Family Support Specialist

Job Description

The Marion County Court of Common Pleas, Family Division is taking applications for the full-time position of Marion County Family Resource Center Family Support Specialist. The Family Resource Center is located at 1686 Marion-Waldo Road in Marion, Ohio.

The Marion County Family Resource Center (FRC) is a newly developed center focused on the ideas of early intervention of needs and diverting entry into the juvenile justice system. Providing and connecting resources which in turn will assist in building positive opportunities and outcomes to our youth and families. Assessments of youth who have been arrested in Marion County are conducted at the FRC, along with counseling services, independent living education, and groupwork.

The Marion Family Resource Center Family Support Specialist will report to the Family Resource Center Family Services Coordinator and the FRC Administrator. The Marion Family Resource Center’s operational hours are Monday through Friday 8:00 a.m. - 10:00 p.m. During this time two shifts operate. First shift operates from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. and second shift, which is from 2:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. The Family Support Specialist position hours will generally be 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. However, depending on FRC needs and employee availability the Family Support Specialist may be required to work outside those hours. All Resource Center staff may need to arrive early, stay late, and occasionally work a weekend day to help with a special event or project.

Starting pay $16 - $18/hour, commensurate with experience and will be hourly. Marion County offers medical, dental, and vision insurance, along with attractive Ohio Public Employees Retirement System (OPERS) retirement benefit. Employees earn vacation and sick leave.

Marion County Family Court is part of the Juvenile Detention Alternatives Initiative (JDAI), and we are committed to ensuring that youth and families are involved with our Court are treated with dignity and respect. Successful candidates will be supportive and respectful of youth and their families and will need to have, at minimum, basic knowledge of JDAI goals. Information can be found at https://www.aecf.org/work/juvenile-justice/jdai/.  ; 

Section 2: Duties & Responsibilities  

The position of Family Support Specialist is a vital part of the Marion County Family Resource Center and involves a high level of responsibility, patience, and decision making. Some of the overall responsibilities include working directly with the youth and families and assisting the Marion Family Resource Center Services Coordinator. Key areas of responsibility include:

• Helps to implement resource center daily activities
• Conducts intakes and assessments of youth and families
• Provides ongoing case management
• Must have the ability to explain concepts and information in a clear and concise manner both verbal and written
• Maintains expectations and court orders through case plans
• Maintains professional relationships with families, schools, and other local agencies
• Ensures that all youth have proper access to communication with attorneys, court personnel, and guardians
• Directly works with youth in crisis and with FRC staff and partner agencies to develop and incorporate Individual Treatment Plans for youth as well as conducting needed assessments
• Helps to coordinate all audio/visual programming and is responsible for inventory control of video, audio, etc.
• Communicates with Community Control and Court Personnel concerning youths’ daily reports and any other documentation requested by the court up to and including testifying in court
• Maintains reports and files of youth attending the Marion Family Resource Center
• Input and analysis of FRC statistics
• Works periodic on call shifts during non-business hours on a rotational schedule for intakes and transports
  Performs all other duties as assigned   

Section 3: Qualifications & Requirements  

Position requirements:

• Ability to treat youth with delinquency issues and their families with dignity, respect, and enthusiasm
• Ability to work effectively under pressure of deadlines
• Ability to work in a team environment, while also working independently
• Demonstrated capacity to handle multiple tasks, projects, and meet deadlines
•  Excellent organization and time management skills
• Demonstrated ability to maintain confidentiality with sensitive information
• Computer literacy in word processing, Microsoft Office, email, internet, and Excel spreadsheets
• Demonstrate excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Ability to develop strong relationships with diverse groups of citizens, who may have conflicting interests and opinions
• Ability to always maintain a professional business demeanor

Minimum Qualifications:

• Associate degree from accredited educational institution in the field of social services, criminal justice, criminology, psychology, case management, counseling, or related field is a plus. Bachelor’s Degree preferred.                   Non-Degree applicants will be considered
• Previous experience in basic keyboarding required, basic knowledge of Microsoft Office, Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel, etc.
• Proficiency in record keeping and report writing
• Ability to act and deal within a stressful, confrontational environment at times

Special requirements:

Pre-Employment screening required including employment references, criminal background check, drug testing, and possibly skills testing. Strong problem-solving skills are required. This position is regularly exposed to sensitive information and incumbent is required to keep any such information strictly confidential. Applicants must have a valid driver’s license.

Section 4: How to Apply 

Please submit your resume, cover letter, and contact information for three professional references via email, mail, or drop it off in person to the attention of Gwyn McKinniss.

• Application is open until position is filled. 
• While we sincerely appreciate all applications, only those candidates selected for interview will be contacted. 
• Position is currently open and could be filled immediately. 
• Please note the selected candidate will be required to submit to a thorough background check which includes local, state, and federal checks.
• Please note the selected candidate will be required to submit to a pre-employment drug screening.

Gwyn McKinniss, Fiscal Administrator
Marion County Family Court
222 West Center Street, Marion, OH 43302
Email: gmckinniss@co.marion.oh.us

Employees of Court are at-will employees and serve at the pleasure of the Court. The Court is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of age, gender, religion, race, color, national origin, ancestry, sexual orientation, disability, military status, or genetic information.