Home Visitor

At Children’s Wisconsin, we believe kids deserve the best.

Every child deserves a safe and loving home. When parents are unable to provide this on their own, intervention is needed to ensure these children are free of abuse and neglect.

We provide child well-being services to help children live in a safe and nurturing environment. We provide services to parents needing education and guidance to improve their parenting skills so their children can remain with them.  We also provide services to children who are placed with foster families until they can return home or become part of an adoptive family.

Our experienced professionals provide the following services to families in Milwaukee County and at locations throughout Wisconsin.

• Foster Care

• Treatment Foster Care

• Adoption

• Respite Care

• Child Advocacy Centers

• Family Case Management

• Family Finding

We offer a wide variety of rewarding career opportunities and are seeking individuals dedicated to helping us achieve our vision of the healthiest kids in the country. If you want to work for an organization that makes a difference for children and families, and encourages you to be at your best every day, please apply today.

Please follow this link for a closer look at what it’s like to work at Children’s Wisconsin: https://www.instagram.com/lifeatcw/

Job Summary:
Responsible for initiating and maintaining regular contact/support with families enrolled in our Home Visiting programs. This activity will occur primarily in the family's home and each visit should last at least an hour. The interventions used should be family centered and strength based and directed at establishing a trusting relationship; assisting in strengthening the parent-child relationship; assisting parents in improving their skills to optimize the home environment; improving the family support system; and increasing the family's ability to problem solve and assume the role of advocate for themselves and their children. Responsible for assisting the family in establishing goals and a plan for accomplishment of those goals, as well as the assessment of the normal growth and development.

Essential Functions:

• Provides service in a manner that demonstrates awareness and sensitivity to the client’s cultural values and beliefs.

• Administers a variety of assessment and screening tools to support development of a comprehensive family goal plan.

• Provides educational and supportive activities for children and their adult caregiver(s) to address needs identified according to program protocols. Monitors progress toward family goals. Functions as part of the treatment and support team for family and children served, as needed.

• Refers families to services in the community to address needs that are outside the Home Visitor role. Communicates across systems and works collaboratively with the other agencies to integrate needed services for participants and provides service coordination and resource and referral. Maintains expert knowledge of the resources available to children and families that support positive family functioning and child development. Develops and maintains relationships with local resource providers and community partners. Acts as an advocate for families to receive needed services.

• Establishes rapport and supportive relationships with caregivers, modeling and teaching child rearing skills and encouraging development of positive, nurturing family relationships.

• If appropriate to program, implements a system for recruitment of families. Implements system for participant intake & maintains records of activities, attendance, and services provided as directed by program and agency standards. Provides timely follow up to interested parties and administers initial assessments to determine eligibility for the Home Visiting program.

• Completes necessary paperwork/documentation including progress notes, pre/post testing and other related file maintenance as required by program. Provides regular reports to responsible parties when requested.

• Provides feedback and evaluation opportunities for program participants and incorporate those results into program improvement.

• Participates in advocacy activities to support the program

• Actively participates in reflective practice supervision

Education:

• Bachelor's Degree Preferred

Experience:

• 1+ years experience working in community programs with families of diverse ethnic, cultural and socioeconomic background Required

• Experience working with or providing services to children and families Required

• Experience in successfully working with children 0-5 and their families Preferred

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Infant Mental Health endorsement preferred.

• Demonstrates an openness with the concept of Reflective Practice.

• Bilingual in Spanish/English or Hmong/English may be a plus, depending on program needs.

• Acceptable driving record, personal auto liability insurance coverage and the ability to be insured by the CHHS auto insurance carrier.

• Must use personal vehicle to transport children, complete in-house car seat transporter training within one month of hire and re-train biannually thereafter to maintain.

• Committed to work toward improving one’s own cultural competence, i.e. valuing diversity, recognizing personal limitations in one’s own skills and expertise, and having the desire to learn. Accepting of individual differences.

• Knowledge of milestones of infant and child development along with the ability to demonstrated knowledge of psychosocial, economic and cultural determinants of healthy growth and development. Working knowledge of current trends and developments in the prevention and family support field. Knowledge of the ecological theories and family support principles.

• Ability to establish trusting relationships and work with families and children who are dealing with safety issues and other related problems.

• Excellent judgment skills. Learns quickly when facing new problems and makes good decisions based on a mixture of analysis.

• Ability to make sound judgments, to use supervision effectively and to take independent action if needed to ensure child safety. Is cool under pressure and can effectively cope with change.

• Ability to effectively communicate information and respond to questions from diverse individuals, community groups and the general public. Relates well to all kinds of people and is approachable. Commands attention and can manage group process during presentations and family meetings.

• Ability to work independently in a fast paced environment.

• Excellent verbal and written skills. Ability to communicate effectively both in oral and written communication, including the ability to write factual progress notes, effectively present information in individual and group settings with a variety of audiences.

• Strong computer skills.

Licenses and Certifications:

• License Driver's License - State of Wisconsin required

Required for All Jobs:

• This job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that may be requested in the performance of this job.

• Employment is at-will. This document does not create an employment contract, implied or otherwise.

Children's Wisconsin is an equal opportunity / affirmative action employer. We are committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment for all employees. We treat everyone with dignity, respect, and fairness. We do not discriminate against any person on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, gender, gender identity and/or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or any other status or condition protected by the law.