Family Engagement Specialist

Children's Research Triangle • Chicago, IL

1d • Hybrid

About The Position

Children’s Research Triangle (CRT) is seeking a Family Engagement Specialist to join our team and help children and families successfully access and engage in high-quality, trauma-informed behavioral health services. The Family Engagement Specialist will build trusting relationships with parents and caregivers, help families navigate referrals and available resources, reduce barriers to care, and ensure that families have a meaningful voice in decisions about their child's treatment. This is an opportunity for someone who enjoys working directly with families, building relationships, collaborating with professionals, and helping families successfully navigate behavioral health systems.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Social Work or a human/social services-related field.
• At least one year of experience providing direct social services to children and families.
• Strong interpersonal, communication, and relationship-building skills.
• Ability to establish trusting relationships with parents, caregivers, and children.
• Ability to work collaboratively with clinicians, families, and community partners.
• Commitment to working with underserved children and families.

Nice To Haves

• Experience with family advocacy, care coordination, or community-based services.
• Experience facilitating groups, workshops, or caregiver education.
• Bilingual English/Spanish skills.

Responsibilities

• Build trusting relationships with parents and caregivers, engaging and empowering them as active partners in their child's care and treatment.
• Help families navigate behavioral health and community systems, including facilitating referrals, connecting families with resources, and identifying and reducing barriers to care.
• Provide information and support to families regarding screening results, treatment recommendations, available services, and their rights and responsibilities related to treatment.
• Support family participation in treatment planning and service reviews, promoting advocacy, shared decision-making, and meaningful family input.
• Collaborate with CRT clinicians and community partners, participating in multidisciplinary team meetings and ensuring the family’s perspective is represented in discussions about services.
• Gather and communicate caregiver feedback about their experience with services and help share how family input contributes to improvements in CRT programs.
• Support caregiver engagement and connection, including facilitating caregiver workshops and other opportunities for families to share information and support one another.
• Maintain appropriate documentation and participate in CRT and community partner activities as needed.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level