Supervised Parenting Family Specialist

Who We Are

FamilyWise has been keeping children safe and helping families lead stable, healthy and productive lives since 1976. Our programs help families build resiliency, identify and harness their strengths, and connect to other resources. We promote individual and community-led actions that enhance supports for children, parents, and families across Minnesota.

Why You’ll Love Working Here

Our mission is to strengthen families by promoting the safety, stability, and wellbeing of children, and our vision is for a world where every child thrives. As a multi-service, multi-cultural agency, FamilyWise focuses on nurturing children, families, and communities through culturally competent services. Our staff reflect the communities we serve through shared lived experiences and cultural background, and many can provide services in languages other than English. Our programs focus on natural supports, experiential learning, education, and a therapeutic approach with expertise in trauma-effective care.

Wages

$23.00 per hour

Benefits

• Earned Sick and Safe Time (ESST)
• FWS sponsors a retirement plan with 3% employer match and immediate vesting

Because FamilyWise is a member with Metropolitan Alliance of Connected Communities (MACC) who partners with St. Mary’s University, FamilyWise employees and their spouses are also eligible for the following benefits at St. Mary’s University:

• Discounted tuition for Bachelor’s, Master’s, and Doctorate programs
• Professional development opportunities
• Access to advancement (internships, job placement, field practice)

Schedule

This is a regular, part-time position that will work up to 24 hours per week and is fully in-person. Some evening and weekend availability is required. The candidate must have reliable transportation for in-home and community visits.

Job Summary

FamilyWise is hiring a Supervised Parenting Family Specialist to foster the development of healthy family relationships by facilitating visitations and providing parent education to the families served.

Responsibilities

Direct Client Service

• Provide a secure, safe, clean and neutral environment which ensures positive experiences for parents and their children.
• Assess parents’ and families’ social, emotional, and cognitive skills.
• Coach and educate parents based on curriculum resources and expertise.
• Model appropriate social skills for parents and their children and identify parenting skills.
• Assess and document family dynamics, including identifying families' strengths, needs, and natural supports.
• Guide families through conflict resolution, including teaching effective communication strategies and de-escalation techniques.
• Provide feedback to parents regarding age-appropriate boundary setting, discipline, empathy, family roles and nurturing skills.

Case Management

• Prepare timely visit notes.
• Attend all appropriate collateral meetings with other professionals and referring agencies.
• Develop and implement service plans with participants.
• Coordinate and communicate with county workers, referring partners, and other stakeholders.
• Facilitate meetings of families, professionals, and natural supports.
• Complete intakes and facilitate ongoing family communication regarding problem solving, scheduling, and other family needs as requested.
• Document interactions and observations accurately and promptly, presenting information in a clear and objective manner.

What You Bring

• Bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Development, Child Psychology, Family Social Science Special Education or a related human service field (2-year degree with 2+ years of experience providing parenting services also considered).
• 2-3 years of experience (preferred) in child development, abuse/neglect services, or parent education, using intervention methods for children with special needs.
• Previous experience working with culturally and racially diverse populations in lower socio-economic conditions.
• It is highly valued if you are bilingual in Hmong, Somali, Spanish or other languages.
• Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities.
• The ability to maintain a good working relationship with all co-workers and the public.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills.
• The ability to work evenings and weekends as required.
• A demonstrated understanding of parenting and child development issues.
• The ability to work independently, establish priorities, and meet deadlines.
• The ability to travel to client sites within 15-mile radius of the office.

• A valid driver’s license, access to reliable transportation, and the ability to meet FamilyWise’s driving record requirements. Please note that if the license was not issued in the state of Minnesota, you have 60 days after becoming a Minnesota resident in which to apply for your Minnesota driver's license or permit.

Diversity and open expression are fundamental to the work of FamilyWise Services. We are passionate about building and sustaining an inclusive and equitable working environment where everyone can belong. Every member of our team enriches our work by exposing us to a broad range of ways to understand and engage with the world, identify challenges, and to discover, design, and deliver solutions. We welcome everyone to apply, especially those individuals who are underrepresented in our sector: individuals who identify as BIPOC, Indigenous or people of culture, LGBTQI+ and gender fluid or gender nonconforming, individuals with disabilities (both seen and unseen), veterans, people of any age or family status. We encourage you to apply even if you feel like you don't fit 100% of the technical requirements. Equal Opportunity Employer: All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, creed, ancestry, religion, national origin, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, familial status, disability, age, marital status, membership or activity in a local human rights commission, status with regard to public assistance, criminal history (justice-impacted status), housing or homelessness status, height, or weight.

Our organization has a partnership with Metropolitan Alliance of Connected Communities (MACC) to provide administrative services including management of the hiring process. If you apply for this position, you may see references to MACC in some online materials.

FamilyWise Services participates in E-Verify and will provide the federal government with your Form I-9 information to confirm that you’re authorized to work in the U.S. See E-Verify’s official poster at https://e-verify.uscis.gov/web/media/resourcesContents/E-Verify_Participation_Poster_ES.pdf. See E-Verify’s Right to Work poster at https://www.e-verify.gov/sites/default/files/everify/posters/IER_RightToWorkPoster%20Eng_Es.pdf.