Virtual Support Jobs in Indiana (NOW HIRING)

Position Summary

The Family Support Specialist (FSS) provides voluntary, relationship-based home visiting services to families enrolled in Healthy Families Indiana. The FSS develops long-term, trusting relationships with parents and caregivers and partners with families to strengthen parent-child relationships, promote healthy child development, increase protective factors, support family goals, and connect families with community resources.

Services are provided primarily in family homes and community settings and are individualized according to each family's strengths, needs, goals, circumstances, and required level of service. The FSS utilizes family-centered, strength-based, trauma-informed, culturally responsive, and reflective practices while supporting parents and caregivers in creating safe, stable, and nurturing environments for their children.

The FSS is responsible for maintaining consistent family engagement, completing required home visits and screenings, partnering with families in goal development and service planning, providing education and support related to parenting and child development, coordinating referrals, maintaining timely and accurate documentation, and participating in regular reflective supervision.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Home Visiting and Family Engagement

· Establish and maintain trusting, respectful, professional relationships with enrolled families.

· Provide regularly scheduled home visits in accordance with the family's assigned level of service and HFA/HFI requirements.

· Maintain consistent contact with families and use persistent, respectful engagement strategies when families are difficult to reach or experience barriers to participation.

· Individualize services based upon each family's strengths, needs, culture, circumstances, goals, and preferences.

· Meet with families in their homes and other appropriate community locations and utilize virtual service delivery when permitted and appropriate.

· Prepare for home visits and utilize approved curricula, educational materials, activities, and interventions appropriate to family needs.

· Engage parents and caregivers as active partners in determining the focus of services.

· Support families through transitions, changes in circumstances, and challenges that may affect participation.

· Maintain appropriate professional boundaries while developing meaningful and supportive relationships with families.

Parent-Child Relationships and Child Development

· Support parents and caregivers in developing nurturing, responsive, and developmentally appropriate relationships with their children.

· Promote positive parent-child interaction, attachment, bonding, and responsive caregiving.

· Increase parent and caregiver knowledge of infant and child development, developmental milestones, and age-appropriate expectations.

· Help parents recognize and respond to their child's cues, temperament, developmental needs, and strengths.

· Model and reinforce positive parenting strategies and developmentally appropriate interactions.

· Support parents in creating safe, stable, and nurturing home environments.

· Provide education and support related to child health, safety, development, and well-being within the scope of the Healthy Families Indiana program.

· Utilize observation and approved activities to support positive parent-child interaction.

· Recognize potential developmental concerns and assist families in accessing appropriate evaluation, early intervention, healthcare, or other resources.

Family Goals, Strengths, and Protective Factors

· Partner with families to identify strengths, priorities, needs, and goals.

· Develop and maintain required Family Service Plans or other required family goal plans in partnership with participating families.

· Assist families in identifying realistic, meaningful, and achievable goals.

· Support families in identifying steps and resources necessary to achieve their goals.

· Regularly review progress with families and modify goals and strategies as circumstances change.

· Recognize and reinforce family accomplishments, strengths, resilience, and protective factors.

· Help families strengthen problem-solving, self-advocacy, and decision-making skills.

· Support families in building natural supports and sustainable connections within their communities.

· Promote family self-determination and avoid creating unnecessary dependence on the program or worker.

Screening and Identification of Family Needs

· Complete required developmental, social-emotional, maternal, caregiver, and other screenings in accordance with HFA/HFI requirements and established program procedures.

· Administer required screening tools only after completing required training and demonstrating competency.

· Explain screening processes and results to families in understandable, respectful, and nonjudgmental language.

· Identify concerns requiring additional assessment, referral, consultation, or follow-up.

· Consult with the Healthy Families Supervisor regarding significant concerns or complex family circumstances.

· Track required follow-up and assist families in accessing recommended services.

Community Resources, Referrals, and Care Coordination

· Maintain working knowledge of community resources available to children and families.

· Identify resources and services responsive to each family's individual needs and goals.

· Connect families with healthcare, behavioral health, developmental, educational, housing, food, transportation, employment, childcare, financial, domestic violence, substance-use, and other resources as appropriate.

· Assist families in navigating barriers to obtaining needed services.

· Follow up on referrals to determine whether families successfully accessed services and provide additional assistance when barriers remain.

· Coordinate with other providers when appropriate and authorized by the family.

· Advocate with and alongside families when needed to facilitate access to services.

· Encourage families to develop their own ability to id