Family Support Specialist

Position Summary:                          

The Family Support Specialist works under the supervision of the Program Coordinator - Family Services or a designated supervisor. This position is responsible for, working directly with families in-person and virtually to provide education and support that improves the family’s ability to develop and/or strengthen protective factors in the home. Ensuring that families have access to the appropriate resources and opportunities to remove barriers and develop a safe, stable, developmentally appropriate, and nurturing home environment for their child(ren). 

Essential Duties & Responsibilities include the following: 

• Provide strengths-based family support services through Neighborhood Place of Puna's Family Resource Centers, home visits, outreach, and other community-based settings to promote child safety, family well-being, and healthy child development.
• Deliver parenting education, family support, and evidence-informed interventions in accordance with agency policies, program guidelines, funding requirements, and best practices.
• Build trusting relationships with families and partner with them to identify strengths, address barriers, and develop individualized goals that promote long-term family stability.
• Connect families with community resources, professional services, benefits, and other supports that address identified needs and strengthen protective factors.
• Advocate for families, when appropriate, to help reduce barriers and improve access to services.
• Conduct outreach and actively engage families who may benefit from available programs and services.
• Teach and model parenting skills, healthy communication, problem-solving, and other family life skills that strengthen caregiver capacity and improve overall family functioning.
• Support caregivers in creating safe, stable, and nurturing environments where children can thrive, including promoting child safety, health, education, and overall well-being.
• Fulfill all responsibilities as a Mandated Reporter by reporting suspected child abuse or neglect in accordance with Hawaiʻi State law and agency policy.

General Expectations and Responsibilities: 

• Complete program screenings, assessments, intakes, and enrollments in accordance with program requirements.
• Collaborate with families to develop and regularly update individualized, participant-driven Family Support Plans that identify goals, build on strengths, and address areas of concern.
• Maintain accurate, timely, and confidential documentation in all required databases and case records in accordance with agency standards and funding requirements.
• Maintain a flexible schedule to accommodate home visits, community-based services, and family availability, including occasional evenings or weekends as needed.
• Coordinate services with internal programs and external community partners to ensure families receive comprehensive, wraparound support.
• Collaborate closely with Housing Specialists and other Neighborhood Place of Puna staff to provide coordinated services for shared participants.
• Assist with community outreach, workshops, family engagement activities, and other events that strengthen families and build community connections.
• Participate in program planning, quality improvement efforts, and agency initiatives as requested by the Program Coordinator.
• Provide information, referrals, eligibility screening, and resource navigation to individuals seeking assistance.
• Attend required staff meetings, trainings, supervision sessions, and professional development opportunities.
• Maintain an up-to-date shared calendar reflecting appointments, home visits, meetings, community events, and work schedule.
• Effectively manage an assigned caseload in collaboration with the Program Coordinator, ensuring services are delivered in a timely, participant-centered, and high-quality manner.
• Participate in grant-funded initiatives, special projects, and other organizational priorities as assigned.
• Maintain professional, timely, and effective communication with supervisors, coworkers, community partners, and participants.
• Follow all Neighborhood Place of Puna policies, procedures, confidentiality standards, and ethical guidelines.
• Perform other duties as assigned by the Program Coordinator or designated supervisor.

Supervisory Responsibilities:  

This job has no supervisory responsibilities 

Qualifications: 

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The  requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. 

Car Use:

The position will require operating a company vehicle and/or personal vehicle to transport goods or personnel to various locations as needed. A valid HI driver's license and a clean driving record are required for this role. A reliable personal vehicle is required for this role.

Education and/or Experience: 

One year or more of related field experience and a Bachelor’s degree from an accredited four-year college or university is required. Two or more years of related experience and a Master’s degree from accredited college or university is preferred. Educational requirements may vary depending on sources of funding.  

Computer Skills:  

To perform this job successfully, an individual should have knowledge and experience of Google, Microsoft Office, and other Internet software as  well as some Social Media knowledge. 

Other Requirements: 

• Valid Hawaii driver’s license and no-fault car insurance.
• Clean driving abstract.
• Resident of Puna/East Hawaii Community area preferred. 
• Criminal Record and/or DHS-CWS background check 
• Participate in the upkeep of office and general cleanliness of workspace  

Unconditional Welcoming: 

NPP Staff will strive to approach everyone with unconditional welcoming. We encounter each person as unique, recognizing that they have intrinsic value and are worthy of our respect. We understand that each person is walking their unique journey. We understand that their actions of body, speech, and mind — no matter how distressing — are shaped by their past experiences, causes, and conditions that we may never know. We believe that no one is so broken that they cannot heal, even if we cannot see a path of healing. Therefore, NPP Staff will strive to treat everyone with respect, love, and compassion no matter their race, sex, gender identification, gender expression, sexual orientation, national origin, native language, religion, age, disability, marital status, citizenship, genetic information, pregnancy, etc. Our job is simply to accept all as unconditionally as possible.

Physical Demands:  

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully  perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with  disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this Job, the employee is regularly required to use hands to finger, handle, or feel;  reach with hands and arms; stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl and talk or hear. The employee is frequently required to  stand; walk; sit; climb or balance and taste or smell. There will be frequent requirements to drive and/or walk on  unpaved roads. The employee must frequently lift and/or move up to 25 pounds and occasionally lift and/or move up  to 50 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral  vision, depth perception and ability to adjust focus. 

Work Environment:  

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while  performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with  disabilities to perform the essential functions. 

While performing the duties of this Job, the employee is regularly exposed to wet and/or humid conditions and outside weather conditions. The employee is frequently exposed to fumes or airborne particles and extreme heat. The employee is occasionally exposed to moving mechanical parts. The noise level in the work environment is usually  loud. 

In the course of performing the duties of the Family Support Specialist it is not uncommon to see, engage or be confronted with the following: violence and threats of violence; profane, racists and/or sexist language; bodily fluids; conflict; interactions with First Responders; alcohol and other street drugs; cigarette smoke; death of service participants; nudity of service participants; people involved with sex work; people involve in the drug trade; persons used against their consent, will or knowledge; people in conflict with the law; and/or other situations that may be unsettling. Measures are taken to train staff to appropriately deal with these situations.