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YWCA Nashville & Middle Tennessee

Family Support Specialist

YWCA Nashville & Middle Tennessee

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Job Summary

Position Summary:

The Family Support Specialist creates and facilitates trauma-informed activities for children of all ages during their stay in the Weaver Domestic Violence Shelter. This role will have a high focus on supporting mothers by modeling age and developmentally appropriate activities, providing respite care and co-facilitating parenting classes. 

Relationships and Contacts:

Within the organization:  Initiates and maintains professional working relationships with staff throughout the organization including peers, supervisors/managers, directors, senior and executive management.

Outside the organization:  Initiates and maintains professional working relationships with shelter clients, volunteers, general public, schools and Youth development agencies.

Job Responsibilities

Essential Responsibilities:

  • Effectively interacts with child residents, organizing their activities and motivating them to participate, including mothers as appropriate. Creates a monthly calendar of activities for children’s programming. 
  • Manage groups of children ranging in age from infants to teens in Family Services-related activities.
  • Communicate with staff and volunteers to ensure delivery of quality child enrichment activities, field trips and recreational activities, including 4-week summer camp. 
  • Provide respite care for parents in shelter during therapy sessions, case management appointments and other important activities as feasible. 
  • Successfully coordinate childcare resources for families by helping with the childcare voucher application process and forming relationships with nearby childcare centers. 
  • Forms relationships with various early learning/youth development organizations across the community and make referrals as appropriate.
  • Collaborate with the MNPS HERO program for educational support for families and school enrollments. 
  • Provides backup support as needed, as liaison for families with schools, day care centers and other agencies. 
  • Oversee Playroom for children and parents including organization of toys, equipment and supplies available.
  • Assists with data collection and complete documentation in a timely fashion.  
  • Co-facilitates support groups and parenting classes.   
  • Maintain accurate and confidential records for each client, documenting resident behaviors, incidents, interactions, and progress in a consistent and ethical manner.

Additional Responsibilities:

  • Provide transportation for residents as appropriate.
  • Provide support and assistance to volunteers as needed during shift.
  • Develop an understanding of agency and program policies and procedures, implementing appropriately and interpreting to residents and volunteers.
  • Monitor resident activity throughout the shelter and manage conflict through appropriate intervention.
  • Protect confidentiality of clients and client records at all times.    
  • Assume responsibility for residential coverage, as appropriate, which includes conduct intake and orientation to shelter and responds to crisis calls and makes appropriate referrals.
  • Attend program staff meetings, in-service training sessions, YW All Staff, and other meetings as requested.
  • Perform other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

Minimum Requirements:

  • Education and Experience
  • Position requires a high school diploma or equivalent and a minimum of a year of  child-care related experience required. Bachelor’s degree in social work or related mental health field preferred.  Knowledge of Children’s Enrichment Activities, Trauma Informed Care practices, Verbal De-Escalation techniques, Positive Discipline models, Adverse Childhood Experiences and Empowerment based service delivery preferred.

Physical Requirements: 

  • Must be fit for travel by automobile and willing to travel independently to reach engagements.
  • Ability to carry boxes/materials with various weights up to 30 lbs.
  • Ability to move throughout the building as well as sit or remain stationary for extended periods of time.
  • Must have the ability to talk, hear, sit, stand, walk, reach, climb or balance, stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl.
  • Manual dexterity required for typing and the use of standard office equipment.
  • Ability to speak concisely. 
  • Tolerant to various noise levels: noise level in the work environment varies – may be very quiet to moderate.

Other Requirements:

  • Position requires the incumbent to have a valid driver’s license, vehicle insurance and a clear driving record.
  • Ability to work flexible hours, when needed.
  • Willingness to support the mission of the YWCA and ability to convey its importance both verbally and in writing.

Skill Competencies:

  • Ability to successfully function under pressure in critical situations
  • Ability to interact with diverse backgrounds and social economic levels.
  • Effectively manage conflict and crises.
  • Strong problem solving and analytical thinking.
  • Ability to exercise sound judgment and discretion.
  • Willing to utilize internal training tools to meet the needs of DV survivors and their children. 
  • Excellent organizational and time management. 
  • Successful collaborative skills working with a variety of groups. 
  • Excellent interpersonal and relationship building skills. 
  • Competency with MS Office and database management.
  • Understanding and sensitivity of the intersectionality of race and domestic violence.

 

The YWCA Nashville & Middle Tennessee reserves the right to modify, interpret, or apply this job description in any way the organization desires.  This job description in no way implies that these are the only duties, including essential duties, to be performed by the employee occupying this position.  This job description is not an employment contract, implied or otherwise.  The employment relationship remains “At-Will.”  The aforementioned job requirements are subject to change to reasonably accommodate qualified individuals with disabilities.

Additional Information

Benefits

Eliminating racism and empowering women is the mission of the YWCA Nashville. Work with us and receive:

*10 Paid Holidays *Employer Paid Medical *Employer Paid Long Term Disability *Parental Leave

*2 Floating Holidays *Employer Paid Vision *Employer Paid $25K Life *Health Reimbursement

How to Apply

For faster consideration, please use the link below:

https://www.paycomonline.net/v4/ats/web.php/jobs/ViewJobDetails?job=103009&clientkey=75324105F162349CC419382B93E8056D

 

Details

  • Date Posted: January 13, 2023
  • Type: Full-Time
  • Job Function: Programs and Service Delivery
  • Service Area: Children / Youth
  • Start Date: 01/13/2023
  • Salary Range: 18.00
  • Working Hours: 40 hrs/wk