Family Engagement Specialist

$2,000 Hiring Bonus for external candidates (50% after 90 days of employment and 50% after one year of employment)

Illinois Action for Children (“IAFC”), a local, state and national leader in the early childhood care and education sector for over 50 years. IAFC programs, services, and advocacy improve learning and life outcomes for children and families, including reducing the effects of poverty. IAFC works to ensure that every child in Illinois – particularly those in need – have access to the necessary resources to succeed in school and in life.

Along with our mission, IAFC is committed to building and maintaining a diverse, equitable, inclusive, and anti-racist culture. We are dedicated to this pledge through our hiring practices and our focus on creating a culture and environment where diverse perspectives, ideas, and identities are valued and integrated into our way of working and servicing our staff and clients. IAFC staff represent a wide diversity of racial, socio-economic, gender, religious, and national identities. We welcome all applicants who share our mission and vision to join us in our essential work.

Under the direction of the Site Director, the Family Engagement Specialist builds and maintains supportive and empowering relationships with families, beginning at enrollment. This individual will partner with families to assess their needs, identify their goals and access appropriate resources. The Family Engagement Specialist will play a key role in engaging parents in leadership roles and empowering parents as advocates for their families. This incumbent will be expected to promote and adhere to the workplace core capabilities of: accountability, customer focus, continuous quality improvement, communication, competent people and clear priorities. All work to be completed with minimum supervision and in accordance with organization standards.

Benefits of Working at IAFC:

• Working with passionate team members that are driven by our Mission: Illinois Action for Children is a catalyst for organizing, developing and supporting strong families and powerful communities where children matter most.
• We strive to foster and implement a culture of diversity, equity, and inclusion across our organization. We know it is not only critical to the success of diversity initiatives - but instrumental in creating an unbiassed and inclusive workplace It not only relates to the diverse clients we serve but also creates a positive employee experience.

We offer an extensive benefits package that adds value to your total compensation. Our benefits include:

• Health, dental and vision insurance plans with company contribution of 95% for single coverage
• 401k with company match
• Generous PTO – first year-23 days, the second year-28 days, the third year and on - 35 days
• 11 Paid Holidays and 1 Floating Holiday
• Tuition Reimbursement
• Flexible Spending Account
• STD & LTD insurance
• Company paid Life Insurance

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES include but are not limited to the following. The organization reserves the right to add to, delete, change or modify the essential duties and responsibilities at any time.

• Develops authentic and supportive relationships with each family, beginning at enrollment. Partners with families to identify their needs and sets and achieves ambitious goals. Maintains relationships/caseloads of less than 100 families at any given time.
• Completes family needs assessments within required deadline. Documents all work with families using the COPA database. Maintains individual child files with required documentation.
• Follows up with prospective families, providing information and coordinating site tours.
• Obtains required health and nutrition data from families and collaborates with the Health Coordinator to support families in obtaining needed medical/dental services.
• Completes enrollment process with families and supports families with resources to obtain any missing documentation for enrollment.
• In partnership with the Early Learning Recruitment Specialist, actively participates in recruitment and outreach activities, including identifying potential partnerships and community resources.
• Partners with the Mental Health and Disabilities Coordinator to facilitate referrals for mental health services or evaluations of children with suspected special needs. Supports and advocates for families throughout the process.
• Implements policies, procedures, and systems to ensure full agency compliance with the parent involvement and program governance component requirements of all funders.
• In close partnership with Parent Involvement Coordinator, contributes to development of annual and ongoing training and involvement plans for parents/guardians including implementing appropriate parent/guardian curricula. Obtains family input to inform and develop plans.
• Promotes and supports engagement of parents/guardians in Parent Committees and Policy Council.
• As assigned, represents IAFC to external groups/organizations to promote the agency and increase utilization of services through events, presentations and/or day-to-day contact.
• Ensures confidentiality of parent and provider information received and managed by IAFC.
• Executes our workplace core capabilities of: accountability, customer focus, continuous quality improvement (CQI), communication, competent people and clear priorities.
• Independently works on multiple tasks effectively in support of department.
• Other functions: The organization may assign other functions to the job at its discretion.

QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS: To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE: Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work, Early Childhood Education, Family Studies or a closely related field. Two years of experience as a caseworker or similar position. Prior experience working with children and families. CERTIFICATES, LICENSES, REGISTRATIONS: Valid driver’s license, reliable personal transportation and insurance required.

Position will work in the western and southwest suburbs of Chicago. Illinois Action for Children is EEO/M/F/V/D employer.

While we desire for this job posting to be comprehensive, all aspects of the position may be amended at any time at the discretion of IAFC including job duties, work location and/or work schedule.

Salary:43,800 (minimum) plus $2,000 Hiring Bonus (50% after 90 days of employment and 50% after 1yr of employment)