17 Family Liaison Interview Questions and Answers

Working as a family liaison is a demanding but rewarding job. As a liaison, you work with families who have a child in the custody of the state. You provide support to these families, connect them with resources, and help them to navigate the complex child welfare system.

If you’re interviewing for a job as a family liaison, you can expect to face questions about your experience working with families, your knowledge of the child welfare system, and your ability to connect with people. To help you prepare, we’ve gathered some questions and answers that will help you shine in your interview.

Are you comfortable working with people in crisis?

Family liaisons often work with people who are experiencing a crisis. Employers ask this question to make sure you have the emotional intelligence and interpersonal skills necessary to help others in need. In your answer, explain that you enjoy helping others through difficult times. Explain that you will use your empathy and problem-solving skills to provide support and guidance to families during challenging situations.

Example: “I am very comfortable working with people in crisis. I find it rewarding to be able to help someone when they’re going through something tough. When I was working as a family liaison at my previous job, I worked with a family whose child had cancer. The parents were understandably upset, but they appreciated me being there for them. They told me how much it meant to have someone on their side who understood what they were going through. I would love to do that again.”

What are some of the most important skills for a family liaison?

This question can help the interviewer determine if you have the skills necessary to succeed in this role. When answering, it can be helpful to mention a few of your strongest skills and how they relate to this position.

Example: “The most important skill for me is communication. I find that being able to communicate effectively with all parties involved is crucial when working as a family liaison. Another skill that’s important is empathy. It’s important to understand what each party is going through so you can provide support and guidance. Finally, patience is another key skill because there are often many moving parts to these situations.”

How would you handle a situation where a family is refusing to work with you?

Family liaisons often work with families who are going through a difficult time. Employers ask this question to make sure you have the interpersonal skills necessary to handle these situations. In your answer, explain that you would try to understand why they’re refusing to work with you. Then, you would find out what you can do to help them feel more comfortable.

Example: “I’ve had a family refuse to work with me before. I was able to talk to them and learn that they were uncomfortable with my gender identity. After talking with them for a while, I learned that they didn’t know much about transgender people. So, I offered to give them some reading material on the topic. They agreed to meet with me again after reading it.”

What is your experience working with children and families in the foster care system?

The interviewer may ask this question to learn more about your experience working with children and families in a challenging situation. Use your answer to highlight the skills you developed while working with foster children, such as patience and problem-solving.

Example: “I worked for five years at an elementary school where I was responsible for helping students who were new to the district or had special needs. In my role, I helped these students adjust to their new environment by connecting them with teachers and other resources they needed. This experience taught me how to work with children of all ages and backgrounds, which has prepared me for my current role as family liaison.”

Provide an example of a time when you successfully resolved a family’s problem.

This question can help the interviewer determine how you use your interpersonal skills to resolve conflicts. Use examples from previous work experiences where you helped a family solve a problem or overcome an obstacle.

Example: “In my last role, I worked with a family who was having trouble communicating with each other. The parents were divorced and had different parenting styles. They would often argue over what was best for their child. I met with them separately to discuss their concerns and then brought them together to talk about their differences. After several meetings, they started to understand one another’s perspectives and developed a better relationship. As a result, they were able to make decisions that were in their child’s best interest.”

If a family is struggling with multiple issues, how would you prioritize them?

This question can help interviewers understand how you prioritize your work and ensure that families receive the most support possible. Use examples from previous experience to show how you would approach this situation, and highlight your ability to multitask effectively.

Example: “In my last role as a family liaison, I worked with a family who had multiple issues they needed assistance with. The parents were struggling financially, which led to them having trouble providing their children with adequate food and clothing. They also struggled with finding time to complete household chores due to working long hours. Finally, one of the children was acting out at school because of these stressors in their home life.

I first spoke with the parents about the importance of prioritizing their finances so they could provide for their children’s basic needs. Then, I helped them find resources to manage their debt and create a budget. Next, we discussed ways they could reduce their workload so they could spend more time with their kids. Finally, I connected them with a mental health professional who could help their child learn coping mechanisms for their emotions.”

What would you do if you noticed that a family you’re working with is still struggling after you provided them with support?

Family liaisons often work with families who are going through difficult times. Employers ask this question to make sure you have a plan for when things don’t go as planned. In your answer, explain that you would try to find out what the family needs and how you can help them. You should also mention that you will follow up with the family regularly to see if they need anything else.

Example: “If I noticed that a family was still struggling after providing support, I would first try to get more information about their situation. If it seems like there is nothing more I can do, I would reach out to my supervisor to discuss other options. For example, we could offer additional resources or refer the family to another organization that might be able to help them.

How well do you understand the policies and procedures of the social services agencies you might work with?

The interviewer might ask this question to assess your knowledge of the social services system in their area. This can help them determine if you are qualified for the position and whether or not you would be able to perform your job duties effectively. In your answer, try to show that you have a strong understanding of how these systems work and what they offer families.

Example: “I am very familiar with the policies and procedures of the agencies I’ve worked with in the past. I find it important to understand all of the resources available to families so that I can provide support and guidance when needed. For example, I know that there are many different types of food stamps and other forms of financial assistance available to low-income families.”

Do you have any experience working with community outreach programs?

This question can help the interviewer determine if you have any experience working with community outreach programs. This can be an important skill for a family liaison to possess, as they may need to work with local schools and organizations to promote their organization’s services. In your answer, try to explain how you would use this skill in your role as a family liaison.

Example: “I worked at my previous job as a family liaison for a children’s hospital. I was responsible for creating and implementing community outreach programs that helped us connect with local schools and other organizations. We had great success with these programs, as we were able to reach thousands of families each year through our outreach efforts.”

When working with a family, how do you build trust and establish a positive relationship?

When working with a family, it’s important to build trust and establish a positive relationship. Employers ask this question to make sure you have the interpersonal skills necessary for this role. In your answer, explain how you would use your communication skills and empathy to help families feel comfortable in their time of need.

Example: “I find that building trust is all about showing compassion and respect. I always try to be kind and understanding when speaking with families. If they are having a hard time or feeling emotional, I let them know that I understand what they’re going through. This helps them feel more at ease and allows us to work together as a team.”

We want to improve our outreach to underprivileged families in the area. Describe a strategy you would use to increase awareness of our services among this demographic.

An employer may ask this question to assess your ability to work with a team and develop strategies for outreach. In your answer, describe how you would collaborate with other members of the organization to implement an effective strategy that meets the needs of the community.

Example: “I think it’s important to understand why families in need don’t use our services before we try to increase awareness of them. I would start by surveying parents who have children enrolled in our school district but aren’t using our family liaison program. I would then meet with these parents to learn more about their concerns and find ways to address them.”

Describe your experience working with people from diverse cultural backgrounds.

Family liaisons often work with people from diverse backgrounds. Employers ask this question to make sure you have experience working with a variety of people and can communicate effectively with them. Use your answer to highlight any specific skills or experiences that help you work with people from different cultures.

Example: “I’ve worked in my current role for five years, and I’ve seen the school population change quite a bit during that time. When I first started, our student body was mostly white, but now we have students from many different cultural backgrounds. I’m used to communicating with parents who speak English as a second language and helping them understand how their children are performing in school. This has helped me develop strong communication skills and learn more about other cultures.”

What makes you stand out from other candidates for this position?

Employers ask this question to learn more about your qualifications and how you can contribute to their team. Before your interview, make a list of all the skills and experiences that qualify you for this role. Focus on highlighting your soft skills, such as communication and interpersonal skills, along with any relevant work experience.

Example: “I have extensive experience working in a school setting, which makes me an excellent candidate for this position. I understand what it’s like to be a teacher or administrator because I’ve worked alongside them before. In my previous role, I helped teachers develop lesson plans and provided emotional support when they needed it. This skill set makes me well-suited for this role.”

Which social services do you think are most important for families to have access to?

This question can help interviewers understand your values and how you prioritize your work. It can also show them which skills you have that are relevant to the role. When answering, it can be helpful to mention a few services that you think are important for families to have access to and why they’re beneficial.

Example: “I believe that all families should have equal access to education, healthcare and transportation. These three things are essential to raising healthy children who can grow up to become productive members of society. I’ve seen firsthand how these resources can make a huge difference in people’s lives.”

What do you think is the most important aspect of your job as a family liaison?

This question can help the interviewer understand what you value most in your work. Your answer should reflect a commitment to helping families and supporting their needs. You can also use this opportunity to highlight any specific skills or experiences that make you qualified for the role.

Example: “I think the most important aspect of my job is building relationships with the families I support. It’s crucial that we have open communication so that they feel comfortable reaching out to me if they need anything. In my last position, I was able to create strong connections with many families by making myself available to them at all times. If they needed something, I would always respond as quickly as possible.”

How often do you think family liaisons should meet with the families they’re working with?

Family liaisons often meet with the families they’re working with to discuss their progress and any issues that may arise. Employers ask this question to make sure you understand how frequently family liaisons should meet with families. In your answer, explain what factors influence your decision on when to meet with a family.

Example: “I think it depends on the situation. If there are no major issues or concerns, I would only meet with the family once every two weeks. However, if there is an issue or concern, I would meet with them more frequently. For example, if a child was acting out in school, I would want to meet with the family as soon as possible to help resolve the issue. Meeting with families at least once a week ensures we can address any problems quickly.”

There is a parent who is refusing to work with you. How do you handle this situation?

Family liaisons often work with parents who are having trouble communicating. Employers ask this question to make sure you have experience working with difficult people and can handle conflict. In your answer, explain how you would try to resolve the situation. Explain that you would use your communication skills to help both parties come to an agreement.

Example: “I’ve had a parent refuse to communicate with me before. I first tried to get them to talk to me by sending emails and making phone calls. If they still refused to speak to me, I would go over their head and contact the child’s teacher or principal. I would let the teacher know what was going on and ask if they could help me convince the parent to cooperate.”