Family Support Specialist | CD Office of Family Empowerment

Join the City of Chattanooga Team

Chattanooga, a vibrant and growing community of over 190,000 residents within a metropolitan area of nearly 600,000 is known as the "Scenic City" for a reason. Nestled along the Tennessee River and surrounded by the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains, we are a hub of outdoor adventure and innovation. Home to the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga (UTC) and Chattanooga State Community College, our city blends a rich industrial history with a tech-forward future—famously powered by the nation’s first community-wide "Gig" fiber-optic network.​ The City of Chattanooga was also recently designated as a "National Park City,” the first of its kind in the United States.

Our Organization

As a City, we are powered by a dedicated workforce of approximately ​2,600 employees committed to excellence in public service and making Chattanooga the best community in the country. Our team ensures our city thrives through a wide range of municipal services, including:

• Public Safety: Chattanooga Police and Fire Departments.
• Infrastructure & Utilities: Public Works, Waste Resources, and specialized Stormwater management.
• Quality of Life: Award-winning Parks and Outdoors and Community Development systems and the Chattanooga Public Library.
• Transportation: The Chattanooga Metropolitan Airport (CHA) and citywide transit and pedestrian friendly initiatives.
• Innovation: Leading-edge smart-city programs with a commitment to cutting edge workforce development policies to ensure all our residents can get ahead.

Why Choose Chattanooga?

The City of Chattanooga’s workforce is the heartbeat of our community. We don't just offer jobs; we offer careers with purpose: making Chattanooga the best city in America. We are committed to being the premier employer of choice in Southeast Tennessee by providing:

• Competitive Compensation: Robust pay scales that reflect our commitment to our staff.
• Work-Life Balance: Generous paid time off and flexible scheduling where possible.
• Exceptional Wellness: Comprehensive health benefits and wellness programs designed for you and your family that deliver savings to you beyond your paycheck, featuring a centralized health clinic and pharmacy for all City employees. .
• Growth: A focus on professional development and upward mobility within the organization.
• ​The Great Outdoors: Your Backyard Playground: Chattanooga isn't just near nature, it's immersed in it. As one of the most biodiverse cities in North America, the "Scenic City" offers an ecological richness that few places on earth can claim. Whether you are an adrenaline junkie or a weekend wanderer, world-class adventure is always less than an hour away.
• ​Vertical Adventures: Scale legendary sandstone cliffs in what is widely considered the premier rock climbing hub of the Southeast.
• Water & Rapids: From the high-octane whitewater kayaking of the Ocoee River to world-class bass fishing and peaceful paddling on the Tennessee River.
• Trails for Miles: Explore a massive network of mountain biking and hiking trails that wind through lush ridges, hidden waterfalls, and deep river gorges.

In Chattanooga, "work-life balance" means you can finish your shift and be at a trailhead or on the water before the sun sets.

Our mission is to work together to build a safe, vibrant, and sustainable city for all Chattanoogans. To do that, it takes a team of skilled and passionate individuals. So, if you’d like to call Chattanooga home – or maybe you already do! – and want to further your career through meaningful work that makes a true impact where you live, we’d love to talk to you.

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Salary: $20.96 per hour

Work Hours: 8:00 A.M. - 4:30 P.M. (EST)
*Hours may vary due to work assignments or projects.*

Work Location: 6098 Debra Road, Chattanooga, TN

FLSA Status: This is a Non-Exempt Grant-Funded position.

Department: CD - Office of Family Empowerment

CLASSIFICATION SUMMARY:

A Family Support Specialist helps families experiencing poverty to change their lives and improve their economic security, by providing Family Coaching and case management, as well as short-term financial assistance with housing and utility bills. An FSS provides assistance for families by determining what type of aid they need in consultation with the family, developing a family goal plan as-appropriate, and providing coaching, expert advice, and relational support for families’ goals. An FSS provides financial assistance as-appropriate within the guidelines of assistance grants, including CSBG. An FSS researches services available to clients and coordinates services provided to clients, and assists clients with completing paperwork to apply for assistance programs.

SERIES LEVEL:

This is a stand-alone GRANT-FUNDED position.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:
(The following duties ARE NOT intended to serve as a comprehensive list of all duties performed by all employees in this classification, only a representative summary of the primary duties and responsibilities. FSS(s) may not be required to perform all duties listed and may be required to perform additional, position-specific duties.)

Interviews and counsels clients requesting assistance from the Office of Family Empowerment to determine the nature and degree of their challenges.

Secures all information necessary to evaluate factors contributing to the client's situation. Evaluates contributing factors along with client's strengths and resources.

Determines eligibility for services and appropriate services to be rendered; develops a service plan in conjunction with the client to address the challenges identified.

Assists clients with completing applications and related documentation.

Processes application and documentation, and provides financial assistance as-appropriate.

Learns and correctly applies all grant guidelines and Office policies and procedures in processing assistance requests and completing work with clients.

Compiles and maintains client records.

Refers clients to community resources and other organizations.

Provides ongoing coaching and case management to clients enrolled in programming and coordinates with community partners and volunteer mentors to support client success.

Provides ongoing support for client’s goal plan, and supports client in making strong progress toward their goals within the program eligibility period.

Assists family to live the lives they want and achieve greater economic security

Must meet regular attendance requirements.

Must be able to maintain good interpersonal relationships with staff, co-workers, managers and citizens.

Must accomplish the essential functions of the job, with or without reasonable accommodations, in a timely manner.

Performs other duties as assigned.

DEPARTMENT SPECIFIC DUTIES (if any):

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

Associates Degree in Psychology, Sociology, Public Administration, or Social Work, supplemented by two (2) years' experience working with clients in similar situations, or four (4) years equivalent education, experience/training sufficient to successfully perform the essential duties of this job will be considered. Bachelor's degree in Psychology, Sociology or Social Work preferred, or any combination of equivalent experience and education.

LICENSING AND CERTIFICATIONS:

KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS:

Knowledge of Social Work principles and practices. Knowledge of the causes and conditions of poverty in Hamilton County. Skilled in defining problems, collecting data, establishing facts to draw valid conclusions. Ability to form a professional supportive relationship with clients experiencing poverty.

Ability to actively listen, and to evoke desires, preferences, and solutions from clients. Ability to motivate, appropriately challenge, and support clients as they progress toward their goals. Ability to assist clients to solve the challenges they encounter as they progress toward their goals. Ability to read, analyze, and interpret common scientific and technical journals, financial reports, and legal documents. Ability to respond to common inquiries or concerns from clients, regulatory agencies, or members of the business community. Ability to effectively present information to top management, public groups, and board of directors. Ability to provide excellent customer service.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to sit and talk or hear. The employee is occasionally required to stand; walk; use hands to finger, handle or feel; reach with hands and arms; climb or balance; and stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl. An individual in this role may exert up to 10 pounds of force occasionally and/or a negligible amount of force frequently or constantly to lift, carry, push, pull or otherwise move objects, including the human body. Sedentary work involves sitting most of the time. Jobs are sedentary if walking and standing are required only occasionally and all other sedentary criteria are met.

WORK ENVIRONMENT:

This job operates in an office environment and is environmentally controlled. This role routinely uses standard office equipment, inputs data into spreadsheets, etc.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS:

Safety Sensitive: N
Department of Transportation - CDL: N
Child Sensitive: N

SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION:

This position requires pre-employment screening(s) that include: background check.

The City of Chattanooga, Tennessee is an Equal Opportunity Employer. In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, the City will provide reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities and encourages both prospective and current employees to discuss potential accommodations with the employer.

JES 3.13.25
260736 KS/KM