Family Enhancement Worker

Family Enhancement Worker

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.

Benefits: Medical, Dental, & Vision Insurance, 403(b) Retirement Plan, Life & Long Term Disability, Short Term Disability, Health Savings Account, Flexible Spending Account and Dependent Care Plan, Paid Vacation, Personal time, Sick time, and Paid Holidays, Tuition Reimbursement, Employee Assistance Program, Headspace Care - coaching, therapy, & psychiatry, Paytient - line of credit for medical, mental health, & veterinary services, Candidly - student loan navigation support, Mentorship, advancement, and professional development opportunities

Basic Function: The Family Enhancement Worker supports Intact Caseworkers and Family Safety Managers by providing in-home, skill-based services to families involved with the Intact Family Services and Safety Services programs through the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS). This role focuses on teaching and modeling essential life and parenting skills, connecting families to resources, and monitoring family interactions to help ensure child safety, well-being, and appropriate service delivery. Demonstrates an ability to apply trauma-informed principles and integrates them into daily practice. Communicates effectively and promotes collaborative problem solving by demonstrating care and respect in considering the diverse experiences and perspectives of others.

Work Location: Ft Jesse Facility, 1500 Ft Jesse Ave, Normal, IL 61761

Work Schedule: Full time, 37.5 hours/week Monday - Friday; must be available some evenings to meet client needs.

Pay: Hourly/ non-exempt based on education, experience, and certification/licensure.

Family-Based Services:

• Maintain regular contact with families through phone calls, collateral contacts, and in-person visits to assess needs and progress.
• Assist case managers with collecting and obtaining required documentation.
• Teach and model daily living skills, including household budgeting and homemaker tasks.
• Support families with home management, including cleaning and maintaining a safe environment.
• Observe and report family interactions, needs, and progress to the case team.
• Participate in supervision and consultation with caseworkers and supervisors to ensure coordinated service delivery.

Advocacy and Support:

1. Supports parents by helping them navigate various community resources available to them, such as housing, financial resources, vocational training, employment, childcare, food or income assistance programs.
2. Assists clients with paperwork and applications for assistance programs.
3. Provides a healthy role model for clients by teaching and modeling appropriate parenting and life skills.
4. Promotes a positive, mutually respectful relationship with assigned clients.

Travel and Transportation: Provides transportation for children and/or family members to approved activities and appointments, as assigned. Regularly travels throughout Central Illinois and occasionally the state, to perform job responsibilities.

Inclusion Statement: 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:

• High school diploma or General Educational Development (GED) required. Bachelor's degree in social work, psychology, or related field or equivalent experience preferred.
• Must be at least 21-years-old.
• Demonstrated ability to provide care, supervision, and behavior management for children.
• Knowledge of human behavior and individual differences in ability, personality, interests, learning and motivation.
• Knowledge and skills necessary to relate and communicate successfully in a professional capacity to child and adult clients within the program.
• Willingness and ability to work evening and weekend hours as needed to meet the needs of the agency and the families we serve.
• Demonstrated competence in serving a culturally diverse population. Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively with a diverse workforce.
• Physical ability to maintain the safety and well-being of children for whom there is responsibility.
• Demonstrated skills in Microsoft Outlook and Word, as well as the ability to learn DCFS documentation software.
• Must pass necessary background checks.
• Ability and willingness to travel for job responsibilities, including long distance driving, the ability to enter the homes of families in the service area, a valid driver's license that has not been revoked or suspended within the past three years, and use of a personal vehicle with adequate insurance.