Family Support Specialist

START EARLY•Beach Park, IL

49d•$51,825 - $62,000

About The Position

Start Early Lake County is seeking a Family Support Specialist to support families of enrolled children from birth to age five. The role engages families in activities, practices, and services that support parents as their child’s primary nurturers, experts, and teachers, promoting children’s academic learning, development, and life success. The specialist builds community partnerships to help families access resources, develops supportive and educational relationships with families, and works with them on goals and family outcomes. The position also recruits and enrolls families, conducts home visits, supports parent involvement and adult education, and coordinates services with the internal team. The role is based in Beach Park, Illinois.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Social Work, Human or Family Services, Counseling, or a related field.
Obtain 15 hours of continuing education annually.
Communicate effectively and work well with parents, staff, and professional community groups.
Demonstrate a deep commitment to advancing diversity and inclusion in organizational routines and practices.
Establish and maintain effective relationships with customers and gain their trust and respect.
Comfort and experience handling risk and uncertainty to move work forward.

Nice To Haves

Bilingual Spanish proficiency; ability to read, write, and speak Spanish proficiently is preferred.
Master’s degree in Social Work preferred.
Within 18 months of hire, obtain a Gateways Family Services Credential or Social Work Credential.

Responsibilities

Identify and develop community partnerships that help families access additional resources and support family and child outcomes.
Develop and maintain supportive, educational relationships with families to promote self-sufficiency skills and positive outcomes for children.
Collaborate with families to establish comprehensive Family Partnership Agreements.
Monitor progress toward family goal completion.
Recruit and enroll families into Start Early Lake County programs.
Perform at least three forms of recruitment per month to increase program interest and build a waitlist or fill vacancies within 30 days.
Design, implement, and monitor family development initiatives.
Encourage parent involvement through regular family meetings and provide adult education opportunities throughout the program.
Conduct periodic home visits to assess family resources and needs.
Collaborate with the internal team to monitor, track, and coordinate services for children.
Support activities and strategies that strengthen parent-child relationships, engage parents in discussions about child development, and provide information on ways to promote children’s learning.
Support parent involvement in their child’s education and school, including recognizing and accessing quality elementary schools and advocating for a quality education.
Support parents in achieving family and community outcomes.