- Looking to make a meaningful difference in the lives of children & families?
- Seeking professional growth in resiliency-oriented & trauma-informed care practices?
- Is your workplace’s commitment to social justice and a healthy work culture important to you?
Join DFYF’s team that is inspiring hope, strengthening families, and restoring communities!
Who we are:
Directions for Youth & Families offers community-based mental health and prevention services that utilize a resiliency-oriented and trauma-informed framework. DFYF has provided innovative, culturally sensitive, and successful programming to the Central Ohio community since 1899, through our predecessor Crittenton Family Services. DFYF’s programs are divided into 3 categories: Treatment, Prevention, and Education. DFYF offers specialized mental health, kindergarten readiness, afterschool and summer programming to meet the diverse needs of our youth and family population. DFYF proudly serves over 5,000 youth, adults, and families each year. All of our programs strive to fulfill our mission to build and inspire hope, healing, and resilience for youth, families, and communities through counseling and education.
Position overview:
DFYF's provides comprehensive case management services to families of youth aged 6 weeks to 5 years old that are enrolled in Early Head Start (EHS) program through our partnership with The Ohio State University. The role of the Family Specialist is to provide family support services, case management, and collaboration with assigned child-care facilities as outlined in the Head Start Performance Standards. The collaborative relationship between childcare facilities and DFYF serves as a means for recruitment and identification of families in need of EHS services. Family Specialists work directly with their clients and their families in their homes, community, and at the childcare facility where their clients are enrolled.
Essential functions:
- Family Specialists will recruit and enroll children in the EHS program and ensure that EHS program services and community resources are available to enrolled children and their families.
- Complete a Family Assessment, establish and monitor goals of enrolled families.
- Collaboration with parents to ensure access to community resources are seamless.
- Collaboration with Child Care Centers and program partners in order to coordinate services for each family.
- Work with families to ensure that medical, dental exams and treatments are complete through linkage
- Participate in trainings, staff meetings, and parent meetings as required to deliver and coordinate agency services.
Qualifications:
Bachelor's Degree in Social Work or related social services field required
Experience working with children and families preferred
Excellent verbal and written communication skills
Excellent interpersonal, engagement, and conflict resolution skills
Excellent organization and critical thinking skills
Strong documentation skills and ability to use electronic health record system
Valid Driver's License, Auto Insurance and reliable transportation
What makes us great:
- We offer FREE medical insurance!
- We provide extensive training in trauma-informed care & resiliency-oriented treatment
- We utilize the ARC (Attachment, Regulation, & Competency) trauma treatment framework, which is recognized by the National Child Traumatic Stress Network
- Free social work/counseling test prep course and licensure reimbursement
- Free Supervision toward Independent Licensure
- Educational Fee Waivers
- Free monthly trainings & CEU’s for Counselors & Social Workers
- Monthly Bonuses
- 403(b) Retirement with Employer Contribution
- Paid time off - Earn 160 hours of paid time off after your first year!
- 10 days of paid holidays
- Competitive salary and benefits (medical, dental, vision, life, and employer paid life and disability insurance)
Schedule:
Monday to Friday, flexible schedule, no weekends or on-call
Our Mission
Build and inspire hope, healing, and resilience for youth, families, and communities through counseling and education
Our Vision
Building healthy individuals, strong families, and safe communities through innovative treatment and prevention services
Our Values
Quality • Diversity • Accessibility • Acceptance • Collaboration •
Investment in individuals, families, and communities
