Open Until Filled
Cultural Family Support Worker
Reports to: Preserving Native Families Program Manager
Salary (Grade): $15.53 (G13-E)
Status: Reg., Full-time (Non Exempt)
Location: Human Services Building, Winnebago NE, 68071
Job Purpose & Position Overview
Under the direct supervision of the Preserving Native Families Program Manager, the Cultural Family Support Worker will provide culturally relevant supportive services to children, adults, and families involved in protective services. Employees in this position will perform a variety of supportive services to families by providing instruction, guidance, assistance, motivation and training to reduce and/or prevent trauma to children and families. The primary duties of the support worker will be to strengthen parents’ skills and parent-child relationships through individualized home visits. Home visits are supplemented by innovative and holistic approaches to well-being, including strengthening connections with culture, language, and community. Our aim is to decrease parental stress, strengthen family relationships, increase self-confidence and parenting skills, and integrate a healthy focus on child development within family life. The Cultural Family Support Worker is responsible for initiating and maintaining a regular and sustainable supportive relationship with families. They will also make referrals to other service providers as necessary. This position will require evening and weekend work including overnight travel for training or transporting of clients.
Specific Job Duties/Responsibilities:
Create a partnership with families by providing information, education, and support to families involved with Winnebago Child and Family Services.
Confer with caseworkers and CFS staff to determine needs of children and families and participates as part of the team in working with youth and families.
Complete needed forms and paperwork and enter information into child welfare database as required.
Assist caseworkers in the development of case plans and conducting family and community assessments.
Develop a cultural plan for families who have identified a need for more cultural/traditional connections in order to promote healing, wellness, and rehabilitation.
Have knowledge of resources available to families in the community and surrounding areas
Maintain community resource list, provide departmental updates as needed, make client referrals, and arrange needed supportive services.
Work with area churches, programs, service providers, and other spiritual leaders to create and maintain culturally appropriate supports for families.
Schedule appointments, prepare needed documents, and document all activity related to service provision.
Develop and facilitate educational training for families that supports healthy attachment, child development and parent/child well-being.
Establish supportive relationships with clients and work closely with children and families to provide needed support services.
Coordinate and facilitate family team meetings to ensure that these are conducted in a timely and efficient manner.
Document completed family team meetings and complete client progress reports for team members, utilizing the approved Family Team Meeting Framework.
Represent CFS on task forces and work groups related to child welfare and family services, which may include local, state, or federal groups.
Attend required teleconferences, conferences, training, and meetings as assigned.
Initiate contact with the public and provide information to community representatives and agencies when assigned.
Participates in the continuous development of tribally specific family support strategies for children and families served.
Will implement new, innovative, and culturally appropriate programming as developed.
Complete other related duties as assigned in the efficient and effective operation of the program.
Duties listed are only an illustration of various types of work performed. The omission of specific duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related, or a logical assignment.
Required Qualifications/Skills:
Associate’s Degree or three years of accredited college course work with two years of experience in child or youth care, teaching, foster care, delinquency prevention, juvenile court systems, community work related to children and youth, mental health systems, nursing or other areas involving contact or interaction with youth or families is required.
Knowledge of Winnebago customs, kinship/clanship systems, and traditional beliefs surrounding children and families is required.
Knowledge of/ proficiency in Ho-Chunk language is preferred; a willingness to learn is required.
Must have excellent interpersonal, communication, and organizational skills.
Must be self-motivated, able to work effectively with minimal direct supervision, able to work effectively on a team, and possess a customer service focus.
Must be timely, dependable, courteous, and maintain a business-like appearance.
Must possess public speaking skills. A background in facilitating evidence based curricula is highly desirable.
Ability to interact and build rapport with peers and clients, to remain non-judgmental, to value and accept differences in people, and to observe, assess and address behavior is required.
Must possess keyboarding skills for data entry, and be computer literate and proficient in Microsoft Office (particularly Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook).
Must be able to maintain the strictest confidentiality, and will be required to sign a confidentiality agreement.
Must complete training to facilitate Family Team Meetings to include knowledge of NFOCUS documentation.
Must be certified or complete certification process for culturally appropriate evidence based curricula.
Knowledge of Federal, State and Tribal Law on abuse and neglect of individuals, Confidentiality Laws and Regulations, and the Indian Child Welfare Act is preferred, and a willingness to learn is required.
Knowledge of child development, basic nutrition, housekeeping practices, household budgeting, parenting skills, and social, work, and family systems is required.
Knowledge of agency philosophy, behavioral prevention and intervention techniques, community resources and other systems as they relate to youth and families is preferred and a willingness to learn is required.
Will be required to participate in the creation of a professional development plan and complete developmental activities, training and certifications identified and educational plan if needed.
Must possess a valid driver’s license, maintain valid insurance, and be insurable under the Tribe’s insurance policy.
Must be of good moral character. Will be required to pass a federal background check and submit to pre-employment drug testing.
Supervisory Responsibilities:
N/A
Training Requirements:
N/A
Physical Requirements:
Normal to light office work which includes the ability to lift up to 10 lbs.
Regularly required to walk, stand, and sit for extended periods of time and use hands to operate computer keyboard, phone, and various office equipment.
While performing daily duties, the employee is regularly required to talk and hear.
Mental Requirements:
Reading, writing, calculating
Above average social interaction skills
Reasoning/Analysis
Works with minimal to no supervision
Language Requirements:
Must possess the ability to read, write, and speak the English language fluently.
Must be able to continually and effectively employ professional verbal and written communications skills.
Certificates, Licenses & registrations:
All applicants will comply with 45 CFR 1301, Subpart D, Section 1301.31, C and D, which require all prospective employees to sign a declaration prior to employment regarding all arrests and convictions of child abuse or violent felonies and to comply with PL 101-630 and PL 101-637 regarding criminal records check.