Family Support Specialist

Welcome to Boys and Girls Aid

All cultures, races, abilities, religions, sexual orientations, and gender identities are welcome at Boys and Girls Aid. We are committed to building a diverse and inclusive workforce that reflects the communities we serve.

About the Role

Boys and Girls Aid is currently seeking a Family Support Specialist to join our mission-driven team in Portland. In this role, you'll work directly with caregivers and families involved with ODHS Child Welfare. The Family Support Specialist provides intensive coaching, education, and support to parents and children, while assessing the caregivers parenting practices, and assessing the child's needs. Services provided to participants are intended to strengthen the parent/child relationship, prevent children from entering substitute care, and/or to stabilize the child's placement. This role provides services to families in Clackamas County, where the Family Support Specialist will drive and meet with participants daily.

If you're a patient and effective communicator, have experience working with ODHS Child Welfare, and have experience coaching parents on appropriate, trauma-informed parenting practices, we encourage you to apply!

What We Offer

• Competitive pay: $21.00–$22.00
• Medical, dental, vision, life, and AD&D insurance
• Flexible time off and holiday pay
• 403(b) retirement plan with 4% employer contribution after 6 months
• Employee Assistance Program
• Eligibility for Student Loan Forgiveness
• In-house training on Collaborative Problem Solving and Trauma-Informed Care

About Boys & Girls Aid

Founded in 1885, our mission is to ensure every child in foster care grows up in a family. We teach and model healthy environments, invest in relationships, and create opportunities for youth. We value our employees through a culture of open communication, transparency, and honesty, and we support work-life balance alongside competitive pay and benefits.

Key Responsibilities

• Conducts assessments and develops a service plan for the family and child, based on referral materials, interviews, observations, and information provided by ODHS Child Welfare.
• Teach Collaborative Problem Solving, and other trauma-informed parenting models to caregivers during in-person sessions. Sessions are primarily 1:1 with caregiver (occasionally, sessions are with parent and child, and seldomly 1:1 session with the child)
• Frequent communication with ODHS Child Welfare, and other members of a families team (CASA, therapists, parent-mentors, etc.)
• Assists the caregiver to develop plans and strategies to work with child's identified needs and learning processes.
• Introduces, and models conflict resolution skills for the parent, child, and family.

Qualifications

• Bachelors Degree in social work, psychology, sociology, or a related field – plus minimum of 2 years related experience
• Experience working with families involved with ODHS Child Welfare
• Knowledge and experience of trauma-informed care, and Collaborative Problem Solving
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills

Ready to Apply?

If you're ready to make a difference in the lives of youth and families, we'd love to hear from you. Apply now with our quick 3-minute, mobile-friendly application.