• Pay Range: $22.00 - 24.00/hour
• Benefits: Competitive Benefits package including medical/dental/vision coverage, 401K as well as paid vacation/sick time and holiday pay

ORGANIZATIONAL IMPACT

Yolo County Children's Alliance (YCCA) vision is to protect and empower children by strengthening families throughout Yolo County. We recognize that better futures for our children start by building thriving environments to live, learn, and grow. YCCA ensures everyone in Yolo County has access to the resources they need to build meaningful ties to their communities and each other. To accomplish this, YCCA has expanded on our foundational role as the designated Child Abuse Prevention Council (CAPC) of Yolo County. Today, we serve as an inter-agency coordinator, building networks of support throughout Yolo County to deliver programs funded by numerous community and government grants, as well as individual donations. Our work focuses on three family-strengthening pillars: Family Support, Parent Education, and Community Collaboration.

ROLE IMPACT

Your impact as a Parent Support Specialist helps YCCA in meeting the needs of the communities we serve by connecting families with essential services and resources to promote family stability so that families can begin to thrive outside the child welfare system. You serve as the family's primary contact with the Family Strengthening Program developing a relationship with the families you serve to help build upon family strengths and enhance parent self-sufficiency.

A DAY IN THE LIFE OF A PARENT SUPPORT SPECIALIST

You will work with the Strengthening Families team to prevent families from entering crisis situations that could lead to entry or re-entry into the Child Welfare System. Daily duties to achieve family success may include:

• Conduct regularly scheduled home visits to assigned families to provide the Nurturing Parenting Program or other supportive activities to parents and children in their home
• Conduct in-person, group training cohorts on the Nurturing Parenting Program curriculum to families referred by Child Welfare Services
• Conduct screens and assessments on all assigned families to ensure they are thriving and getting the support they need
• Work with families to empower them to engage in problem solving
• Model effective parenting behavior, provide support, education/ information, and provide parents with age appropriate parenting and positive discipline techniques
• Promote parent participation in home activities designed to promote the physical, emotional, social, and intellectual development of their children
• Model nurturing attitudes and behaviors in all contacts with the families you serve
• Work with a County case worker to provide family safety checks to identify domestic violence issues, substance abuse, negligent behaviors against the children and environmental or health safety concerns that may negatively impact the ability for the family unit to thrive
• Utilize community resources, in-home teaching, and supportive problem solving to help families meet the goals of their nurturing plans
• Advocate for and act as a liaison for families with existing community services and agencies, which may include routine translation and interpretation
• Complete documentation as required by Family Strengthening program and Yolo County Child Welfare Services
• Must work YCCA sanctioned community events that assist in delivering program services to the communities we serve
• Perform any other related assigned duties needed to help drive our Vision and fulfill our Mission

CHARACTERISTICS & SKILLS FOR A CANDIDATE TO SUCCEED IN THE ROLE

Must Have Skills

• Excellent organizational skills with the ability to prioritize assignments and manage workflows
• Ability to work with culturally diverse populations and respect people's individuality
• Experience with a strengths-based approach to social services work
• Experience with trauma informed care and people with Substance Use Disorder
• Clear understanding of confidentiality and appropriate staff/client boundaries
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications, specifically Word, Outlook and Internet applications
• Valid driver's license and use of own car is required as well as auto insurance
• Available to work weekends and evenings to meet participant schedules (Standard work schedule is Tuesday - Saturday)
• Effective written and oral communication skills

Nice to Have Skills

• Bi-lingual English/Spanish speaker
• Experience Implementing Nurturing Parenting Program curriculum
• Experience conducting in-person training or classes to groups of people
• Familiarity with Yolo County is a plus
• Understanding of or experience with the 5 protective factors
• Understanding of or experience with trauma informed care
• Knowledge of child welfare system, educational system, and issues that affect families

Essential Physical Requirements

Candidates must be able to perform tasks which involve the ability to lift up to 20 lbs in sedentary to light work daily. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the role.

Experience & Educational Background

Candidates must have at least 3 years successful experience working with overburdened parents in social work field or similar using behavioral parenting training approaches to intervention as well as trauma informed care, a strength-based approach, an understanding of the 5 Protective Factors, and experience working with people with SUD.

Bachelor's degree in related field preferred.

OUR COMMITMENT TO DIVERSITY, EQUITY & INCLUSION

At Yolo County Children's Alliance, a diverse, inclusive, and equitable workplace is one where all employees and volunteers, whatever their gender, race, ethnicity, national origin, age, sexual orientation or identity, education or disability, feels valued and respected. We are committed to a nondiscriminatory approach and provide equal opportunity for employment and advancement in all our departments, programs, and worksites. We respect and value diverse life experiences and heritages and ensure that all voices are valued and heard.

We're committed to modeling diversity and inclusion for our industry sector, and to maintaining an inclusive environment with equitable treatment for all.