The Family Support Worker (FSW) is responsible for establishing and maintaining a regular and long-term relationship with the family.

• • FSW will outreach families referred through Central Intake or a Service Provider.
  • FSW will use a standardized screening tool to determine eligibility for home visitation services.
  • Activity will occur primarily within the participant's home; each visit should last for at least one hour.
  • The interventions should be family-centered and strength-based.
• Interview/conduct the Parent Survey with parents to identify strengths/risk factors to support the family throughout home visitation services.
• Establish a trusting relationship.
• Assist in strengthening the parent-child relationship.
• Assist parents in improving their skills to optimize the home environment
• Assist in increasing the family support system and increase the family's ability to problem solve and assume the role of advocating for themselves and their children.
• Responsible for assisting the family in establishing goals and a plan for the accomplishment of those goals. The assessment of the normal growth and development of the target child.
• Identify and refer to other supportive agencies, including healthcare appointments.

Selection Criteria:

• Minimum of a High School Diploma or GED equivalent with two years of experience in working with children (0-3 years of age) and families or,
• Knowledge of normal child growth/development and parent-child relationships.
• Experience in working with community agencies, including implementing referral processes.
• Ability to relate to families from a strength-based model even in an apparently chaotic family environment; ability to approach families from a family-centered service model.
• Demonstrates motivation and ability to learn and practice basic supportive skills.
• Flexible availability
• Non-judgmental
• Enjoys and functions appropriately with long-term, ongoing projects; doesn't need immediate feedback or results for personal validation.
• Ability to establish and maintain personal/programmatic boundaries, while providing supportive services.
• Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to relate to individuals who may not share a basic commonality, including value system and behavior norms.
• Believes in and is comfortable with advocating for nurturing, a nonviolent discipline of children.
• Experience in working with culturally diverse communities/families and the ability to be culturally sensitive and appropriate.
• Demonstrates strong writing, effective communication and organizational skills
• Enters and maintains data entry of client information into the database(s).
• Open to reflective practice (i.e. has the capacity for introspection, communicates awareness of self in relation to others, recognizes the value of supervision, etc.)
• Ability to travel throughout New Jersey to attend required core training, curricula training and ongoing training required by the model and/or agency.
• Infant mental health endorsement level I or II preferred.
• If serving a bi-lingual community, the FSW should be proficient in the first language of the community.
• Must have an acceptable driving record and use of an insured vehicle.

Acenda's Equal Employment Opportunity Commitment

Acenda Integrated Health is committed to equal opportunity in employment. We consider applicants for all positions without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, sexual orientation, marital or veteran status, or any other legally protected status.

Acenda's support of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) brings together a diverse workforce to successfully achieve our mission of moving lives forward in the community. Acenda is an equal opportunity employer, we aim to create a productive workplace, where all workforce members feel engaged and valued. As part of Acenda, you play an important role in supporting our commitment to DEI throughout the organization.