Family Support Specialist

POSITION TITLE: Family Support Specialist STATUS: Exempt, FT GRADE: 2

DEPT: Youth & Family Potential Early Childhood Services PROGRAM: Strong Families (Young Parents Program) REPORTS TO: Manager– Strong Families Chicago SUPERVISES: N/A

SUMMARY: The Family Support Specialist will be responsible for recruiting and managing a home visiting caseload for the Start Early funded Program which serves at risk teens 12-25 and their children (prenatal-five). The Family Support Specialist will work in collaboration with a team to meet the needs of the families they serve through family screenings and assessments, resource connections, group connection events and helping their families prepare and transition their children into preschool.

COLLABORATES WITH: Collaborations are frequent with the Program Manager, team members, community partners, school social workers, other staff members and community groups and members.

ESSENTIAL RESPONSIBILITIES:

Service Delivery: Manage weekly home visiting caseload for depending on capacity points) families ensuring member understanding of and promote development of healthy attachments and positive relationships between parents and their children. Assess all families for intake, provide appropriate referrals, and review parenting needs. Develop home based service plans with members that identify and address their own and their children's needs. Conduct child and family screenings and assessments with families on caseload. Maintain member confidentiality at all times. Maintain all required and appropriate documentation, reports and statistics of member caseload in a timely manner. Assist with community outreach and recruitment efforts to solicit program involvement and promote program expansion. Participate in staff meetings, reflective supervision and group consultation on a regular basis. Contribute to a collaborative, high trust team environment in a participatory, positive manner. Maintain a working knowledge of trends and best practices within area of home visitation services.

Group Connections & Community Events: Supports Group Coordinator in various roles related to Planning & facilitating parent/child group connections and workshops and offers presentations to agencies and corporations about the program services. Establish and maintain working relationships with outside agencies and community groups to work towards meeting family needs and strengthen the program's presence in the communities it serves.

Professional Development: Maintain working knowledge of the agency's programs and recent developments in the field through participation in required continuing education and attendance at seminars and conferences and trainings

NON-ESSENTIAL RESPONSIBILITIES: Attend special events and programs as needed.

OTHER DUTIES AS ASSIGNED: Other duties outside of the responsibilities of the position may be assigned, whether for a project, special needs task or other assignment.

QUALIFICATIONS: Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university is preferred, with a preference for coursework in Early Childhood Development, Family Studies, Human Services or a related field. Healthy Families and Parents as Teachers certification is a plus, but not required. A minimum of one-year similar work experience is required; experience up to three years is preferred. Knowledge in early childhood development; working with high needs families and children. Highly developed presentation skills, including listening and reflection. Strong interpersonal and collaborative skills with cultural competence for working with diverse cultural backgrounds. Ability to climb stairs and ambulate in and out of locations in all weather. Ability to travel within the south side of Chicago area as needed. Must provide evidence of reliable and insured transportation. Ability to communicate effectively, both verbally and in writing. Ability to lift and carry up to 15 pounds

Professional Training Required: Current knowledge of the field of Early Childhood and of issues relevant to the position is required, supported by twenty (20) hours of professional development annually.

EDUCATION REQUIRED: A Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university in Child Development, Education, Social Work or a related field, or certification of study or comparable length and area of study, is preferred.

CERTIFICATION(s) Preferred: Parents As Teachers certification

WORK ENVIRONMENT: The work environment includes office work, heavy travel and in home services with families. The noise level is usually moderate. Movement requirements include walking, driving, sitting on the floor or kneeling. There may be a need to reach or to lift objects, such as packages or supplies. Communication needs include seeing, hearing and speaking. While in the office, there will be periods of sitting, holding a telephone and using computers. Attendance at community meetings and home visits will require heavy local travel. Reasonable accommodations will be made for an incumbent to meet the essentials responsibilities of the position.

WORK SCHEDULE: Monday – Friday, this position may require work on some evenings and weekends. schedule can vary depending on the needs of the agency.