Family Support Specialist

START EARLY•Chicago, IL

19d•$51,825 - $58,735

About The Position

Educare Chicago provides high-quality care, best-in-class education, and a stimulating learning environment to children from birth to five years old on Chicago’s South Side. Its research-based program serves low-income families and supports children’s development of literacy, language, early math, and social-emotional skills for success in kindergarten and beyond. The organization emphasizes appreciation and respect, empowerment, diversity, excellence, learning, and communication. The Family Support Specialist engages families of enrolled children in activities, practices, and services that support parents as their child’s primary nurturers, experts, and teachers. The role promotes children’s academic learning, development, and life success through family partnerships, education advocacy, community connections, case management, and collaboration with program teams. The position reports to the Family Engagement Supervisor.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Social Work or a related field.
Obtain a Gateways Family Services Credential or Social Work Credential within 18 months of hire.
Two to four years of experience working with families in a community-based Early Head Start/Head Start or family support program.
Complete 15 hours of continuing education annually.
Knowledge of programs and systems serving children, families, low-income communities, and communities where Head Start/Early Head Start families live.
Ability to engage culturally diverse populations.
Organized approach and exceptional attention to detail.
Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
Ability to establish supportive relationships with children and families from diverse backgrounds.
Knowledge of community resources and ability to develop community cooperation so families receive comprehensive services.
Knowledge of Head Start Performance Standards and Department of Human Services Child Care program guidelines.
Knowledge of Illinois TANF regulations.
Ability to work in general office and classroom conditions and tolerate moderate noise and an environment that can be interrupted by violence.
Ability to lift up to 40 pounds; stoop, kneel, crouch, crawl, run, sit on the floor, stand, and remain mobile; and clearly hear and understand.
Maintain a current physical exam renewed every two years with a TB test; the initial exam must be dated no more than six months before the first day of employment.
Have two doses of MMR and a TDAP vaccination less than 10 years old.

Responsibilities

Develop and maintain supportive, educational relationships with families to promote self-sufficiency and positive outcomes for children.
Collaborate with families to establish comprehensive Family Partnership Agreements and monitor progress toward family goals.
Implement activities and strategies that strengthen parent-child relationships and encourage conversations about children’s growth and development.
Provide parents with information and opportunities to learn ways to promote their children’s learning.
Design, implement, and monitor family development activities, and encourage parent involvement through family meetings and adult education opportunities.
Conduct periodic home visits to assess family resources and needs.
Collaborate with teachers on two interdisciplinary home visits, two parent-teacher conferences, and quarterly classroom family events each year.
Encourage parent involvement in children’s education at Educare Chicago and in the K-8 system; help parents recognize and access quality education and advocate for their children.
Support implementation of the Parents as Teachers (PAT) parent education curriculum to strengthen parent-child interaction and school readiness.
Identify and develop community partnerships that support families’ access to community resources.
Conduct at least three recruitment activities per month to build a waitlist or fill vacancies within 30 days.
Research and attend at least one community meeting per month.
Track and document child and parent information in ChildPlus, including case notes, health, enrollment, and program information.
Ensure health data entry is accurate and complete, including immunization records and screening results.
Collaborate with the Health Coordinator to ensure children are current on required health events and escalate concerns as needed.
Collaborate with the ERSEA team on attendance plans for children with chronic attendance issues related to attendance monitoring.
Complete special projects assigned by the supervisor.
Cover program vacancies and critical needs, including classroom coverage, when team members are absent, to support continuity of service and operations.
Follow federal regulations, state and local licensing requirements, and Start Early’s Standards of Conduct.
Maintain confidentiality, report unsafe conditions, and ensure no child is left unattended.
Use Active Supervision strategies at all times while on program premises.
Complete at least 15 hours of required annual training under Illinois state licensing and Head Start performance standards.
Attend all professional development days required by Educare Chicago and Start Early.