Family Support Specialist - Partner Network

GADS HILL CENTER•Chicago, IL

42d•$40,000 - $55,000

About The Position

Partner Network Family Support Specialist MISSION: Gads Hill Center, a social service organization established in 1898, creates opportunities for children and their families to build a better life through education, access to resources and community engagement. At Gads Hill Center we envision a community in which all children benefit from healthy, financially stable households that support their early learning and growth. We invest in the potential of children and families through early childhood education, youth programs, and mental health supports. Ultimately, Gads Hill Center builds a community where all families can help their children have access to quality education in order to succeed in school and life. JOB SUMMARY: The Family Support Worker in Gads Hill Center’s Head Start Partner Network is responsible for providing comprehensive support to families. Family Support Workers are expected to develop a relationship with parents and/or guardians during the initial enrollment process, and to support parents in setting and achieving goals, as well as connecting them to resources to meet families’ needs. In addition, this position is responsible for ensuring achievement of all assigned milestones established by the grantee in education, health, mental health, family and community partnerships, disabilities and ERSEA. Family Support Workers play a key role in engaging parents and empowering them to be advocates for their families through education. Finally, Family Support Workers in the Partner Network provide key support by monitoring compliance at all partner sites.

Requirements

Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work or related field.
A minimum of two years of experience working with children and families.
Must have a minimum of a Gateways Family Specialist Credential Level 3
Valid Driver’s License and use of a dependable insured car required.
Excellent interpersonal communication and organizational skills.
Ability to pass a criminal record and child abuse/neglect registry check.
A passion for the mission of Gads Hill Center.
Must have a valid Driver’s License, access to a reliable and insured vehicle, and willingness to travel locally.

Nice To Haves

Experience with multicultural programming preferred.

Responsibilities

Conducts all components of enrollment, including entry of accurate data into COPA and family assessment.
Refers families to resources, according to needs. Documents referrals and progress towards goals and conducts follow-up with families regarding referrals on a regular basis.
Helps parents establish a medical home to access continuous health services for children and monitor health records in collaboration with the Partner Network Manager.
Maintains up-to-date data in COPA regarding all family partnership agreements, family assessments, case notes, and referrals.
Monitors all component data on a regular-basis and follows-up with families on missing documentation on a regular-basis, making sure to document all efforts.
Participates and assists with the Head Start, Early Head Start, and Early Head Start CCP self-assessment.
Conducts weekly site visits to build rapport with site staff and parents.
Identifies potential partner community agencies, such as but not limited to, medical and dental clinics, workforce development, and other agencies that offer family resources.
Maintains an up-to-date community resource directory in conjunction with the site to assist parents in identifying and accessing local community resources.
Attends monthly parent meetings to develop good rapport with parents and ensure involvement of parents in the Parent Policy Committee.
Collaborates with education and mental health staff to initiate referrals to Early Intervention and Chicago Public Schools.
Gathers all necessary documentation and submits it to the Disabilities Manager to obtain evaluation for services.
Works with site and parents to ensure that meetings and evaluations occur and that children are receiving services, as needed, thereafter.
Performs record-keeping and other reporting functions, as required, and submits monthly reports to the Partner Network Manager in a timely manner.
Monitors attendance on a weekly basis and works with staff to follow-up with parents.
Maintains full enrollment at all times at each site, in collaboration with site staff.
Attends trainings, as needed, related to the responsibilities above.
Participating in agency outreach and recruitment events, including evenings and weekends.
Participating in supervision meetings and workshops within the agency and outside (if applicable).
Participating in civic engagement activities that advance the mission of Gads Hill Center.
Advancing parent leadership development.
Performing other duties, as assigned.