Family Involvement Team Liaison (Social Service Specialist 1) – Bilingual: Spanish/English

  • Oregon Department of Human Services
  • Portland, Oregon
  • Nov 03, 2022
Full time Government

Job Description

Nos da orgullo ser un empleador que ofrece igualdad de opportunidad para todos.  Nos esforsamos en crear una agencia de igualdad con la Equity North Star ( La Estrell del Norte, traduccion al Espanol) como nuestra guia hacia la vision de ser una agencia libre de racismo, discmiminacion y prejuicio. Creemos que los equipos en donde todos los integrantes pueden participar con autenticidad son la clave para crear un personal prospero que puedra servir mejor a las communidades. Invitamos a miembros de communidades y groupos ethnicos y raciales que hayan sido mal representados en el pasado a aplicar como mujeres, individuos con disabilidades, veteranos, miembros de la communidad LGBTQIA2S+.

Busca una oportunidad para educar y crear consiensa sobre el trastorno por el consumo de sustancias? Tiene experencia trabajando con communidades de habla hispana? Pose habilidades para identificar y remover los obstaculos que indivudios tienene para accessar tratamiento para el consumo de alcohol y drogas? Si es asi,, esta pocision de Family Involvement Team Laison ( Equipo de Enlace de Integracion de la Familia ,traducion al Espanol) tal vez sea para usted!

Bilingual requirement (English/Spanish):

This position is bilingual and requires duties to be carried out in both English and Spanish. The job offer will be contingent upon passing test(s) evaluating your proficiency in the bilingual requirements of the position. These positions may receive a 5% differential pay based on passing the required language test. 

Oregon Department of Human Services (ODHS), A place to belong and make a difference!

  • When you join the ODHS, you join a community of over 10,000 employees dedicated to serving and helping Oregonians achieve wellbeing and independence through opportunities that protect, empower, respect choice, and preserve dignity.

  • Connect with ODHS Employee Resource Groups (ERGs) and find a place to belong, build community and participate in shared learning. ERGs are employee-driven committees that support each other as well as the ODHS’ overall mission and vision. 

  • We are committed to building an antiracist and equitable agency. Equity is foundational to our role as a human services agency and we are committed to integrating equity into all we do. The Equity North Star has four points that explain the agency's goals related to equity, inclusion, and racial justice.

  • We know that life is unpredictable and ODHS cares about keeping you well. Enjoy a work-life balance, 11 paid holidays a year, flexible work schedules, and competitive benefits packages including health, dental, vision and much more!

Your duties at a glance

As an employee working within the Child Welfare Program, you will have an opportunity to make a meaningful difference in the lives of Oregon’s most vulnerable children and families. Your dedication will help us achieve the Child Welfare Vision for Transformation that will support children and young adults to be safer, healthier, experience less trauma and achieve a greater well-being.  

As a Family Involvement Team Liaison, you will:

  • Engage Spanish Speaking communities.

  • Coordinate and partner with community partners, ODHS workers and treatment providers to support access for parents to substance use disorder recovery services and resources.

  • Coordinate service delivery within ODHS, other agencies and community resource providers to identify services to assist in eliminating barriers to treatment.

  • Attend and participate in relevant court hearings; engage and offer FIT services to parents with substance use disorder. 

  • Ensure effective communication processes between collaborative partners for purposes of recovery, prevention of removal or reunification.

  • Receive and process referrals and requests from internal staff and community partners.

  • Remove any barriers that are creating challenges for parents in obtaining alcohol and/or drug treatment.

  • Staff cases with caseworkers, supervisors, safety consultants and community partners with lens of expertise in substance use disorders and how they impact child safety.

  • Provide consultation, education, and recommendations in alignment with the Oregon Safety Model.

  • Collaboratively create a support system for parent’s post-treatment to promote reunification and long-term family well-being.

  • Create and present trainings to local ODHS staff and community partners regarding substance use disorders.

  • Identify culturally specific engagement, resources and services to support families who are disproportionately overrepresented in child welfare system.

  • Have an opportunity to educate and raise awareness about substance use disorder and how it impacts child safety, children, families, and communities.

  • Review and understand information on the internal database.  Identify trends, service and training needs with the FIT Core Team and Collaboration according to resource availability and efforts to support sustained recovery.   

What you need to qualify

A bachelor’s degree in Human Services or a field related to human service, or;

A bachelor’s degree unrelated to Human Services and either:

  • One year of Human Services related experience, or;

  • Completion of coursework equivalent to certification consistent with Oregon Caseworker Competency, or;

An associate degree and either:

  • Two years of Human Services related experience, or;

  • One year of Human Services related experience and related training, coursework or certification consistent with Oregon Caseworker Competency.

Essential attributes

We are looking for candidates with:

  • Experience engaging Spanish Speaking communities.

  • Knowledge of traditions, values, and customs within Spanish Speaking communities.

  • Knowledge of barriers experienced within Spanish Speaking communities.

  • Experience proactively communicating (verbal and written) to increase collaboration, build trust and reliability, and ensure service needs are met.

  • Working knowledge of substance use disorders.

  • Thrives to collaborate with team member using active listening, problem solving skills, compromise, strong communication along with shared responsibility.

  • Knowledge or understanding of the Oregon Safety Model.

  • Experience conducting research to develop and present trainings.

  • Ability to create collaborative processes considering current community resources.

  • Ability to identify culturally specific engagement, resources and services to support families who are disproportionately overrepresented in child welfare system.

  • Experience collaborating with internal staff and community partners in a way that values and elevates all voices throughout the process.

Note: It is possible that the incumbent in this position may need to be an Oregon resident. See “Additional Requirements” section for more information.

Please be sure to clearly describe how you meet these attributes within your application materials. These attributes will be used to determine which candidates will be selected to move forward in the process. 

Working conditions

  • Majority of employee’s work will be conducted in the office or in the community. Occasional remote work may be approved as employee’s schedule permits. This will need to be discussed with and approved by the manager.

  • Frequent travel around the district is required. Occasional travel outside of district may be required to transport parents and/or children to community partner locations.

  • Employee will be a part of a rotating on-call schedule where they will be required to be on-call approximately 1 week per year. The schedule will be sent out ahead of time to allow for ample planning time.

  • You will interact with a wide range of people including some who have experienced trauma and may exhibit challenges in controlling their emotions.