Family Support Worker - 64004483 1

Requisition No: 822573 

Agency: Department of Health

Working Title: FAMILY SUPPORT WORKER - 64004483 1

 Pay Plan: Career Service

Position Number: 64004483 

Salary:  $1,335.60 bi-weekly 

Posting Closing Date: 02/12/2024 

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Thank you for your interest in career opportunities with the Florida Department of Health in Pinellas County.  If you are looking to establish a successful career in Public Health, you have come to the right place.  Many of our innovative and successful health programs are recognized throughout Florida.  We hope you decide to join our team!  Applicants will be contacted directly if selected for an interview.

The incumbent is part of a global public health organization and is expected to support the Florida Department of Health in Pinellas County in its mission to protect, promote and improve the health of all people in Florida through integrated state, county and community efforts and its efforts and its vision To be the Healthiest State in the Nation. Furthermore, the incumbent is expected to incorporate the agency values of Innovation, Collaboration, Accountability, Responsiveness and Excellence in all aspects of their work.

Family Support Worker

This is a paraprofessional position providing education, support, and assistance to pregnant women and families with newborns to optimize the safety of the home environment. The position will promote the Safe Baby Initiative which promotes healthy, safe home environments through parent education and referrals to services. This position will work for Healthy Families which is a child abuse/neglect prevention program. The incumbent will work promoting, maintaining, and improving individual and/or community health by assisting individuals and communities to adopt healthy, safe behaviors. Incumbents may also serve as a resource to assist individuals, other professionals, and the community. This position requires local travel and some weekend and evening hours.  

Your Specific Responsibilities:

Assessment and Eligibility - 

• Ability to quickly establish rapport to engage culturally diverse families in Safe Baby Initiative
• Provide infant safety education and links pregnant women, families and infants to supports and services available in the community. Promotes continued participation in prenatal and infant health care.
• Able to answer client questions and assist clients with establishing a safe environment for their child when they identify a safety concerns or needs, using knowledge of child development and community resources and referrals.  
• Ability to present materials in a culturally sensitive, effective manner to clients. 
• Develop and maintain professional, collaborative relationships with WIC, Healthy Families, DOH staff and other community agencies.
• Networking with community agencies to both promote SBI and to stay current with available resources for families. 

Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Demonstrates motivation to learn & apply knowledge of child development and child safety. 
• Effectively applies basic counseling skills with families such as developing rapport, cultural competence, establishing & maintaining effective supportive professional boundaries, using active listening & reflection & empowerment to support families in reaching their goals.
• Ability to organize and coordinate work assignments.
• Ability to communicate verbally and in writing.
• Maintains case work standards as developed by program.
• Knowledge of community resources.
• Maintains dependable, punctual work schedule appropriate to the needs of the program
• Knowledge of basic computer software and ability to enter data in computer.

Qualifications:

Minimum-

• Drivers’ License, or the ability to obtain one within 30 days of employment, with access to daily reliable transportation.
• Ability to work a flexible schedule, including nights and weekends.
• Knowledge of computer programs including the Internet and e-mail.
• Ability to work with culturally diverse at-risk families in a hectic office setting
• At least one year of experience working with at-risk populations.
• Comfortable working in high stress situations

Preferred- 

• At least one year of experience working with parents of children at risk of child abuse/neglect. 
• Bilingual fluency in English and Spanish.
• Knowledge of pregnancy and child development.
• At least one year of experience working with pregnant women and/or infants or have taken one year of related college courses.

Florida Department of Health Mission, Vision, and Values:

Mission:

To protect, promote & improve the health of all people in Florida through integrated state, county & community efforts.

Vision:

To be the Healthiest State in the Nation.

Values:

I nnovation: We search for creative solutions and manage resources wisely.

C ollaboration: We use teamwork to achieve common goals & solve problems.

A ccountability: We perform with integrity & respect.

R esponsiveness: We achieve our mission by serving our customers & engaging our partners.

E xcellence: We promote quality outcomes through learning & continuous performance improvement.

Where You Will Work:

St. Petersburg Center of the Florida Department of Health

205 Dr M.L.K. Jr St N

St. Petersburg, FL 33701

The Benefits of Working for the State of Florida:

Working for the State of Florida is more than a paycheck. The State’s total compensation package for employees features a highly competitive set of employee benefits including:

• Annual and Sick Leave benefits;
• Nine paid holidays and one Personal Holiday each year;
• State Group Insurance coverage options, including health, life, dental, vision, and other supplemental insurance options;
• Retirement plan options, including employer contributions

(For more information, please click www.myfrs.com);

• Flexible Spending Accounts;
• Tuition waivers;
• And more!

For a more complete list of benefits, visit www.mybenefits.myflorida.com.

Please be advised:

Your responses to qualifying questions for this position must be verifiable by documentation provided through the electronic application process.  

This position requires a security background check and/or drug screening and participation in direct deposit. Note: You will be required to provide your Social Security Number (SSN) in order to conduct this background check. 

Male applicants born on or after October 1, 1962, will not be eligible for hire or promotion unless they are registered with the Selective Services System (SSS) before their 26th birthday, or have a Letter of Registration Exemption from the SSS. For more information, please visit the SSS website: http://www.sss.gov 

If you are a retiree of the Florida Retirement System (FRS), please check with the FRS on how your current benefits will be affected if you are re-employed with the State of Florida.  Your current retirement benefits may be canceled, suspended or deemed ineligible depending upon the date of your retirement. 

The successful candidate will be required to complete the Form I-9 and that information will be verified using the E-Verify system.  E-Verify is operated by the Department of Homeland Security in partnership with the Social Security Administration to verify employment eligibility.   

Incumbents may be required to perform emergency duty before, during, and/or beyond normal work hours or days.

The State of Florida is an Equal Opportunity Employer/Affirmative Action Employer and does not tolerate discrimination or violence in the workplace. 

Applicants requiring a reasonable accommodation, as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act, must notify the agency hiring authority and/or People First Service Center (1-877-562-7287). Notification to the hiring authority must be made in advance to allow sufficient time to provide the accommodation. 

The State of Florida supports a Drug-Free workplace. All employees are subject to reasonable suspicion drug testing in accordance with Section 112.0455, F.S., Drug-Free Workplace Act. 

Florida has the third largest population of veterans in the nation with more than 1.5 million service men and women.  The Florida Department of Health (department) is committed to serving members of the United States Armed Forces, veterans and their families by encouraging them to apply for vacancies that fit their area of knowledge and/or expertise.  Through the Department's VALOR program, which expedites licensing for military veterans, the Department also waives initial licensing and application fees for military veterans who apply for a health care professional license within 60 months of an honorable discharge. These initiatives help ensure that the transition from military service into the workforce is as smooth as possible and reflects our appreciation for the dedication devoted to protecting our country.    

The State of Florida is an Equal Opportunity Employer/Affirmative Action Employer, and does not tolerate discrimination or violence in the workplace.

Candidates requiring a reasonable accommodation, as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act, must notify the agency hiring authority and/or People First Service Center (1-866-663-4735). Notification to the hiring authority must be made in advance to allow sufficient time to provide the accommodation.

The State of Florida supports a Drug-Free workplace. All employees are subject to reasonable suspicion drug testing in accordance with Section 112.0455, F.S., Drug-Free Workplace Act.

VETERANS’ PREFERENCE.  Pursuant to Chapter 295, Florida Statutes, candidates eligible for Veterans’ Preference will receive preference in employment for Career Service vacancies and are encouraged to apply.  Certain service members may be eligible to receive waivers for postsecondary educational requirements.  Candidates claiming Veterans’ Preference must attach supporting documentation with each submission that includes character of service (for example, DD Form 214 Member Copy #4) along with any other documentation as required by Rule 55A-7, Florida Administrative Code.  Veterans’ Preference documentation requirements are available by clicking here.  All documentation is due by the close of the vacancy announcement.