Since opening our doors in 1902, CHS became a part of Florida's history. 

CHS has been committed to growing and evolving to provide the right services and solutions to address the needs of children and families throughout the changing times.  Every day, our team works with parents and kids to empower them and encourage them. With innovative technology solutions and a dedicated, experienced team throughout the state, we’re changing the face of foster care and positively impacting children and families’ lives for generations to come.

Join our team to continue to do good and create history serving Florida's children and families!

Then Healthy Start Care Specialist provides needed resources, support, and education to prenatal women, infants, and children up to the age of 3 and their parents/guardians to assist them in improving their overall health, safety, and wellbeing. Overall, the Healthy Start Care Specialistcontributes to the CHS high-performance culture by exhibiting our values and providing quality results that position CHS as the leader in delivering proactive behavioral health, case management, community, and early childhood solutions for children and families.

To learn more about our  Healthy Start Care Program, click here.

WHY JOIN CHS?

• Uplifting mission-driven work culture
• Make an impact in your community and become a part of Florida's history!
• Growth and professional development opportunities
• Great benefits package, including generous paid time off and holidays
• Opportunity to make a positive difference in children and families within your own community!

Primary Job Functions

1. Provide needed resources, support and education to prenatal women, infants, and children up to the age of 3 and their parents/guardians to assist them in improving their overall health, safety, and wellbeing.

• Develop and assess individualized plans of care and family support plans, which identify specific goals, objectives, risk factors, service needs, and referrals based on assessment and intake screening results.
• Visit clients in hospital and office environments, and conduct home visits, as required.Research and provide medical care or support service referrals to local resources, linking clients to services, based on eligibility.
• Collaborate with team members and providers addressing barriers to ensure clients/families are accessing needed services.
• Coordinate and/or provide services with other professionals and para-professionals, assisting in areas such as vocational skill development, community resource and concrete support, maternal and pre- and post-natal health and wellness, transportation, money management, house, disaster relief, daily living, home safety and maintenance, child development, basic parenting, and nutrition.
• Coordinate multi-disciplinary staffings to develop or revise service plans and attend community multi-disciplinary meetings.
• Refer families who are deemed “high risk” at service closure to appropriate services.
• Develop and maintain client records and program documentation according to contract and CHS standards; enter necessary information into required software systems in a timely and accurate manner.
• Provide appropriate education and other supportive services as delineated in individualized plans of care that may include pregnancy health, newborn care, breastfeeding, smoking cessation, nutrition, childbirth, parenting, and emotional support.
• Meet with supervisor as scheduled to evaluate client status.
• Execute job functions with approved curriculum and tools, as outlined by Healthy Start contractual requirements for quality service.
• Network with community resources to identify referral mechanisms.
• Support and maintain collaborative relationships with key community service providers and stay abreast of information pertinent to successful referral and linkage.

2. Contribute to a positive, engaging work environment.

• Develop a strong knowledge base and stay current on job-related issues and trends.
• Participate actively in departmental meetings, training and education, as well as the quality process.
• Comply with CHS’s code of conduct, policies, procedures and other obligations.
• Assist with training other team members and providing back up when necessary.
• Pick up projects on the fly; perform other duties as assigned from time to time.
• Demonstrate the CHS Common Bond values in the performance of all job duties.

Job Qualifications

Education, Licenses & Certifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Social Work, Human Services or related field from an accredited university, required.
• Equivalent combination of education and experience may be considered.
• Florida Driver’s License within 30 days from hire with daily access to a reliable and insured vehicle, required.

Experience:

• One year of experience working in case management with children and families, required.
• Experience with direct client care, preferred.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

Knowledge of:

COMMUNITY RESOURCES | SOCIOCULTURAL CHARACTERISTICS OF SERVICE POPULATION | MATERNAL HEALTH | CHILD DEVELOPMENT

Skills & proficiency in:

• Planning, organization and time management, oral and written communication.
• Interpersonal relationship building, collaboration, teamwork.
• Computer systems and MS Office, including Word, Excel, and Outlook.

Ability to:

• Perform at a high level of autonomy, with general supervision.
• Perform under strong demands in fast-paced, diverse, sometimes ambiguous environments.
• Handle stressful, sensitive situations; preserve confidentiality and professional boundaries.
• Meet critical deadlines, while maintaining attention to detail, accuracy, and quality.
• Solve practical problems and document results using sound judgment.
• Commit to providing high customer satisfaction with positive service delivery results.
• Demonstrate the behaviors of our CHS Common Bond Values.
• Be energetic, passionate, and adaptable with a deep commitment to social service, empathy for children and families and a positive approach to embracing and managing change.
• Interact effectively with children/families from diverse backgrounds, being sensitive to service population’s cultural/socioeconomic characteristics.
• Set appropriate limits and boundaries with clients; act decisively to protect clients, when necessary.

Together, good can be done.