Family Services Facilitator in Hayward, Wisconsin at Sawyer County; WI

Sawyer County Position Description

Title: Access Worker/Family Services Facilitator
Department: Health and Human Services Department
Reports to: Children, Youth and Family Services Supervisor

Position Purpose:
Under the direct supervision of the Children, Youth and Family (CYF) Supervisor and Child Protective Services (CPS) Lead Worker, the Access Worker/Family Services Facilitator serves as the primary CPS Access Worker and provides direct family support services. The position receives and documents reports of alleged child abuse and neglect, gathers information needed for screening decisions, and coordinates appropriate intake response. The position also supports primary ongoing case managers by providing supervised visitation, parent education, service coordination, and other direct services to children, youth, and families. In addition, the position receives screened-in voluntary services reports and works with families to identify needs and connect them with appropriate community resources. The Access Worker/Family Services Facilitator will integrate trauma-informed care within daily practice.

Receive and document CPS Access reports involving allegations of child abuse, neglect, or threatened harm in accordance with applicable Wisconsin statutes, standards, and agency policy.
Conduct Access intake interviews with reporters and gather sufficient information regarding alleged maltreatment, child vulnerability, caregiver functioning, family circumstances, current safety concerns, and other information necessary to support screening decisions.
Complete CPS Access documentation in the state child welfare information system accurately and within required timeframes.
Consult with the CYF Supervisor/Lead Worker regarding screening decisions, response times, jurisdictional questions, and reports requiring additional review or coordination.
Coordinate with law enforcement, tribal child welfare, schools, healthcare providers, mandated reporters, and other community partners as appropriate during the Access process.
Receive screened-in voluntary services reports and contact families to assess identified needs, provide information, and connect families with appropriate community-based services and resources.
Provide follow-up and short-term service coordination for voluntary services referrals as needed to support successful linkage to community resources.
Provide direct support to primary ongoing case managers in implementing the child and family case plan and permanency plan.
Assist children, parents, and caregivers in understanding and working toward goals identified in the case plan and permanency plan.
Provide and document supervised visitation between children, parents, siblings, and other approved family members in accordance with the case plan, permanency plan, court orders, and direction of the primary ongoing case manager.
Observe and document parent-child interactions, parenting skills, child responses, progress, concerns, and other relevant information during supervised visitation and communicate observations to the primary ongoing case manager.
Provide hands-on parent education and coaching during supervised visitation and other family contacts, including child development, supervision, discipline, routines, nurturing, home management, budgeting, and other identified parenting or life-skill needs.
Connect families to services identified by the primary ongoing case manager, including behavioral health, substance use, domestic violence, parenting, housing, transportation, childcare, medical, educational, financial, and other community supports.
Assist families with referrals, applications, scheduling, paperwork, transportation, and other practical barriers that may interfere with engagement in services.
Assess family strengths, resources, and needs and communicate relevant information to the primary ongoing case manager.
In consultation with primary case managers, provide case management support such as monitoring, referrals, face-to-face contacts, home visits, and other assigned activities for eligible clients.
Provide direct services to children, youth, and families involved in ongoing child welfare cases, including targeted case management and assistance accessing benefits and community services.
Facilitate home visits and provide check-in contacts to assess family status and progress on assigned tasks.
Facilitate or participate in child and family team meetings as requested.
Schedule appointments and provide transportation as necessary and consistent with agency policy.
Document supervised visitation progress and relevant observations regarding children placed in out-of-home care.
Participate in department, multidisciplinary, and community agency meetings and share information regarding agency services as appropriate.
Provide information and referrals to public and private agencies and community assistance programs, including food, medical insurance, childcare, financial assistance, housing, household management, and other basic-needs resources.
Advise clients and families about available community resources and assist with completing necessary applications or paperwork to access benefits and services.
Maintain current knowledge of applicable laws, child welfare standards, agency policies, community resources, and state child welfare information system requirements.
Perform other related duties as assigned that are consistent with the responsibilities of the Access Worker/Family Services Facilitator position.


To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enhance individuals with disabilities to perform the essential duties.
Education and Experience:
High School diploma or equivalent (Associates degree in social work or related field preferred but not required); previous experience in a social service or community outreach role.
Essential Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:
Strong written, verbal, interpersonal, and organizational skills.
Ability to communicate effectively and respectfully with children, youth, families, professionals, and community partners from diverse backgrounds.
Ability to establish effective working relationships with families, including those experiencing crisis or who may be resistant to services.
Ability to work independently, exercise sound judgment, manage competing priorities, and function effectively as part of a team.
Knowledge of child and youth development, human behavior, family dynamics, crisis intervention, and basic case management principles.
Knowledge of Wisconsin Child Protective Services Access functions, child abuse and neglect reporting requirements, screening concepts, and child safety principles.
Ability to gather, assess, document, and communicate detailed information objectively and accurately.
Knowledge of case planning and permanency planning and the role of family services in supporting child safety, permanency, and well-being.
Ability to provide supervised visitation, parent education, coaching, and practical skill development while maintaining professional boundaries.
Knowledge of community resources and ability to connect families with appropriate services, benefits, and voluntary supports.
Ability to maintain confidentiality and comply with agency policies, procedures, and professional standards.
Proficiency with computers, electronic documentation systems, data entry, and standard office technology.
Ability to maintain flexibility, professionalism, and resilience when responding to changing priorities, difficult situations, and family needs.

PHYSICAL AND MENTAL ABILITIES REQUIRED TO PERFORM ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS
Language Ability and Interpersonal Communication
Ability to analyze data and information using established criteria in order to determine consequences and to identify and select alternatives. Ability to compare, count, differentiate, measure, copy, record, and transcribe data and information. Ability to classify, compute, tabulate, and categorize data.
Ability to counsel and mediate. Ability to persuade, convince, and train others. Ability to advise and provide interpretation regarding the application of policies, procedures, and standards to specific situations.
Mathematical Ability
Ability to perform basic mathematical functions including ability to calculate percentages, fractions, decimals, volumes, ratios, and present values. Ability to interpret basic descriptive statistical reports. Ability to prepare and analyze complex reports, financial statements, governmental accounting, cost analysis, and other relevant data.
Judgment and Situational Reasoning Ability
Ability to use functional reasoning in performing influence functions such as supervising, managing, leading, teaching, directing, and controlling.
Ability to exercise the judgment, decisiveness, and creativity required in situations involving the direction, control, and planning of an entire program or multiple programs.
Physical Requirements
Ability to sit or stand for extended periods of time while performing duties. Ability to drive. Ability work out in the field. Ability to perform physical demands such as seeing, hearing, and color perception to make judgments both in the office and out in the field.
Ability to operate a variety of office equipment including computer terminal, keyboard, telephone, fax machine, calculator/adding machine, and photocopier. Ability to coordinate eyes, hands, feet, and limbs in performing movements requiring moderate skill, such as typing. Ability to sustain prolonged visual concentration. Ability to exert light physical effort in sedentary to light work which may involve some lifting, carrying, pushing, and pulling.
Environmental Adaptability
Ability to work under safe and comfortable conditions where exposure to environmental factors such as repetitive computer keyboard use poses a very limited risk of injury.

CLOSING STATEMENT

This description has been prepared to assist in evaluating responsibilities, duties, and skills of the position. The duties listed above are intended as illustrations of the various types of work that may be performed. The omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related, or a logical assignment to the position. The job description does not constitute an employment agreement between the county and employee and is subject to change by the county as the needs of the county and the requirements of the position change.

Selection Guidelines
Formal application, rating of education and experience, oral interview and reference check. A state background check is required.

The job description does not constitute an employment agreement between the employer and employee and is subject to change by the employer as the needs of the employer and requirements of the job change.
Sawyer County is an Equal Opportunity Employer.