Are you excited about a new and exciting opportunity? Do you have a passion for working with families and individuals in need of healthcare, housing, and community support services? Are you interested in working for a mission-driven and innovative organization? Well, look no further! At Community of Hope, we envision Washington, DC, where everyone is healthy, housed, and hopeful. If you are ready to make a positive difference in the community, this position is for you! 

Our mission: To improve health, end homelessness, and partner with communities to make Washington, DC more equitable. 

Our Approach and Values: 

We celebrate people’s strengths and acknowledge the impact of trauma on people’s lives.   

We embrace diversity, welcome all voices, and treat everyone with respect and compassion. 

We lead and advocate for changes to make systems more equitable. 

We strive for excellence and value integrity in all that we do. 

Position Summary:  The Family Support Specialist is accountable directly to the Home Visiting Supervisor.  This is a full-time position, based out of our Conway Health and Resource Center in SW, DC.

The pay rate for this position ranges between $25.96 - $26.92 per hour and the offer amount is determined by the candidate's education, qualifications, and experience . Indeed provides their own estimated salary calculator and is not affiliated with COH's range.   

Highlighted Duties and Responsibilities:

• Maintain a caseload of 15-25 families enrolled in the Healthy Families Home Visiting program. 
• Reviews initial assessment and intake utilizing the Parent Survey within 24 hours of receipt and makes contact with potential participants within 48 hours. 
• Develops HFA Service Plans to address risks identified in the Parent Survey within one month of the participating family’s enrollment in home visiting, which are updated at least monthly in collaboration with the HFA Program Manager.
• Documents CHEERS observations (Cues, Holding, Expression, Empathy, Rhythm/Reciprocity, and Smiles) following each visit where the target child or children are present. 
• Coordinates medical care for caregiver in the prenatal and post-partum period, identifies barriers to care and problem solves to address them.  Obtains immunization and well-child visit information for all children on caseload. Ensures that both caregiver(s) and enrolled children have a primary medical care provider and medical insurance. 
• Meets with families on caseload primarily in the home environment to provide information from evidence-based curriculum on basic baby/toddler care, social and emotional development of the child, understanding cues, physical and brain development of the child, as well as play and stimulation. Frequency of visits are based on HFA standards.
• Networks with COH and other community resources for housing, employment, substance abuse treatment, mental health treatment, training, child and family services, etc., and makes referrals as appropriate.   Progress on referrals provided, releases of information, and follow-ups, should be documented in the records database.
• Offers parents referral to Strong Start or Early Stages following ASQ screenings below the identified cut off. Makes referrals to appropriate resources following depression and domestic violence screens that indicate risk.  
• Performs other duties as assigned by supervisor. 

• High school diploma required.
• A.A. or B.A in Human Services field (social work, early childhood education, family studies, or psychology) or equivalent professional experience preferred. 
• Minimum of 2 years of experience in a public and/or human services related field. 
• Experience providing public health education (ex. reproductive health, smoking cessation, child development, and/or parenting) to at risk populations.
• Ability to conduct home visits. Valid driver’s license and vehicle required, as well as proof of auto insurance required.
• Ability to establish and maintain trusting relationships with families.
• Knowledge of community resources or the ability to become knowledgeable required.
• Strong interpersonal skills required, as well as cross-cultural sensitivity.
• Strong organizational and scheduling skills required; ability to work independently
• Ability to work flexible hours, including weekends and evenings, required. 
• All Health Staff must receive the required vaccinations. This includes annual flu and covid vaccines. Medical or religious exemptions may be requested.

 At COH, we prioritize the following well-being and work-life balance-centered benefits: 

•  Remote work opportunities are available for many, but not all, of our roles, promoting a culture of work-life balance. 
• 8-hour workdays, which include a paid lunch 
• 11.5 paid company holidays, 1 personal floating holiday, 15 days of paid vacation (increases to 20 after 3 years of service, 25 after 10 years of service, and 30 after 15 years of service), and 12 days of paid sick leave on an annual basis 
• Annual performance-based raises, up to 5% of your annual pay 
• National Health Service Corps (NHSC) and DC Health Professional Loan Repayment Program (DCHPLRP) participants 
• Tuition reimbursement, loan repayment for clinicians, licensing reimbursement, and continuing education unit funds for licensed staff 
• Many opportunities for internal promotions and transfers across the agency as we continue to grow; we average 30+ promotions each year 
• Ongoing internal leadership training for supervisors 
• Ongoing well-being activities, culture compact activities and training, and trauma-informed care initiatives and training 
• Medical/Dental/Vision Plans through CareFirst BlueCross Blue Shield 
• Life insurance, short-term disability, and long-term disability insurance 
• 403(b) Retirement Plan 
• Flexible Spending Accounts for medical and dependent care reimbursable expenses 
• And much more! 

About Us:

Community of Hope is a mission-driven, innovative, and rapidly growing nonprofit. For 45 years, we have provided healthcare, housing, and community support services to make Washington, DC more equitable. As a Federally Qualified Health Center, we provide medical, dental, emotional wellness, and care coordination services for the whole family at three locations in DC. 

Community of Hope also strongly emphasizes maternal and child health, with midwifery practice and the only free-standing birth center in DC. In 2024, Community of Hope provided about 50,000 medical visits, 6,300 dental visits, and 17,000 behavioral health visits for about 16,000 patients. Community of Hope is also one of the largest providers of homelessness prevention and housing services for 1,600 households—1,384 families and 220 individuals—experiencing homelessness in DC. Community support through Family Success Center, our WIC nutrition centers, and perinatal care coordination for pregnant people experiencing homelessness reach hundreds more families. We believe that everyone in DC can be healthy, housed, and hopeful.   

We were selected as one of The Washington Post 150 Top Workplaces in 2024 and 6 other times since 2014 based on feedback from our staff. 

To request a reasonable accommodation to complete an employment application or for general questions about employment with Community of Hope, contact a Recruiting Coordinator. Email: hr@cohdc.org Phone: 202-407-7747. Community of Hope is an equal opportunity employer.