Family Skills Worker - Grand Rapids - D.A. Blodgett

Description

Job Title: Family Skills Worker

Department & Division: Family Skills Service, Family Preservation Services

Reports To: Prevention Supervisor

Beginning Pay Range: $43,888-$46082

Classification: Full-time Salaried, exempt

D.A. Blodgett- St. John's

MISSION STATEMENT: To help children and empower families by providing safety, advocacy, and support.

VISION: A safe, nurturing home for every child, a supportive community for every family.

VALUES:

• Exceptional Service: Client-focused and teaming at the center of our work.
• Equity, Diversity, & Inclusion: All are welcomed, valued, and belong.
• Excellence: Ongoing commitment to learning and improvement.
• Integrity: Responsibility and ownership of our actions and results.
• Creativity: Imagination, innovation, and intelligent risk taking.
• Passion: Relentless positive energy toward our mission and vision.

SANCTUARY COMMITMENTS:

• Nonviolence: Maintaining safety for all members of the community.
• Emotional Intelligence: Managing emotions so we don't hurt ourselves or others.
• Social Learning: Together we accomplish more, we care for one another.
• Democracy: Everyone has a voice, not necessarily a vote.
• Open Communication: Respecting and sharing ideas of our team.
• Social Responsibility: Say what you mean, don't be mean when you say it.
• Growth & Change: Creating hope for ourselves and the people we serve.

POSITION SUMMARY:
The Family Skills Worker provides in-home parenting education and support services for families involved with Children's Protective Services or Foster Care in Kent County. This role delivers strength-based, culturally responsive, trauma-informed instruction to build parenting capacity, increase family functioning, and support safety and permanency goals. Services follow evidence-based practices and are guided by an individualized family service plan.

ESSENTIAL RESPONSIBILITIES

• Provide in-home parenting education and coaching to families referred by Kent DHHS.
• Assess family functioning and support development of individualized service plans.
• Utilize evidence-based curriculum such as Nurturing Parenting or similar curriculum.
• Collaborate with CPS and Foster Care workers to align service delivery.
• Document all contacts, service activities, and outcomes within required timelines.
• Provide transportation and support to families for court hearings and appointments as appropriate.
• Participate in regular supervision, team meetings, and training sessions.
• Work flexible hours including evenings and weekends based on family needs.
• Maintain professional boundaries and confidentiality in accordance with agency and MDHHS standards.
• Engage families respectfully and consistently to promote child safety and well-being.

Supervision Received: Weekly supervision focused on the day to day tasks of the role as well as case support.

Supervisory Responsibilities: None

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor's Degree in Social Work, Psychology, Family Studies or related human services field, or an Associate's Degree with 2+ years of relevant experience.
• Experience working with diverse families and children in home-based settings.
• Knowledge of parenting practices, trauma-informed care, and family systems.
• Valid driver's license, reliable transportation, and auto insurance required.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite and electronic case documentation.
• Commitment to the agency's mission, philosophy, and Sanctuary Model values.
• Ability to work a flexible schedule including evenings and weekends.

CORE COMPETENCIES

• Customer Service: A desire to serve others by focusing on efforts on listening and responding effectively to questions, providing services, and evaluating customer satisfaction.
• Planning and Organizing: Ability to set priorities and allocate resources properly in order to effectively achieve work responsibilities and objectives.
• Working Under Pressure: Ability to maintain composure when exposed to stress.
• Communication: Ability to effectively receive and express ideas, both written and verbal; using clear and concise vocabulary and active listening skills. Ability to communicate with small and large groups and ability to communicate with a wide variety of people.
• Integrity: Ability to adhere to organization policies and procedures, acting in a fair and just manner while maintain confidentiality.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

Average Daily Physical Requirements

None

Less than 2 hours

2 to 5 hours

5+ hours

Work in stationary position

Move about work area

Use hands/fingers to handle or feel

Reach with hands and arms

Ascend/Descend (stairs/ladder/etc.)

Bend, stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl

Communicate with various parties

Detect flavors or smells

Move containers up to [x] pounds

Visual acuity

Read and understand written word

Drive/Travel

Operate computer and general office machines

Operate machines or material handling equipment

Environmental Conditions:

Average Daily Environmental Conditions

None

Less than 2 hours

2 to 5 hours

5+ hours

Office Environment: No exposure to extreme heat, cold, noise, chemicals or hazardous equipment.

Manufacturing Environment: Exposure to dust, oil, various chemicals, solvents, or fumes.

Medical Environment: Exposure to body fluids, radiation, medical equipment, solvents or chemicals.

Noise: Exposure to constant or intermittent extreme sounds.

Temperature: Exposure to extreme heat or cold either indoors or outside.

DABSJ strives to be a fully inclusive organization as we support a diverse group of children and families. We are building a diverse team that represents our customers and our community and recognize that each of us brings a unique perspective to the organization. We welcome differing thoughts, faiths, beliefs, groups, and lived experiences. The diversity and differences of each team member, foster parent, adoptive parent, child, and family make us #DABSJstrongertogether for children and families.

DABSJ is an equal opportunity, at-will employer, and will not discriminate against employees or applicants for employment. DABSJ does not discriminate on the basis of race, including but not limited to hair texture and protective hairstyles such as braids, locks and twists; culture, ethnicity, religion, national origin, age, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, height, weight, marital status, veteran status, socio-economic status, disability, or other legally-protected characteristics as required by law.

This job description does not list all duties of the job. Employees may be asked by management to perform other duties as needed. The Company reserves the right to revise this job description at any time. This job description is not a contract for employment and does not infringe upon the Company's at will employment status.