Family Support Specialist - Part Time

Family Support Specialist

The Baby Fold has been successfully wrapping services around children and families since 1902, offering life-critical support such as foster care, special education, early childhood programming, and post-adoption support. The Baby Fold is a unique resource with a strong and enduring heritage. We care for our youngest citizens so they can be blessed with loving homes, stable lives, and the futures they deserve.

The Family Support Specialist serves and assists parents in the Healthy Start program to help them feel confident in their new role as mother/father. Provides in-home services, including but not limited to pregnancy and parenting information, child development education, parent-child activities, connecting them with community resources, and assisting with baby items. Promotes collaborative problem solving by demonstrating care and respect in considering the diverse experiences and perspectives of others. Work Hours: Part-time, hourly/ non-exempt, flexible schedule that includes evenings to meet needs of our clients, 20+ hrs/wk. Location: 318 Susan Dr., Normal, IL. Salary/ exempt based on experience and education. Salary starts 19.22 pr hour.

Responsibilities of a Family Support Specialist:

• Completes assessments and screenings aimed at identifying the strengths and needs of the participants, initially and throughout the period of service provision. With the input of clients, plans services that will strengthen and support the families.
• Provides mentoring, advocacy, support, and education that will protect children, preserve families, and enhance the mental health of children and families.
• Completes required documentation and adheres to the legal/ethical responsibilities.
• Represents the agency appropriately, utilizes community contacts to advocate for clients, and collaborates effectively with families and community partners.
• Enhances professional competence through ongoing awareness of developments in the field and contributes to quality improvement activities

Statement of Inclusion: The Baby Fold is committed to fostering a culture of respect and inclusion, where each individual feels empowered and where our differences are celebrated. We encourage each other to engage in meaningful conversations, seek out different perspectives, and continually work to cultivate an environment where all ideas are valued.

Requirements:

• Bachelor's Degree in Social Work or related field required.
• Bilingual in Spanish preferred
• Two years of relevant work experience in the field of child welfare or early childhood programs strongly preferred.
• Willingness and ability to work some evening and weekend hours as needed to meet the needs of the agency and the families we serve.
• Ability and willingness to travel for job responsibilities, including the ability drive distances to enter the homes of families throughout the Central Illinois service area, a valid driver's license that has not been suspended or revoked within the past three years, and adequate auto insurance.