Prevention Family Specialist (Madison County) (5498)

About the role

The Prevention Family Specialist works to preserve the family unit by providing supportive casework counseling in the home and empowering parents with tools and resources to ensure children's safety, well-being, and permanency. The role includes advocacy to ensure quality services for families.

Responsibilities

• Conducts assessments of family strengths and needs; identifies problem areas and utilizes various treatment modalities and resources to effect growth and change.
• Participates in the development, implementation, and ongoing evaluation of comprehensive treatment and discharge plans.
• Develops alternative placement or permanency resources for youth who may not return to their families.
• Completes a comprehensive discharge summary at least eight weeks prior to discharge.
• Delivers effective case management services, including scheduling counseling sessions and ensuring children receive required medical and dental examinations.
• Tracks and monitors services provided, completes all documentation in a timely and comprehensive manner, and ensures compliance with confidentiality standards and parental consent requirements.
• Conducts casework contacts with families at least twice a month in their homes and community settings to focus on treatment goals.
• Engages youth and families by developing effective and caring relationships, ensuring children are maintained in a safe and secure environment.
• Develops and maintains relationships with community schools to ensure the best educational experience for each child and with community resource agencies.

Requirements

• Minimum Bachelor’s degree in human services or a related field.
• Minimum of 1 year of experience working with at-risk youth and families in case management (including internships, volunteer work, school-based roles, residential/group home settings, or community-based programs such as YMCA or similar organizations).
• Must be able to work a flexible schedule with variable hours, including occasional evenings and participation in an on-call rotation (typically once per month).
• Subject to call: required to be on call in collaboration with a Program Coordinator, which may involve evening/weekend field work. On-call duties are shared in rotation with other Family Specialists.
• Must have a valid Driver’s License with acceptable driving history, a reliable vehicle, and the ability to coordinate and plan travel for visits and appointments efficiently. Travel up to 50% within Madison County; mileage reimbursement provided in accordance with agency guidelines.
• Ability to work with economically and culturally diverse populations.

Skills

• Ability to handle crisis intervention in a solution-focused manner.
• Strong communication skills, including written, verbal, and listening skills.
• Bilingual ability is a plus.