Lutheran Services Florida (LSF) envisions a world where children are safe, families are strong, and communities are vibrant.
LSF is seeking a talented Family Support Services Specialist who wants to make an impact in the lives of others.
Purpose and Impact:
Family support specialists provide assistance and support to the Licensing Team as a lead coordinator for recruitment activities, foster parent support groups and appreciation initiatives, ensuring consistent outreach, engagement and retention efforts as well as client transportation and any other support functions as needed.
Essential Functions:
- Engage targeted communities and build partnerships, as well as managing outreach via social media platforms. Develop and implement targeted recruitment strategies aligned with placement needs
- Manage and create content across social media platforms to promote recruitment and retention
- Use agency vehicles or personal vehicles to transport client children to and from program placements, supervised visits, medical and dental appointments.
- Track all licensing inquiries and follow up to support conversion to licensing.
- Maintain ongoing contact with foster parents by conducting check-ins to identify needs, trainings, or barriers
- Plan, coordinate and execute foster parent recruitment events, appreciation initiatives and support groups to include but not limited to location, vendor coordination and follow up.
- Support the licensing team by being a liaison between foster parents and licensing team, assist with initial inquiries and handoffs, follow up with all licensing applicants.
- Prepare required reports and other documentation as instructed by unit supervisor.
- Participate in community outreach programs which shall include but are not limited to, recruitment events, foster parent meetings and support activities.
- Assist in developing retention activities to improve foster parent satisfaction and stability
- Attend and participate in staff/professional training, meetings and supervision sessions.
Other Functions:
- Responsible to carry and maintain an agency cell phone and function “on call” in a rotation schedule, depending upon programmatic needs.
- Function in the community without direct supervision.
- Function professionally in a team setting.
- Other duties as assigned.
Physical Requirements:
- Ability to drive, use phone, sit for long periods of time, and write notes as required.
- May fill in for clerical staff by answering agency phones, and assisting with filing.
- Ability to adapt to irregular working hours,
- Ability to lift up to 25 lbs.
- Valid driver’s license and appropriate auto liability insurance required.
- Available to work evenings and weekends to support recruitment events, foster parent support groups and community outreach activities
Education:
High School diploma, some college preferred.
Experience:
One to three (1-3) years’ experience in community service agencies is preferred.
Skills:
- Must have good time management, organizational, verbal and written communication, and interpersonal skills.
- Ability to function in a multi-cultural environment effectively with clients, co-workers, volunteers, government agencies and general public.
- Dependability, discretion and good judgment.
- Certified First Aid/CPR and crisis intervention.
- Ability to communicate effectively with clients, parents, co-workers, volunteers, governmental and other agencies and the general public.
Other:
Must demonstrate sensitivity to our service population’s cultural and socioeconomic characteristics and needs.
Principal Accountabilities:
- Reports to unit supervisor.
- Team player with co-workers and administrators.
- Accurate complete and timely submission of required documents and reports.
- Adherence to all licensing and quality assurance standards.
- Liaison to government, courts, schools and community providers.
- Adherence to agency policies and procedures.
- Must maintain confidentiality of all client information.
Why work for LSF?
LSF offers 60 programs across the state of Florida serving a wide range of populations in need. Mission Driven staff members become part of the LSF community while transforming the lives of those in need. Our staff additionally find growth opportunities as they explore areas of interest within the organization.
Amazing benefits package including:
- Medical, Dental and Vision
- Telehealth (24/7 online access to Doctors)
- Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
- Employer paid life insurance (1X salary)
- 13 paid holidays + 1 floating holiday
- Generous PTO policy (starting at 16 working days a year)
- Note: Head Start employees paid time off and holiday schedule may differ
- 403(b) Retirement plan with 3% discretionary employer match OR 3% student loan repayment reimbursement
- Tuition reimbursement
LSF is proud to be an equal opportunity employer.
Lutheran Services Florida is mandated to perform background screenings for employment in accordance with the Florida Care Provider Background Screening Clearinghouse as outlined in Section 435.12, Florida Statutes. Additionally, pursuant to House Bill 531 (2025), Lutheran Services Florida must ensure that all job vacancy postings and advertisements include a clear and conspicuous link to the AHCA Clearinghouse website and its requirements. For more information on background screening requirements please visit: https://info.flclearinghouse.com