Family Support Specialist in Anza, California at Cahuilla Band Of Indians

The Family Support Specialist is a community-centered position dedicated to the well-being of Cahuilla tribal members, children, and families. This position provides a broad range of social services, functioning as a practitioner across child welfare, family stability, and community wellness. Core responsibilities include coordinating access to social services, providing direct ICWA casework support alongside county social workers and tribal partners to advocate for Indian children and families involved in the child welfare system, recruiting and assessing prospective tribally approved foster homes for the placement of Indian children in accordance with the Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA), and facilitating coalition efforts to address substance use disorders and the opioid crisis. The Family Support Specialist serves as a trusted resource and advocate for tribal members navigating complex systems, working to strengthen families and promote the long-term health and stability of the community.

• Conduct client intake and needs assessments and coordinate access to social services, community resources, and support programs through referral, follow-up, and service navigation for Cahuilla children, adults, and elders.
• Provide direct ICWA case management and advocacy services to Cahuilla families, children, and youth involved in the child welfare system, supporting families through prevention, child welfare investigations, family maintenance services, reunification, and Tribal Customary Adoption (TCA) processes when applicable.
• Work with families, the legal system, county social workers, and other service providers to ensure compliance with the Indian Child Welfare Act.
• Coordinate and provide timely responses to ICWA-030 notices.
• Represent the Cahuilla Band of Indians in court alongside legal counsel regarding the best interest of Cahuilla children and make recommendations to Tribal Council regarding reunification and placement plans.
• Provide or coordinate supervised visitation as ordered by the dependency court and for other family visits as needed.
• Maintain complete, accurate, and confidential case files, documentation, and data in compliance with program standards, confidentiality policies, and HIPAA guidelines.
• Enter client information into designated databases and document all client contacts and services.
• Serve as a mandated reporter and immediately report suspected child or elder abuse or neglect in accordance with tribal and local reporting procedures.
• Assist in the recruitment, coordination, and retention of Tribally Approved Homes for foster and adoptive placements.
• Provide and participate in education, presentations, and outreach to children, families, and the Cahuilla community related to child welfare, tribally approved homes, and opioid prevention/recovery.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with staff, community members, and partner agencies.
• Assist with facilitating Cahuilla Tribal Local Opioid Coalition (TLOC) meetings and coordinate participation among tribal members, community partners, and outside agencies to bring awareness to substance use disorders and the opioid crisis.
• Maintain strict confidentiality of all client and community information in accordance with Tribal policies and applicable law.
• Contribute to Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) efforts to enhance department operations and outcomes for the Tribe.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

• Must be able to interpret or seek supervisor clarification of applicable Tribal, State, and Federal statutes, rules, ordinances, codes, administrative orders, policies, and procedures.
• Ability to multi-task and manage multiple priorities
• Ability to assess client safety and risk
• Ability to work with a diverse client population and workforce in a professional manner that is client centered while maintaining confidentiality.
• Knowledge of trauma, including historical and intergenerational impacts of trauma on Native communities.
• Must be able to convey information both verbally and in writing format.
• Must be proficient with Microsoft Excel, and other MS Office programs (Outlook, Word, Access, PowerPoint, SharePoint, OneDrive).
• Must be able to establish rapport with community members, maintain professional relationships with other service providers, engage with the public, and collaborate with people across all levels of the organization.

• Education: Bachelor’s degree in social work or a closely related field, such as human services, sociology, psychology, child and family studies, etc.
• Work Experience: Minimum of two years working in child welfare.
• Be knowledgeable of ICWA and BIA guidelines and tribal and state court proceedings in which ICWA may apply.
• Must possess a valid California State Driver's License.
• Cahuilla and/or other Federally Recognized Native American preference applies.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS/WORKING ENVIRONMENT/SCHEDULE:

• This is a part-time position (Monday-Friday, 25 hours/week, approximately 5 hours/day).
• This position requires working evenings and weekends as needed.
• Tasks are performed mostly indoors in an office environment; however regular field work will be required as part of case management efforts.
• May be required to push, pull, lift, and/or carry up to 40 pounds.
• The position involves standing, walking, bending, stopping, and long periods of sitting.
• Adequate hearing is required to hear/talk with all individuals and to use telephones consistently; work may require using a computer terminal for extended periods and some repetitive motion associated with preparing documents and using a computer mouse.
• Traveling may be required, including local, within the state, and national travel; work is performed in an office setting with some exposure to environmental stress; the noise level in the work environment is quiet to moderate with frequent communication with Tribal parents, Tribal members, Tribal attorneys, and the public.
• To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.

BACKGROUND CLEARANCE REQUIREMENTS:

• Must successfully pass a comprehensive background investigation. This process includes mandatory fingerprinting.
• Must meet eligibility standards under the Cahuilla Band of Indians vehicle insurance requirements.
• Must complete and pass a pre-employment drug screening