Family Support Services Specialist - 2025766
Are you a person of compassion? An advocate for justice? Someone who stands up for the rights of the vulnerable and speaks out for the marginalized, the exploited and the forgotten? Do you believe in our calling as Christians to welcome the least of these and love our neighbor?
If you answered ‘yes’, to any of the above, World Relief, and millions of people around the world need you.
At this pivotal moment in time, we are rapidly expanding and growing our team to meet the increasing needs of our world. We are looking for people who want to use their gifts and talents to make a real and tangible difference in our world and the lives of the suffering.
If you’re looking for a purpose-driven career in which you can grow your talents, while also standing up for the rights of the vulnerable, we want you to join us today.
ORGANIZATION SUMMARY
World Relief is a global Christian humanitarian organization whose mission is to boldly engage the world’s greatest crises in partnership with the church. The organization was founded in the aftermath of World War II to respond to the urgent humanitarian needs of war-torn Europe. Since then, for 80 years, across 100 countries, World Relief has partnered with local churches and communities to build a world where families thrive and communities flourish.
Today, organizational programming focuses on humanitarian and disaster response, community strengthening and resilience, and refugee & immigrant services and advocacy.
POSITION SUMMARY:
World Relief Western Washington (WRWW) seeks a Family Support Services Specialist to help expand our Family Support Services (FSS) program to the local immigrant and refugee community. FSS provides individualized support to children and families in accessing and navigating various early childhood and learning systems as well as school systems and other supports for students. FSS also provides pro-active support with accessing various community resources and opportunities such as childcare subsidies, student enrichment, behavioral health support, and student scholarships. Overall, our programs aim to support and invest in refugee and immigrant children and their families through strengths-based, culturally responsive, and healing-centered wraparound programs that are focused on holistic development, educational support, community integration and a sense of belonging.
ROLE & RESPONSIBILITIES:
Outreach, Enrollment and Intake
- Build and maintain the FSS program caseload through community outreach as well as following up on referrals from within WRWW, community partners, and direct family requests.
- Follow all due intake and enrollment process, helping coordinate the intake process, as needed.
Resources and Systems Navigation
- Assist and support with applying for WCCC subsidies, childcare, and early childhood systems such as ECEAP/Head Start, Preschool and home-visitation programs, and Kindergarten.
- Provide follow-through support with additional support needs, including any cross-departmental referrals and case coordination needed.
- Assist and support with school navigation including any school registrations, IEP or 504 plans, and other academic or English language learning needs for the students.
- Research and facilitate connection of families with enrichment opportunities and tutoring support. Provide support with accessing resources for the behavioral and mental health needs of students.
Playgroups and Parent-child Programming
- Support with organizing and facilitating parent-child programming activities, including play groups and other parent/parent-child workshops, in coordination with other team members and community partners.
Family Engagement
- Partner with families using a culturally responsive and healing centered framework- assessing their requirements, setting goals based on strengths and barriers, facilitating community and resource connections, and offering them relevant support.
- Ensure sustained engagement through active follow-up and relationship-building with families.
- Provide home-visits and accompany families to help with navigating systems and resources.
Community and School Partnerships
- Continue to build the resources list and establish connections with local organizations & partners to continue expanding the availability of quality services for refugee and immigrant families and children.
Family Engagement Events
- Support with coordinating and organizing family engagement events, field trips, and training/workshops.
- Coordinate and support initiatives to provide family resources and meet felt needs (e.g., backpack drives).
Assessments
- Administer ASQs and PICCOLOs screenings, and any other internally developed assessments or surveys, and provide any follow-up services with regards to child development, disability services, and family well-being.
- Administer parent feedback surveys to support the program's learning and evaluation efforts.
Documentation
- Use internal tools and database to collect, track and update participant information, documents, case notes, feedback, and other program details.
- Work closely with the Coordinators and Program Manager to ensure all early childhood programs data are recorded in a timely manner.
Learning
- Engage in continuous learning, participate in office and program trainings to be better equipped in serving families and children well.
Teamwork
- Assist the rest of the Children and Family programs team with work planning, services, and support with other planned program activities as needed.
- Contribute the overall programming with insights and expertise to strengthen the programming to best serve our families and children in the community.
- Other related duties as assigned.
JOB REQUIREMENTS:
- Mature and personal Christian faith
- Committed to the mission, vision, and values of World Relief
- Desire to serve and empower the Church to impact vulnerable communities
- Able to affirm and/or acknowledge World Reliefs Core Beliefs, Statement of Faith, Christian Identity and National Association of Evangelicals' For the Health of The Nation document
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Bachelor’s degree in Education, Social Work, or a related field, or equivalent combination of education and experience required.
- At least 1-2 years of social work or casework experience working with families in accessing community resources and navigating systems related to children/students.
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Ability to build strong cross-cultural relationships and engage families using culturally responsive, trauma-informed practices.
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Excellent oral and written communication skills in English, with the ability to communicate effectively and professionally with diverse stakeholders (caregivers, students, volunteers, and staff).
- Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
- Ability and willingness to travel to participant homes, partner and program sites.
- Valid Driver's license and ability to pass a driving record check.
- Current (or ability to quickly secure) CPR/First Aid Certification required.
- Individuals with lived immigrant/refugee experience strongly encouraged to apply.
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:
- Strong collaboration skills to partner with caregivers, team members, and community partners.
- Creative, resourceful, and self-motivated.
- Strong organization and time management skills.
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Demonstrated cultural humility and experience supporting families across languages and cultural contexts.
- Proactive in building partnerships, researching resources, and facilitating opportunities for children and families.
- Knowledgeable about inclusive early childhood practices, child development, IFSP/IEP procedures, and reducing barriers and stigma for people with disabilities.
- Accountable and thorough with excellent follow-through on each task.
- Experience with planning/coordinating programs and events for families and children is preferred.
- Proficiency in Microsoft applications (Word, Excel); and ability to learn other internal applications.
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Proficiency in a language commonly spoken by refugee and immigrant communities is strongly preferred.
World Relief offers a competitive benefits package and employee discount program for full-time, Regular, employees.
World Relief is honored to be recognized with the Gold-level Cigna Healthy Workforce Designation for exceeding the core components of our well-being program including leadership and culture, program foundations and execution, and whole person health.
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Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
We are proud to be an EEO/AA employer M/F/D/V. We maintain a drug-free workplace and perform pre-employment substance abuse testing.
For World Relief staff, strong commitment to the mission, vision, and values of World Relief is essential, and Christian faith is a prerequisite for employment, based upon United States federal guidelines provided in Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.