Family Services Specialist

Full Job Description
Description:Osborne Association serves individuals, families, and communities affected by the criminal justice system. Through our programs, we offer opportunities for people to heal from and repair harm, restore their lives, and thrive. We challenge systems rooted in racism and retribution and fight for policies and practices that promote true safety, justice, and liberation.

At Osborne, we are guided by core values and shared beliefs. We honor everyone’s capacity to change, celebrate our shared humanity, are united in our pursuit of justice and equity, take all possible steps to keep our commitments and advocate for people and principles with fierce and tenacious determination.

We are seeking a full-time Family Services Specialist. The Family Services Specialist provides classroom instruction, specialized services, counseling, and comprehensive case management to formerly-incarcerated men and their families. These services are based on an understanding of parenting skills and healthy relationships, the re-entry and transition process, family dynamics, and the impact that separation and incarceration have on children and the family unit.

Requirements:Responsibilities

Teach parenting and relationship classes to fathers using prescribed curricula and methods.
Provide individual counseling to fathers to increase participants’ coping skills; facilitate good familial communication and interactions and support family re-unification and strength.
Work with participants to create interventions to improve their parenting/partnership skills and relationships with their children and caregiver.
Develop service plans based on participants’ needs to increase emotional, psychological, and economic stability within the community and family environment.
Participate in case conferences with program staff to determine participants’ job readiness.
Provide appropriate referrals and follow-up services to assist in the achievement of service plan goals.
Offer formerly incarcerated fathers, mothers, and their families a safe and neutral environment in which to play, talk, learn and interact with each other.
Coordinate and implement special events, graduations, and other activities for families and children.
Receive and respond to routine requests for information. Actively support and observe participants in program participation, documenting progress and providing ongoing feedback to maintain self-awareness.
Identify needs and implement changes in services as needed, in consultation with the Program Manager and funder.
Conduct outreach efforts to recruit and educate the community about the services offered as needed.
Prepare, enter, and submit all required data and/or documentation such as individual and group case notes in a timely fashion.
Perform other duties as assigned.
Education

Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work, Sociology, Education, Psychology, or a related field is preferred, but not a requirement; Knowledge of child and human development is essential.
Experience

Minimum of two (2) years of progressively responsible professional experience.
Experience in nonprofit, case management, counseling, and group facilitation is strongly preferred.
Experience in criminal justice and/or family services environments preferred.
Related Skills or Knowledge Must be computer literate. Must have good organizational skills and attention to detail is required. Must possess strong interpersonal and assessment skills. Must be able to interact with a multi-cultural population. Strong oral and written communication skills with the ability to analyze and integrate information independently. Bi-lingual Spanish a plus.

Benefits of Working for the Osborne Association

Generous benefits include four weeks of vacation, tuition reimbursement, a flexible work schedule, excellent Medical, Dental, and Vision insurance, and a 403(b) plan with a company match. Career development through ongoing training and individual development plans.

The Osborne Association is an EEO/Affirmative Action employer and a VEVRAA Federal Contractor. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment and will not be discriminated against based on race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, age, disability, protected veteran status, unemployment status, or any other protected category. The Osborne Association takes affirmative action in support of its policy to advance in employment individuals who are minorities, women, protected veterans, and individuals with disabilities.

The agency is a NYC contractor and provides services to upstate facilities; therefore, we adhere to all state and city COVID 19 vaccine mandates. With the exception of an approved exemption/accommodation, effective December 1, 2021, all staff must be fully vaccinated and provide proof of vaccination.

Thank you for your interest in the Osborne Association. Be sure to include a cover letter with your application. No phone calls please. We wish we could personally respond to each application. However, we are unable to do so due to the volume of interest received.