The University of Tennessee Knoxville, College of Social Work, through the Social Work Office of Research and Public Service (SWORPS) is accepting applications for a Family Coach. As a member of the SWORPS' Relative Caregiver Program (RCP), this position will work in collaboration with a team of family coaches and with public and private community partners to provide a wide array of services aimed at stabilizing relative caregiver families and promoting their self-sufficiency and well-being. This is a grant-funded project through the Tennessee Department of Children’s Services. The position will be home-based and will serve families located in the following counties in Southeast Tennessee, Bledsoe, Bradley, Hamilton, Marion, Meigs, McMinn, Polk, Rhea, and Sequatchie.

The schedule is flexible to meet family needs, with an average of 40 hours a week. Candidate must be willing and able to flex schedule as needed.

This is a grant-funded position and is contingent upon the continued funding of the grant.

This position is anticipated to have a start date in July of 2026 with interviews beginning by the end of June 2026.

Required Qualifications

• Education: Bachelor’s degree in Social Work or closely related field
• Experience: 8 years of relevant, direct practice experience required, Drivers License and reliable transportation required.
• Knowledge, Skills, Abilities:
  • Clinical Skills
  • Crisis intervention skills
  • Microsoft Word and Power Point skills

Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States on a full-time basis without need now or in the future for sponsorship for employment-based visa status.

Preferred Qualifications

• Education: Master’s degree in Social Work or closely related field
• Experience: 4 years of relevant, direct practice experience
• Knowledge, Skills, Abilities:

• Previous experience working with youth

• Previous experience partnering or working with the Tennessee Department of Children’s Services

• LMSW, LBSW

Work Location

This position is remote but requires travel around Southeast Tennessee (Bledsoe, Bradley, Hamilton, Marion, Meigs, McMinn, Polk, Rhea, Sequatchie) so candidates must live in this area and be able to travel throughout.

Compensation and Benefits

• UT market range: 07
• Find more information on the UT Market Range structure here
• Find more information on UT Benefits here

Application Instructions

Applications will be reviewed as received and interviews can begin as soon as 7 days from posting.

Interested individuals should provide (1) a cover letter addressing professional experience relevant to each required and preferred qualification, (2) a resume, and (3) complete contact information for 3 professional references.

About The College/Department/Division

The Social Work Office of Research and Public Service (SWORPS) is an applied research center of the University of Tennessee College of Social Work (CSW). We are a dynamic and close-knit interdisciplinary team of individuals with a shared vision of thriving communities with equitable outcomes for all. We do that by building partnerships that leverage research, technology, and human connection to improve lives in Tennessee and beyond.

Over the past fifty years, SWORPS has worked with local nonprofits such as the United Way of Greater Knoxville, University of Tennessee departments and faculty researchers, state agencies such as the Tennessee Department of Human Services, and federal agencies like the Department of Housing and Urban Development. Our annual portfolio consists of 25-40 sponsored projects spanning a wealth of different content areas, but one common thread -each project contributes one more building block for thriving communities with equitable outcomes for all.

Learn more about SWORPS and some of our programs and resources by visiting our webpage: https://www.sworps.tennessee.edu/

• Assess family eligibility for relative caregiver assistance and facilitating access

• Conduct comprehensive, mutual assessment of children and families’ strengths and protective and risk factors

• Provide information, intervention, crisis stabilization, advocacy, training, and resource linkage

• Services aimed at strengthening families to enhance child and family stability, safety, and well-being

• Coach and mentor families in problem solving, decision making, and action planning designed to increase family self-sufficiency and personal accountability

• Facilitate peer support groups for adult relative caregivers and youth

• Connect families and youth to their communities

• Conduct monthly outreach activities regionwide to publicize services offered through the RCP and to establish collaborative public and private partnerships within the community

• Conduct monthly outreach activities regionwide to publicize services offered through the RCP and to establish collaborative public and private partnerships within the community

• Participate in county CAB meetings, DCS trainings and meetings, and other relevant community-based activities

• Develop, utilize and continuously update an inventory of available services and supports in the communities served