Family Support Specialist III

Job Description

Job Description

TITLE : Family Support Specialist III

REPORTS TO : Senior Project Manager or Family Support Specialist Mgr

LOCATION : Newport News

STATUS : Full-Time

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES : Lead management activities and outreach staff.

BACKGROUND : Urban Strategies is a not-for-profit organization founded in 1978, headquartered in Saint Louis Missouri. Urban Strategies builds the social services infrastructure for residents of public housing sites that are undergoing redevelopment into mixed-income communities.

Urban Strategies understands that the physical revitalization of housing by itself is not sufficient to create communities which promote social and economic integration.

In order to create successful and thriving mixed-income developments, a network of community support systems must be planned and implemented concurrent with the development of new housing.

These supportive services offer public housing residents the opportunities to succeed and thrive in mixed income communities.

JOB SUMMARY :

The Family Support Specialist III is responsible for providing comprehensive case management, referrals, and seamless coordination with community and supportive service activities that promote economic self-sufficiency and enhance quality of life for residents of the Choice Neighborhood Initiative (CNI).

This position will lead the Louisville team of outreach workers and case managers to identify appropriate strategies and interventions to ensure families are stable and thriving.

CASE MANAGEMENT RESPONSIBILITIES

• Oversight of implementing the Choice Neighborhood Implementation (CNI) case management program
• Supporting Case Management team
• Lead case coordination meetings with the case management team to review complex cases within the site caseload and to ensure residents are receiving needed supportive services to progress toward their goals.
• Coordinate with the On-site Project Manager work with the service provider network based on the needs and resident progress through data analysis.
• Monitor data being recorded in LEARN for timeliness, quality and completeness.
• Prepare reports for various stakeholders identifying resident progress, challenges and successes.
• Analyze data and coordinate strategy development with the Senior Project Manager and the case management team to ensure site is meeting established performance measures.

DIRECT SERVICE DELIVERY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Conduct intake and assessments for residents for enrollment into the case management program.
• Conduct home visits, office visits, community site visits to collect information from clients.
• Work with families to assess, develop, implement, monitor, and recommend modifications to Development Plans using a multidisciplinary process.
• Utilize knowledge of the local community to assist residents with navigating a variety of social service organizations and public agencies.
• Identify gaps in services, advocate on behalf of residents,, coordinate, and monitor service delivery for assigned caseload.
• Maintain privacy and confidentiality of all household information given.
• Enter and track all resident data entered into Urban's customized performance management system "LEARN" to prepare reports and document progress.
• Attend community supportive services meetings with critical CNI partners and other social service entities.
• Actively participate in Urban Strategies program meetings and other meetings related to the CNI project.
• Be available to occasionally work nights and / or weekends and travel.
• Perform miscellaneous job-related duties as assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS :

Education and / or Experience Required

• Bachelor's Degree required; Master's Degree in Social Work, Sociology, Psychology or other relevant field preferred or an equivalent combination of education and experience as identified below.
• Five years of work experience in the not-for-profit or human services sector providing assessments, referrals and follow-up of individuals.

Skills and / or Competencies Required

• Commitment to strengths-based and family-focused service planning; ability to understand program philosophies and place-based approach
• Ability and commitment to handle privileged information in a professional and confidential manner
• Ability to function as a team player in both internal and external relationships
• Availability to attend evening and weekend functions as required
• Possession of a valid driver's license and availability of automobile for work use
• Strong verbal and written communication skills
• Must be proficient in Microsoft Outlook, Word and Excel
• Strong interpersonal and both written and oral communication skills, and the ability to work effectively with a wide range of constituencies in a diverse community.
• Must be comfortable and effective in facilitating group processes.
• Strong organizational, planning and time management skills.
• Ability to analyze and interpret data, and to base program designs on resident-driven and data-driven rationale.
• A strong sense of and respect for confidentiality involving both participants and fellow employees.
• Must excel in fast-paced environment
• Ability to work in a variety of settings with culturally-diverse persons and communities with the ability to be culturally sensitive and appropriate.
• The ability to work independently and with initiative, combined with skills for thriving in a team environment to achieve shared goals.
• Computer proficiency in MS Office Suite (Advanced MS Excel), other commonly used software.

Urban Strategies is an Equal Opportunity Employer