Family Support Specialist

Action-For-Children; Columbus (OH); Hybrid; USD 42,000 - 54,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Paid time off

Hybrid work schedule

Retirement savings plan

Paid parental leave

Job summary

Action for Children in Columbus, OH seeks a compassionate Family Support Specialist to build long-term partnerships with families, conducting home visits and virtual sessions as needed. You will support healthy child development, family resilience, and connect families to essential services.

Requirements include a Bachelor’s degree in a related field and eligibility for Healthy Families Ohio credentials. The role emphasizes trust, cultural sensitivity, and collaboration with a multidisciplinary

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Social Work, Human Development, Early Childhood Education, or related field.
• Strong communication and rapport-building abilities with diverse families.
• Experience or willingness to engage in reflective supervision and teamwork.

Responsibilities

• Initiate and maintain regular home visits with families over long-term period (3–5 years).
• Center services on each family’s strengths and diverse structures.
• Promote healthy parent-child interactions and developmental milestones.
• Administer screening tools like FROG Scale, ASQ, ASQ:SE, and depression screenings.
• Support families in creating Family Service Plans and action steps.
• Identify needs and refer to health, education, and social services.
• Maintain engagement with families with cultural sensitivity.

Skills

Communication skills

Rapport-building

Problem-solving

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Social Work / Human Development / Early Childhood Education

Tools

Microsoft Office

Job description

Who We AreAction for Children is the local childcare resource and referral agency in central Ohio. Our mission is to transform the lives of children by supporting, empowering, and advocating for the adults who make the biggest impact on children’s lives—their parents, caregivers, and teachers.We foster a supportive, collaborative, and mission-driven culture where staff are encouraged to bring their whole selves to work, grow professionally, and contribute meaningfully to the well-being of families and communities.To learn more about our work and impact, visit www.actionforchildren.org.What You’ll DoAction for Children is seeking a compassionate and reliable Family Support Specialist to join our home visiting team. This position is responsible for building strong, long-term (3–5 year) partnerships with families to support healthy child development, family resilience, and overall well-being.Home visits occur primarily in the family's home and last at least one hour per session. Virtual visits may also be conducted as needed. All services are family-centered, strength-based, and rooted in trust-building, relationship enhancement, and risk reduction through connection to resources and support.Major responsibilities include:Initiate and maintain regular home visits with families over a long-term period, developing strong, trusting relationshipsCenter services on the strengths and unique needs of each family, while honoring diverse family structures and parenting practicesPromote healthy parent-child interactions and support developmental milestones through guided activities and conversationsAdminister assessment tools including the Family Resilience and Opportunities for Growth (FROG) Scale, ASQ, ASQ:SE, and depression screeningsSupport families in setting individualized goals, developing Family Service Plans, and implementing action steps that address areas of growth or concernIdentify needs and refer families to appropriate health, educational, and social service resourcesMaintain consistent engagement with families, demonstrating perseverance and cultural sensitivity to help them remain active in the programSuccessful candidates will have:Bachelor’s degree in Social Work, Human Development, Early Childhood Education, or a related fieldKnowledge of early childhood development for children ages 0–5Eligible for or in possession of the Healthy Families Ohio Home Visitor Full CredentialAbility to establish trusting, respectful relationships with familiesComfort and acceptance in working with individuals from diverse backgrounds and family structuresExperience and humility to work with culturally diverse familiesKnowledge of and ability to research local community resources within Franklin CountyWilling to engage in building reflective capacity (e.g., capacity for introspection, communicating awareness of self in relation to others, recognizing value of supervision, etc.)Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite and general technology useDesired but not RequiredInfant Mental Health EndorsementOne year of home visitation experienceFamiliarity with the Healthy Families America model and Growing Great Kids curriculumWe Would Love to Hear from You IfYou are a self-starter who is creative, flexible, and known for being a team player. You bring strong skills in communication—both written and verbal—as well as in rapport-building, analysis, and problem-solving.You’re committed to the success of both the families you serve and the team you are a part of. You’re dependable, engaged, and willing to dedicate time for team meetings, reflective supervision, and agency events that strengthen your work and your impact.Why You’ll Love To Work at Action for ChildrenComprehensive Health Coverage: Enjoy peace of mind with our health, dental, and vision insurance plans starting within 30 days of hireGenerous Paid Time Off: Recharge with ample vacation days, personal days, and holidaysHybrid Work Schedule: Enjoy the best of both worlds with a mix of remote and in-office workdaysRetirement Savings Plan: We match your contributions (up to 1%) to help you build a secure financial futurePaid Parental Leave: We provide 12 weeks of fully paid parental leave for all new parents, including birth, adoption, and foster care placements. This time allows you to bond with your new addition without worrying about work or finances.How To ApplyInterested individuals should apply online at:Job OpportunitiesWe appreciate all applications; however, only candidates selected for interviews will be contacted.Final candidates will be required to complete reference and background checks as part of our standard hiring process.Action for Children is an equal opportunity employerAll qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran status, or disability status.