Family Support Specialist

About the Organization

YWCA Seattle King Snohomish is the region's largest nonprofit with over 120 years of history focused on supporting women and families. Serving around 7,000 individuals annually, the organization is women and BIPOC-led, strives to create family-centered and employee-supportive environments, and offers full-time staff comprehensive benefits including medical insurance, ample vacation and sick leave, holiday pay, and a robust retirement plan. They actively promote racial equity and social justice in all work.

Role Summary

The Family Support Specialist position is grounded in social justice principles, particularly an understanding of how systemic racism and poverty intersect to affect communities. The role demands active application of antiracism principles and working effectively in diverse, non-white settings. Candidates who are people of color are especially encouraged to apply.

Key Responsibilities

• Conduct strength-based, personalized support to families to help them achieve housing stability through assessing needs and barriers, and assisting them in reaching personal and housing goals.
• Offer community members assistance with job readiness skills, resource connections including Work Source, job training workshops, and support for job retention, wage growth, and financial/time management.
• Maintain comprehensive records documenting client progress, demographics, and program outcomes, entering data into the Safe Harbors HMIS system.
• Work collaboratively with employers to develop and maintain job opportunities and ensure clients meet employer expectations.
• Facilitate resident meetings, support groups, job clubs, workshops, and educational presentations.

Additional Duties

• Manage office operations and work with the Director to establish protocols based on a strength-based, culturally relevant, and holistic approach.
• Coordinate scheduling, supervision, and support for staff including Family Support Specialists, Custodian, Office Assistant, Volunteers, Interns, and Practicum Students.
• Review and submit timesheets and internal tracking documentation for support staff.
• Ensure compliance with health and safety policies.
• Develop Quality Assurance processes, procedural flow charting, and systems for housing services in partnership with housing operations.

Social Justice Commitment

Implement work aligned with YWCA’s Social Justice Initiative, recognizing the impact of racism, sexism, classism, and other systemic oppressions in institutions and systems. The role aims to address racism as a foundational factor in these injustices.

Qualifications and Skills

• At least two years of professional experience providing case management services to families.
• Professional background responding to crisis situations, domestic violence, substance abuse, mental health challenges, employment services, and working with low-income and homeless families.
• Experience working with communities of color and understanding the intersections of racism and poverty.
• Familiarity with community services and housing programs available in Seattle-King County.
• Strong communication, organizational, and interpersonal capabilities.
• Basic computer skills.
• Possession of a valid Washington State driver’s license, reliable transportation, and insurance.
• Core competencies including oral and written communication, attention to detail, relationship building, crisis management, resilience, analytical thinking, coaching, judgment, organizational understanding, problem-solving, and social justice advocacy.

Work Schedule and Compensation

• Full-time position requiring 40 hours per week.
• Hourly wage of $28.00.
• Comprehensive benefits including medical insurance, retirement plans, vacation, holiday, and sick leave.
• Optional enrollment in Fidelity 403b Plan at hiring; eligibility for YWCA Retirement Fund after two years of employment.

Physical Requirements

• Requires frequent standing, walking, sitting, and some climbing during office and off-site duties.
• Regular use of hands for telephones, computers, and office supplies.
• Occasional lifting of items up to 40 lbs, with frequent handling of lighter materials.
• Ability to kneel, bend, push, and pull as needed to access files and materials.

Mental Health and Workplace Environment

Employees routinely engage with clients who have experienced trauma including racial trauma, domestic and sexual violence, homelessness, unemployment, and financial difficulties. The organization encourages self-care and accessing support systems to mitigate secondary trauma risks.

Equal Opportunity Statement

YWCA Seattle King Snohomish is an equal opportunity employer that values lived expertise, which enhances culturally responsive programming and helps build trust within communities facing systemic inequities.