Occupation Profile
Family Services Professional
Family Services Professional
Family Services Professionals work intensely with families to build strength-based relationships, encourage families to identify and set achievable goals, support families in developing the knowledge and skills needed to access resources, assist families in becoming leaders within their communities, and promote and strengthen bonds between parent and child.
Wamesha loves that the Family Advocate position allows her to help parents gain skills that can change their entire family. Even through small words and actions, Family Advocates have the ability to affect change in families that is passed down through generations, as parents learn new ways to connect with their children.
Wamesha SafforeFamily Advocate
Occupations
Qualifications
Work Settings
Career Field
Family Services
Family Services are community-based services that assist and support parents in their role as caregivers. Such services can take many different forms depending on the strengths and needs of the family, but their overarching goal is to help parents enhance skills and resolve problems to promote optimal child development
Interest Areas
Work with Families
Typical Work Settings
- Head Start/Early Head Start
- Private Homes
- Child Care Centers
- Public/Private Preschools
- Family Resource Centers
Minimum Qualifications (at least one requirement)
Family Services Professional I- Family Development Credential
- Strengths-Based Family Worker Credential
- Missouri Family Services Professional Credential (TBD)
- Social Services Practitioner’s Credential
- Family Services Certification
- 9 college credit hours in social work, human services, family services, or counseling disciplines
Family Services Professional II
- Associate degree in social work, human services, family services, or counseling disciplines
- Associate degree (or higher) in any field with 18 college credits in social work, human services, family services, or counseling disciplines
- 60 college credit hours with 24 college credit hours in social work, human services, family services, or counseling disciplines
Family Services Professional III
- Bachelor’s degree in social work, human services, family services, or counseling disciplines
- Bachelor’s degree (or higher) in any field with 36 college credit hours in social work, human services, family services, or counseling disciplines
- Certified Family Life Educator (CFLE) Credential (Full)
What does it take to be successful in this field?
To be a successful Family Services Professional, one needs excellent interpersonal and communication skills to build positive relationships with families. The ability to encourage and support families in setting achievable goals, coupled with knowledge in accessing resources, is crucial. Strong leadership skills to empower families within their communities and promote parent-child bonds are also essential for success in this role. Additionally, possessing a deep understanding of child development and a commitment to strengthening family bonds contribute to effectiveness in this profession.
The project described was supported by grant number 90TP0066. Its contents are solely the responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official views of the United States Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families.