Family Support Specialist - Bilingual

Brightpoint • Chicago, IL

3d • $24 - $28 • Onsite

About The Position

Brightpoint invites you to join our team of mission-driven staff who share a common vision: an equitable world where all children and families thrive in strong communities. As a leader in the human services sector for 140 years, we aim to advance the well-being of children by investing in families and strengthening communities through data-informed, collaborative, and preventative solutions.

The Family Support Specialist serves as the first point of contact for families who apply for center-based Early Childhood services at Brightpoint. The Family Support Specialist is responsible for participant eligibility, identifying the needs of children and families, and coordinating, enrolling and tracking participation in services to maximize the child and family’s well-being. As a Family Support Specialist, you will recruit families with children for enrollment in the program, complete and obtain all essential documentation to validate eligibility, coordinate the placement of eligible children and establish trusting, nurturing relationships with program participants.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Social Work, Human Services, Family and Consumer Science, Family Studies or Counseling required.
• Gateways Level 5 Family Specialist Credential or equivalent Family Development Credential required.
• Valid driver's license, insurance, and a reliable vehicle required.
• Ability to communicate in both English and Spanish required.

Nice To Haves

• A minimum of one (1) year of experience working with culturally diverse families preferred.
• Knowledge and understanding of normal child growth/development and parent-child relationships preferred.
• (Candidates without the required degree/credentials may be considered with an approved educational plan)

Responsibilities

• Recruits families with children for enrollment in the program, engaging in scheduled recruitment outings on a regular basis, including evening and weekend recruitment events (in-person and/or virtual).
• Completes and obtains all essential documentation to validate the eligibility of all applying families and secures all essential documentation, including the selection criteria form, to ensure that the most eligible families are enrolled in the program.
• Coordinates the placement of eligible children, in the center or home-based program, with the assigned Supervisor, Manager and/or Director.
• Establishes trusting, nurturing relationships with clients/participants.
• Participates with the multidisciplinary team to ensure that all support services are extended to families based on their needs.
• In alignment with the attendance protocol, monitors absenteeism/participation of children, contacts parents and/or conducts team meetings with parents to discern justification for absenteeism/ participation and creates participation plan, as appropriate.
• For Center Based Only: Reports absences of three days or more to Family Support Services Supervisor or assigned Site or Program Supervisor for further follow-up recommendations.

Benefits

• Medical/dental/vision insurance
• 3+ weeks paid time off in the first year including the week between Christmas and New Year’s Day (PTO increases with tenure)
• 11 paid holidays
• Supplemental insurance options
• 401(k) with match
• Leadership development opportunities
• One-on-one mentorship
• Approved agency for Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF)

What This Job Offers

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