Family Support Worker

Are you passionate about helping families thrive? Do you have the empathy, resilience, and communication skills to support people through life's challenges? If so, we'd love to hear from you

About the Role

As a Family Support Worker, you'll work directly with children, young people, and their families to provide practical and emotional support. You'll help families build stability, strengthen relationships, and access the resources they need to create safe, nurturing home environments.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide one-on-one and group support to children, parents, and caregivers
• Conduct home visits and assess family needs
• Develop support plans tailored to each family's strengths and challenges
• Work collaboratively with schools, health services, and community organizations
• Offer guidance on parenting, mental health, routines, behavior, and practical daily living
• Keep accurate records and ensure safeguarding policies are followed at all time.

What We're Looking For

• Experience working with children, families, or vulnerable individuals
• Excellent communication and active listening skills
• A compassionate, non-judgmental approach
• Ability to work independently and manage a varied caseload
• Knowledge of safeguarding and local support services
• Qualifications in social care, childcare, counseling, or related fields (willingness to work toward one)

What We Offer

• A supportive, friendly team environment
• Ongoing training and professional development
• Opportunities to make a meaningful impact in your community
• IPERS Retirement Benefits – Secure your future with Iowa Public Employees' Retirement System
• Comprehensive Health Benefits – Medical, dental, and vision coverage to keep you and your family healthy
• Ample Paid Time Off – Including holidays, personal time, and vacation
• Paid Day Off for Your Birthday – Celebrate YOU with a well-deserved day off

If you're committed making a real difference and want a rewarding role where every day brings new challenges and successes, we'd love to hear from you.

EXPECTATION FOR ALL EMPLOYEES:

Supports the organization's mission, vision, and values by exhibiting the following behaviors: excellence and competence, collaboration, innovation, respect, personalization, commitment to our community, and accountability and ownership.

GENERAL SUMMARY:

All New Opportunities employees contribute to the mission and vision of the agency by creating a positive, respectful, and safe environment when working with staff, customers, agency and community partners. The Family Support Worker under the direction of the Health Director and Parents As Teachers Supervisor provides services and support to families participating in the Home Visiting Program to attain established goals developed by families and the Family Assessment Worker.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

• Functions as a Family Support Worker to participants of the Home Visiting program.
• Functions as an advocate to families.
• Maintains knowledge of community resources available.
• Help families to identify and develop the skills needed to achieve goals.
• Maintains accessibility to families who have barriers to achieving goals.
• Use skills to identify high-risk populations and implement programs to improve and protect clients.
• Understands developmental stages.
• Understands family dynamics.
• Works independently and effectively with minimal supervision and is cost effective in use of time and supplies.
• Ensures documentation and client records are completed within specified time limits.
• Attends all mandatory meetings and programs.
• Maintains the confidentiality of patient, resident, employee and organizational information.
• Performs other duties as necessary or assigned.

SKILLS, KNOWLEDGE, and ABILITIES:

• Engage, establish trust, develop relationships, and collaborate effectively with individuals and families from a wide range of backgrounds, cultures, and perspectives.
• Provide services in a culturally competent manner.
• Promote respect and encourage independence.
• Use appropriate methods of support and establish professional boundaries with families.
• Observe and understand child, individual, and family functioning.
• Educate families about child development, child rearing, and positive personal development.
• Identify and build on strengths.
• Assess needs, risks, and safety.
• Recognize and address problems related to substance use, mental health, domestic violence, and child abuse and neglect.
• Recognize and respond to signs of prenatal and postpartum depression.
• Collaborate with community providers.
• Link families with needed services offered by other community providers.

NOTE: A review of this position has excluded the marginal functions of the position that are incidental to the performance of essential functions. All duties and responsibilities listed above are essential job functions and requirements and are subject to possible modification to reasonably accommodate individuals with disabilities. To perform this job successfully, the incumbent(s) will possess the skills, knowledge, and abilities to perform each duty or function proficiently.

QUALIFICATIONS:

Associate or bachelor's degree in Health Education, Human Services, Social Work, or related field. Staff performing family support services should have a minimum of six months' experience in health or human services. Experience in community or public health is preferred. Valid driver's license, automobile insurance and reliable transportation.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

0-24%

25-49%

50-74%

75-100%

Seeing:

Must be able to read documents and use computer.

X

Hearing:

Must be able to communicate with staff, and other agencies.

X

Standing/Walking/Moving/Driving

X

Climbing/Stoop/Kneeling/Lifting/Pulling/

Pushing

X

Fingering/Grasping/Feeling:

Must be able to write, type, and use phone system/computer/copier/fax machine.

X

WORKING CONDITIONS:

This factor measures the surrounding or physical conditions under which a job must be done and the extent to which those conditions make the job disagreeable. Consider the presence and relative amount of exposure to dust, fuel, dirt, heat fumes, contaminants, cold, noise, vibration, wetness, etc.

Normal working conditions with the absence of disagreeable conditions

GENERAL INFORMATION:

The statements contained in this job description are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by employees and are not to be construed as an exhaustive list of responsibilities, duties, and skills required of personnel so classified. Individuals may perform other duties as assigned. Furthermore, this document does not establish a contract for employment and is subject to change at the discretion of the employer.

Are you passionate about helping families thrive? Do you have the empathy, resilience, and communication skills to support people through life's challenges? If so, we'd love to hear from you

About the Role

As a Family Support Worker, you'll work directly with children, young people, and their families to provide practical and emotional support. You'll help families build stability, strengthen relationships, and access the resources they need to create safe, nurturing home environments.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide one-on-one and group support to children, parents, and caregivers
• Conduct home visits and assess family needs
• Develop support plans tailored to each family's strengths and challenges
• Work collaboratively with schools, health services, and community organizations
• Offer guidance on parenting, mental health, routines, behavior, and practical daily living
• Keep accurate records and ensure safeguarding policies are followed at all time.

What We're Looking For

• Experience working with children, families, or vulnerable individuals
• Excellent communication and active listening skills
• A compassionate, non-judgmental approach
• Ability to work independently and manage a varied caseload
• Knowledge of safeguarding and local support services
• Qualifications in social care, childcare, counseling, or related fields (willingness to work toward one)

What We Offer

• A supportive, friendly team environment
• Ongoing training and professional development
• Opportunities to make a meaningful impact in your community
• IPERS Retirement Benefits – Secure your future with Iowa Public Employees' Retirement System
• Comprehensive Health Benefits – Medical, dental, and vision coverage to keep you and your family healthy
• Ample Paid Time Off – Including holidays, personal time, and vacation
• Paid Day Off for Your Birthday – Celebrate YOU with a well-deserved day off

If you're committed making a real difference and want a rewarding role where every day brings new challenges and successes, we'd love to hear from you.

EOE AD#2529