Human Services Specialist II (Family Partner)

The Human Services Department (HSD) delivers and supports services by forging long-term community partnerships; engaging with and building the capacity of the community to do its own problem- solving; and leveraging financial and volunteer resources. 

The Human Services Specialist (Family Partner) will work as part of a team with counselors and case managers to provide services to parents and their children in Fremont, Newark and Union City. The incumbent will provide peer support and assist families in navigating systems and accessing needed services while promoting independence and advocacy skills through a respectful and nonjudgmental manner. The Family Partner uses their own personal lived experience and ensures that the family’s perspective is represented in the provision of all services which will be conducted in the child’s home or school, at Youth and Family Services’ clinic located at the Fremont Family Resource Center or in other community settings.

All Assignments:
•    Works with team members to assist in the monitoring, follow-up and collateral work of assigned caseload.
•    Interacts with clients, families, and organizations in a variety of settings including:     homes, hospitals, doctors’ offices, schools and other city, county, or state agency offices and on the phone.
•    Performs human services support activities including referring clients/family members to appropriate community resources according to the client care plan.
•    Follows up on client services, schedules meetings and appointments.
•    Interviews and elicits personal information from clients, and program information from service providers; provides assistance to clients such as completion of forms, clarifies documentation discrepancies, and resolves issues related to clients’ needs and requests.
•    Conveys general information regarding program services and interprets policies and regulations to clients, other agencies, and the community.
•    Maintains confidential records, accurate client files, screens and processes forms, verifies authorizations on documents, and updates automated databases.
•    Assists team members with interagency and/or family meetings, researching available resources, and preparing reports and statistical information.
•    Participates in community outreach activities and public presentations that impact individuals and families.
•    Follows-up on services, interacts with clients and families in a variety of settings including homes, hospitals, doctor’s offices, city/county/state and community agencies.
•    Establishes and maintains effective working relationships with clients, clinical team members, community agencies and other service providers.
•    Works effectively with a wide variety of cultural and ethnic groups.      
Financial Coach Assignment:
•    Conducts comprehensive financial assessments with clients seeking Family Economic Success services.
•    Maintains data on client services for grant reporting including data entry into automated databases.
•    Triages clients to self-help or to the appropriate Family Economic Success program or other Family Resources Center services.
•    Teaches Money Smart, an SDIC approved curriculum on financial management for youth and for the general public.
•    Provides consultations and coaching (by appointment) on basic financial matters such as opening and maintaining bank and credit union accounts, pre-paid debit cards, saving, budgeting, retirement, and credit repair to families?referred by Family Resource Center case managers or resource specialists.
•    Works as a team member with SparkPoint-FRC partners and participates in regional trainings and meetings as needed.
Substance Abuse Intervention Assignment:
•    Intervenes, under direct supervision with adolescents from diverse backgrounds in individual or group sessions to assist them in dealing with substance and alcohol abuse.
•    Interviews adolescents and family members, reviews records, conducts assessments, or confers with other professionals to evaluate adolescents.
•    Collaborates with counselors, families, school officials, police, case managers, probation officers to plan or coordinate treatment.
•    Monitors, evaluates, and records adolescent progress with respect to goals.
•    Educates adolescents, families or community members about substance abuse as well as?other types of available community resources.
•    Assists members from diverse backgrounds in understanding, dealing with, and adhering to treatment plans, such as setting up appointments, or?providing support.
•    Communicates with family supporting the adolescent.
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•    Increases personal working knowledge by reviewing current literature, conducting social research, or attending seminars, training workshops, or classes.

Mobility and Transportation Services Outreach Assignment:
(This position will have a special emphasis on providing mobility and transportation services and outreach to limited English speaking seniors and persons with disabilities.)  Special languages may be required such as Mandarin, Farsi, Spanish, Punjabi etc. based on rider and program needs.
•    Conducts mobility and transportation assessments with seniors and persons with disabilities to determine most appropriate service referrals.
•    Conducts Travel Training Workshops that teach older adults (55 years and older) and persons with disabilities how to use local buses and BART within Alameda County.
•    Organizes and conducts outreach (1:1 education as well as group presentations) about mobility and transportation resources, including public transit, paratransit, older driver safety, subsidized taxi services, volunteer driver programs, etc.
•    Performs follow-up evaluations with Travel Training participants to track their experience using public transit.
•    Translates written program materials into languages other than English as required.
•    Completes and maintains accurate client and program records, including documentation of project activities and specific actions taken with clients.
•    Prepares and submits monthly reports.

Social Work Assignment:

•    Refers clients and families to a variety of available community resources.
•    Assists with accessing services including submission of applications and scheduling required meetings and appointments.
•    Functions as part of the clinical team.
•    Communicates completion of tasks in both oral and written form.
•    Assists clinical team members with inter-agency and family conferences.
•    Researches resources, prepares reports and statistical information.
•    Works as a client advocate. 
•    Assists with organization of and documentation in, client health records.
 Marginal Functions
•    Special projects.
•    Other duties as assigned.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities
Knowledge of:  The principles and practices of social work as applied to children, youth, families, and/or senior populations; principles and techniques of interviewing required to obtain information to determine the nature of client situations; the functions and organization of public assistance and social service systems; medical, psychological, educational and social service resources; how to prepare and deliver training programs; Applicable mental health laws, rules and regulations; English usage, spelling, grammar, and punctuation; computer equipment and software applications related to assignment; basic mathematics; research methods.
Skill in:  Methods and techniques used in researching, proofing, evaluating, gathering, organizing and arranging information; office practices and procedures including indexing, filing and checking references sources; performance of a variety of responsible case management support tasks including maintenance of case records, preparation of reports. 
Ability to: communicate effectively in oral and written form with individuals from diverse ethnic and socio-economic backgrounds; develop and maintain effective working relationships with clients, community agencies and service providers; make decisions and independent judgments; maintain accurate records and document actions taken; prioritize work and coordinate multiple work activities; adapt to procedural and technological changes, work independently in performing assignments and resolving problems within limits of responsibility and supervision.  Operate a variety of office equipment such as a calculator, computer and software applicable to assignment; perform basic mathematical calculations; research resources and track results;
Incumbents must possess the physical and mental capacity to work under the conditions described in this document and to perform the duties required by their assigned position.

Education/Experience
Any combination of education and experience which has provided the knowledge and abilities necessary to satisfactory job performance would be qualifying.  A typical way to obtain the required knowledge and abilities would be: completion of 60 semester units or 90 quarter units from an accredited college with coursework in social work, counseling, sociology, nursing, gerontology, financial planning, tax preparation, substance abuse intervention or human services related fields based on assignment.
At least two years of experience in a field directly related to the assignment is required working as an employee, intern or volunteer in a social services environment serving children, youth, senior citizens, individuals with disabilities, family programs, financial planning or substance abuse intervention.
The ability to speak Spanish, Chinese, or languages other than English is desirable.

License/Certification/Special Requirements
This classification requires the ability to travel independently within and outside of City limits and possession of a Class C California Driver’s License.  Failure to maintain this license will result in discipline up to and including termination.
Substance Abuse Intervention Assignment: Possession of a California State Alcohol and Drug Counselor certification, (from an approved California Department of Alcohol and Drug Program) is required at the Specialist II level and is desired at the Specialist I level.  Alternatively, a California License as an LCSW, MFT, Licensed Psychologist, Physician, and Registered Board of Behavioral Sciences Intern may be substituted for the California State Alcohol and Drug Counselor certification.
Physical and Environmental Demands
Rare = < 10%, Occasional = 11-33%, Frequent = 34-66%, Constant = >66%
Sitting:  Occasional to Frequent – driving, meetings
Walking:  Occasional – to/from car
Standing:  Occasional
Bending (neck):  Frequent – taking case notes, review papers
Bending (waist):  Occasional
Squatting:  Rare
Climbing:  Rare – stairs at residences
Kneeling:  Never
Crawling:  Never
Jumping:  Never
Balancing:  Never
Twisting (neck):  Occasional
Twisting (waist):  Occasional
Grasp - light (dominant hand):  Frequent
Grasp - light (non-dominant):  Occasional
Grasp - firm (dominant hand):  Rare
Grasp - firm (non-dominant):  Rare
Fine manipulation (dominant):  Frequent – writing, keyboard
Fine manipulation (non-dominant):  Rare – keyboard      
Reach - at/below shoulder:  Occasional
Reach – above shoulder level:  Rare
Push/pull:
Up to 10 lbs.  Rare – doors, drawers
11 to 25 lbs.  Rare – large file drawers
26 to 50 lbs.  Never
51 to 75 lbs.  Never
76 to 100 lbs.  Never
Over 100 lbs.  Never
Lifting: *
Up to 10 lbs.  Frequent
11 to 25 lbs.  Rare
26 to 50 lbs.  Rare – file boxes (not daily) 40lbs.
51 to 75 lbs.  Never
76 to 100 lbs.  Never
Over 100 lbs.  Never
Carrying:
Up to 10 lbs.  Occasional
11 to 25 lbs.  Rare
26 to 50 lbs.  Rare – 40lbs.
51 to 75 lbs.  Never
76 to 100 lbs.  Never
Over 100 lbs.  Never
Coordination:
Eye-hand:  Required
Eye-hand-foot:  Not required
Driving:  Required
Vision:
Acuity, near:  Required - driving
Acuity, far:  Required
Depth perception:  Required
Accommodation:  Required
Color vision:  Required
Field of vision:  Required
Talking:
Face-to-face contact:  Required
Verbal contact w/others:  Required
Public:  Required
Hearing:
Normal conversation:  Required
Telephone communication:  Required
Earplugs required:  Not required
Work environment:
Works indoors, works outdoors, exposure to extreme hot or cold temperature outdoors, using computer monitor, works around others, works alone, works with others.

Class Code:  I: 7542 II: 7541
FLSA:  Non-Exempt
EEOC Code:  2
Barg. Unit:  CFEA
Probation:  12 Months
Rev.:  11/15

Salary : $76,612 - $93,122