Home Visitor

The Massachusetts Department of Public Health's (DPH) Bureau of Family Health and Nutrition (BFHN) is seeking a dynamic and motivated individual to serve as Home Visitor for the F.O.R. (Follow-up Outreach Referral) Families Program in the Division of Pregnancy Infancy and Early Childhood (DPIEC). Home Visitors conduct comprehensive assessments, addressing barriers to stability, providing referrals to services, and coordinating with health and human service providers. They must possess in-depth knowledge of resources in Southeastern Massachusetts. The position is based in DPH’s Canton site.

The Home Visitor provides outreach services to Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities (EOHLC) clients. Clients include families who are eligible for Emergency Assistance and temporarily reside in shelters/motels while they await permanent housing. The Home Visitor assesses families for barriers to stability, provides referrals to identified services, coordinates, follows-up and works closely with health and human service providers to ensure that services are being delivered and utilized appropriately. Case management services through home visits, assessing the impact of homelessness on family well-being and addressing barriers in areas such as housing stability, health, food security, economic stability, and social supports is a primary function of this position. With a focus on client-centered care, they will offer referrals, follow-up, education, and crisis management based on your comprehensive assessments.

Please note: Applicants will need to have a current and valid Massachusetts Class D Motor Vehicle Operator’s license or the equivalent from another state and access to a reliable vehicle for transportation, as this role requires some travel.

Duties and Responsibilities (these duties are a general summary and not all inclusive):

• Conduct comprehensive assessments of families experiencing homelessness to identify barriers to stability, including housing, health, food security, economic stability, and social supports.
• Screen families for domestic violence, substance use disorders, and mental health issues, providing appropriate referrals, follow-up, education, and crisis management based on their needs.
• Coordinate and collaborate with DPH programs, state agencies, local governments, schools, community-based agencies, and networks to ensure the delivery of services to families experiencing homelessness.
• Liaise with EOHLC offices, Emergency Assistance shelter providers, and other state agencies to coordinate activities and identify and address gaps in services.
• Develop and maintain a comprehensive list of resources available to families experiencing homelessness and share this information with relevant agencies and providers.
• Participate in professional development activities, such as training sessions and conferences, to enhance knowledge and skills in addressing the needs of families experiencing homelessness.
• Establish and maintain a well-organized filing system for client files, ensuring accurate and up-to-date documentation of all interactions and assessments.
• Input client data into EOHLC's electronic client data system in a timely manner, within 5 days of home visits or client contact.
• Contribute to the body of knowledge and understanding of homelessness issues in Massachusetts by actively participating in community meetings, statewide initiatives, program evaluation, and research efforts.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Master’s Degree in social work, psychology, human services, or related field
• Minimum of three (3) years’ experience in the field.
• Bilingual in one of the following: Haitian Creole or Spanish.
• Home visiting experience
• Case Management experience
• Experience conducting intake assessments
• Interagency collaboration
• Experience working with families experiencing homelessness
• Experience using an electronic record
• Ability to work under pressure and in a hotel setting
• Proficient with Microsoft Office applications including Excel, Word, Teams, and Outlook

• Benefits are unavailable with the exception of sick leave accruals.
• Contracts are renewable, subject to the Department approval, performance, and allocation of funds.
• All employees will be paid on a biweekly basis and must have direct deposit.

The mission of the Massachusetts Department of Public Health (DPH) is to prevent illness, injury, and premature death, to assure access to high quality public health and health care services, and to promote wellness and health equity for all people in the Commonwealth. We envision a Commonwealth in which all people enjoy optimal health. Massachusetts ranks among the healthiest of states according to comparative analyses, but we face numerous challenges, including chronic and infectious disease, substance abuse, violence, preventable hospitalizations, and health disparities.
DPH coordinates programs and policies to address specific diseases and conditions and offer services to address the needs of vulnerable populations. We also develop, implement, promote, and enforce regulations and policies to assure that the conditions under which people live are most conducive to health and enable people to make healthy choices for themselves and their families. We license health professionals, healthcare facilities and a variety of businesses that impact public health. We operate the state laboratory and four public health hospitals. We monitor health status and manage vital records including births, marriages, and deaths. We educate people about public health issues and work closely with local boards of health and community partners to identify and solve public health problems.

Learn more about our important work: http://www.mass.gov/dph

Pre-Hire Process

A criminal background check will be completed on the recommended candidate as required by the regulations set forth by the Executive Office of Health and Human Services prior to the candidate being hired. For more information, please visit http://www.mass.gov/hhs/cori

Education, licensure and certifications will be verified in accordance with the Human Resources Division's Hiring Guidelines.

Education and license/certification information provided by the selected candidate(s) is subject to the Massachusetts Public Record Law and may be published on the Commonwealth's website.

If you require assistance with the application/interview process and would like to request an ADA accommodation, please click on the link and complete the ADA Reasonable Accommodation Request Form.

For questions regarding this requisition, please contact the Executive Office of Health and Human Services Human Resources at 1-800- 510-4122 Ext. #4

Comprehensive Benefits

When you embark on a career with the Commonwealth, you are offered an outstanding suite of employee benefits that add to the overall value of your compensation package. We take pride in providing a work experience that supports you, your loved ones, and your future.

Want the specifics? Explore our Employee Benefits and Rewards!

COVID Vaccine: As a condition of employment, depending on job assignment and location, employees may be required to have received COVID-19 vaccination and/or other vaccinations, or to have been approved for a vaccination exemption prior to their start date. Details relating to demonstrating compliance with this requirement will be provided to applicants selected for employment.