Find out more at .

POSITION: Family Support Specialist

JOB CLASS/GRADE: Specialist 1 / Grade 8

WAGE: Starting at $48600 per year

FLSA; EEO; WC: Non-Exempt; Professional; 8864

LOCATIONS: IRCO Eastern Oregon 723 S. Oregon St Ontario OR 97914 (On-site position)

FTE; FT/PT; STATUS: 1.0 FTE; Full-Time with Benefits; Regular

NUMBER OF POSITIONS: (1)

APPLY AT:

STATUS: Full-Time with Benefits

PROGRAM(S): Healthy Families Eastern Oregon

SECTOR: Home Visiting / Early Learning Services

REQUIREMENTS:

High School Diploma/GED required

1-2 years of experience in working with or providing services to children and their families

Must possess a valid drivers license and verification of current auto-insurance and have full use of automobile during work hours

Bilingual in English and Spanish required

This job announcement is intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed in this job. This is not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities duties and skills required.

Program Summary
Healthy Families Eastern Oregon is a free voluntary home visiting program that supports expectant parents and families with young children by promoting early childhood relational health and positive parent-child relationships. Trained Family Support Specialists (FSS) partner with families through regular home visits to support healthy child development and strengthen family well-being.

The program follows the Healthy Families America (HFA) evidence-based model. It is funded in part through the Maternal Infant and Early Childhood Home Visiting (MIECHV) Program a federal initiative that supports evidence-based home visiting services nationwide. Through this framework families receive strengths-based family-centered support and connections to community resources tailored to their specific needs and goals.

Position Summary
IRCO is seeking a Family Support Specialist (FSS) to align with the priorities set forth by the Department of Early Learning and Care (DELC) Healthy Families Oregon (HFO) the Oregon Health Authority (OHA) and the Maternal Infant and Early Childhood Home Visiting (MIECHV) Program.

The Family Support Specialist (FSS) initiates and maintains regular long-term (up to three to five years) supportive relationships with families. Services are primarily provided within the familys home with each visit lasting at least one hour. Home visits are family-centered and strengths-based focusing on building trusting relationships strengthening the parentchild bond promoting healthy childhood growth and development and enhancing family well-being by supporting protective factors and reducing risk factors.

Working as an FSS in the Healthy Families program involves engagement with families experiencing complex and intersecting challenges including multi-generational trauma child welfare involvement poverty housing instability chronic stress and mental health and/or substance use challenges. The FSS partners with families while honoring differences in family structures community traditions and parenting practices.

Essential Functions

Home Visits (53%)

• Conduct regular planned home visits using a strengths-based family-centered approach to support positive parenting child development and family well-being
• Apply working knowledge of parent-child interaction child development and the impact of stress trauma and adversity to support protective factors and reduce risk factors associated with child abuse and neglect
• Administer approved screening and assessment tools in accordance with HFO and MIECHV protocols including the Family Resilience and Opportunities for Growth (FROG) Scale Ages and Stages Questionnaires (ASQ ASQ-SE) depression screenings and intimate partner violence screenings
• Use assessment and screening results to collaboratively identify family strengths priorities and areas of concern
• Partner with families during home visits to support family-driven goal development and ongoing progress toward goals
• Teach model and reinforce problem-solving coping and parenting strategies including developmentally appropriate parent-child activities and interactive play
• Facilitate referrals and support families in accessing healthcare mental health social services and community-based resources including assistance with scheduling and attending appointments and completing applications or enrollment for needed services

HV Preparation Follow-up Documentation and Travel (35%):

• Develop and maintain Family Service Plans including goals objectives and activities based on assessment results and family priorities
• Prepare curriculum activities and referrals to support upcoming home visits
• Record weekly client observations activities data tracking and case management in the HFO Database
• Act as a liaison between families and community agencies to support access to needed services
• Complete monthly reports and submit data as requested
• Travel throughout Baker and Malheur Counties for home visits

Supervision and Training (12%):

• Participate in 1.52 hours per week of reflective supervision with a supervisor in accordance with HFA/HFO model requirements
• Attend staff meetings team meetings and trainings as required by the program and organization
• Participate in ongoing monthly and annual training required by the program and organization
• Ability to meet prescriptive programming guidelines

Secondary Functions

• Maintain a high level of confidentiality
• Attend community meetings/events as a program representative and outreach
• Special projects as assigned by the Healthy Families Program Manager Healthy Families Supervisor and Early Learning Managers
• Maintain regular communications with program team and site/organization/staff

Education & Experience

MINIMUM JOB SPECIFIC QUALIFICATIONS:

Any combination of education and experience that demonstrates the ability to perform the duties of the position is qualifying. This would typically include:

• High School Diploma/GED
• 1-2 years of experience in working with or providing services to children and their families
• Demonstrated knowledge and skill in the following:

Parenting education and assessment infant and child development nutrition preventive healthcare home visiting practices

and community resources

Engaging families experiencing stress or adversity using a strengths-based approach

Establishing and maintaining trusting relationships with families

Working respectfully and effectively with individuals from various backgrounds and belief systems

Building reflective capacity including openness to supervision and self-reflection

Ability to project a professional image in person by phone and in the community

Proficiency in Microsoft Office programs

Ability to work collaboratively as part of a team

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Infant mental health endorsement preferred

Physical Mental & Environmental Requirements

• On-site In-person position
• Position requires the use of evidence-informed curriculum with the ability to adapt to families desires goals and service plans
• Creativity and planning skills for planning multiple home visits weekly
• Extensive and ongoing training requirements as per HFA/HFO and MIECHV model specifications
• Work independently and as part of a team environment
• Extensive and timely documentation writing and data input.
• Driving through Baker and Malheur to conduct home visits using your own vehicle
• Flexibility to work with families schedules and family differences

Supervisory Responsibilities

Positions at this level are not responsible for any supervisory functions or responsibilities but may occasionally be asked to orient and/or train new employees or volunteers.

What We Offer

IRCO is a very employee-friendly workplace and offers great benefit package to our staff:

• Many flexible working arrangements and schedule
• Amazing opportunity to work with people who come from all over the world
• Work that helps your community
• 3 to 6 weeks of PTO per year
• 401k match of over 100% on first 5% immediate vesting
• 3% match for student loans or college savings
• 12 Paid Holidays and 1 Floating Holiday
• Medical & Dental insurance options with 90% coverage for employee AND Families no deductibles
• Employer Paid Life Short term and Long-term Disability Insurance
• Flexible spending account

Required Engagement

Engage fully in recommended professional development as well as other assigned or required training activities. This engagement can also include participation in optional activities that embrace IRCOs mission vision and values-based initiatives.

How To Apply

1. Complete the IRCO application in our Careers Portal: IRCO Application for Employment.
2. Upload your resume and cover letter addressing your qualifications for this position IRCO Careers.
3. For questions about this position please email

Please note that physical applications are accessible from IRCOs main office 10301 NE Glisan Portland OR 97220. Due to the high volume of applications received we will not be able to contact applicants or return calls regarding applications. Complete applications should include a cover letter resume and IRCO application.

IRCO is an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race color religion sex sexual orientation gender identity or expression pregnancy age national origin disability status genetic information protected veteran status or any characteristics protected by State and Federal law. We will make reasonable accommodations to meet our obligations under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and state disability laws.