The City of Alexandria is bordered by Washington D.C. and the Potomac River, Arlington and Fairfax counties, and Maryland. The small city has a cosmopolitan feel with 150,000 people living within its 15.75 square miles. At the Department of Community and Human Services, we provide essential safety net services to help city residents enjoy a sense of well-being, safety and self-sufficiency. Our behavioral health programs provide compassionate services that support self-determination and recovery. The beauty of our diverse and resilient people and our commitment to race and social equity, coupled with a historic district dating to 1749, charming waterfront, vibrant arts community and unique places for foodies and shopping, make the City of Alexandria a uniquely wonderful place to live, work and play. We invite all qualified candidates to learn more and apply for our Family Services Specialist I position.

General Statement of Duties:

A Family Services Specialist I in the Child Care Subsidy Case-management Unit provides social work services to low income families from diverse backgrounds who qualify for childcare assistance. A Family Services Specialist I engages in active case management with families toward reaching self-sufficiency goals; Offers supportive counseling and crisis support to families who experience difficulties; Provides parent education, information and support to facilitate the selection of appropriate child care placement and authorizes services accordingly; Analyzes and mediates child care concerns and issues; Provides information about early childhood education opportunities available in Virginia through the Head Start, Early Head Start, and Virginia Preschool initiatives.

Examples of Duties:

Conducts program intake interviews and eligibility determination assessments;
Conducts assessments to determine priorities, resources and goals;
Develops individual service plans addressing issues such as housing, family relationships, social activities, family planning, health care, financial management, education, training, employment, mental health and substance abuse, parenting education, anger management, etc.;
Makes recommendations for appropriate childcare placement based on federal, state and local program guidelines;
Educates parents regarding quality child care programs, child development, disabilities and school readiness;
Conducts site visits to programs to assess goodness of fit and makes appropriate recommendations for children and families who are experiencing difficulties within child care setting;
Provides assessment and referral services for children participating in the child care subsidy program.
Provides information and training on topics related to quality childcare and family self-sufficiency, school readiness, family engagement, child development, financial literacy, navigating services for children with special needs;
Administers and interprets and supports parents in screening children for social and emotional developmental disabilities (ASQ-3 and ASQ:SE);
Builds and maintains partnerships with childcare providers;
Serves as a liaison and advocates for families in all systems;
Conducts community outreach to educate and link families to services;
Maintains appropriate documentation according to federal, state and departmental requirements;
Maintains confidentiality of client files and information;
Resolves complaints;
Composes correspondence, maintains records, files, and documents;
Writes reports and gathers statistical data;
Authorizes services and maintains family record in VaCMS the state case management system;
Participates in multidisciplinary case consultation team meetings;
Conducts community presentations related to early childhood development programs;
Provides walk-in support for child care and provider services.
Performs other duties as assigned.
Provides crisis intervention and supportive counseling;
Makes ongoing assessments of risks and develops safety plans;
Prepares social histories and psychosocial assessments, develops treatment and/or service plans, and makes recommendations;
Monitors client's progress and works with client to adjust goals and develop strategies to meet their changing needs;
Provides information, referrals and resources;
Serves as mediator between clients, family members, and service providers;
Mobilizes community resources on behalf of clients;
Identifies and assesses service delivery gaps and recommends solutions;
Assists with special programs, marketing and promotional strategies;
Assumes special projects;
Performs other assigned tasks as needed.

Essential Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

Knowledge of the principles and practices of social work which includes knowledge of individual, family and group therapy techniques, as well as crisis intervention; some knowledge of community resources or the ability to readily acquire such knowledge; ability to communicate effectively, both verbally and in writing; ability to work collaboratively with others; ability to create service plans; ability to understand and interpret laws, policies and regulations. Ability to identify social problems and needs, and to assess the strengths and needs of individuals and families; ability to plan and organize work; Ability to effectively support adults in planning children’s activities and in the direct care of young children; Ability to communicate effectively, both verbally and in writing; ability to engage in positive collaborative internal and external partnerships; Ability to understand and interpret laws, policies, and regulations.

Minimum Qualifications:

Bachelor’s degree in social work and one year of relevant experience. Possess a valid driver’s license by the state of their residence.

Preferred Qualifications:

Master’s Degree in the field of Social Sciences and training in providing trauma informed services. Bilingual in English and a language, represented in the population served; Experience in Childcare Subsidy services; Experience in case management; Education, training or experience in early childhood development.

Virginia Department of Social Services

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Family Services Specialist I