Specialist, Family Resources

Family Resources Specialist

Illinois Action for Children ("IAFC"), a local, state, and national leader in the early childhood care and education sector for over 55 years. IAFC programs, services, and advocacy improve learning and life outcomes for children and families, including reducing the effects of poverty. IAFC works to ensure that every child in Illinois particularly those in need have access to the necessary resources to succeed in school and in life.

Along with our mission, IAFC is committed to building and maintaining a diverse, equitable, inclusive, and anti-racist culture. We are dedicated to this pledge through our hiring practices and our focus on creating a culture and environment where diverse perspectives, ideas, and identities are valued and integrated into our way of working and servicing our staff and clients. IAFC staff represent a wide diversity of racial, socio-economic, gender, religious, and national identities. We welcome all applicants who share our mission and vision to join us in our essential work.

Under the direction of the Family Resources Supervisor, the Family Resources Specialist participates in all aspects of the IDHS Child Care Assistance Program as related to parents and providers of child care including approving payments on the IDHS Child Care Tracking System, maintaining record keeping systems and integrating parents and providers with the Child Care Resource and Referral System. All work to be completed with minimum supervision and in accordance with organizational standards.

This incumbent will be expected to promote and adhere to the workplace core capabilities of: accountability, customer focus, continuous quality improvement (CQI), communication, competent people and clear priorities. All work to be completed in accordance with organizational standards.

Essential duties and responsibilities:

1. Assess and determine parent and provider eligibility, and authorize payments for child care as determined by IDHS policies and procedures.
2. Prepare accurate documentation, including IDHS forms, and correspondence related to parent/provider eligibility and proper notification to parents/providers eligible for the childcare assistance program. Create and maintain complete and accurate paper and computer systems on each parent/provider case in assigned caseload.
3. Inform parents and providers of program operation, policies, and procedures in an appropriate and professional manner over the phone and in person (depending on assigned team). Educate parents and providers on the IDHS Child Care Assistance Program and respond to inquiries.
4. Provide excellent customer service to parents and providers over the phone or in person.
5. Link parents with Parent Consultant teams for consultation on indicators of high-quality childcare and provider referrals.
6. Knowledgeable of basic child care issues and provider licensing requirements to answer basic questions of parents and providers. Knowledgeable about the Food Program, CYS collaboration, Teen Parent Project and all other IAFC programs; able to determine eligibility when applicable.
7. Ensure confidentiality of parent and provider information received and managed by IAFC.
8. Execute our workplace core capabilities of: accountability, customer focus, continuous quality improvement (CQI), communication, competent people, and clear priorities.

Education and/or experience: High School diploma or GED and two years of experience in customer service, data entry, social work, or related field OR Associate's degree OR 60 college credit hours.

Other skills and abilities:

• Handling a high volume of phone calls and constant interruptions
• Dealing with difficult/irate callers
• Maintaining IDHS compliance
• Ability to multi-task
• Organizational skills
• Strong written and verbal skills
• Excellent customer service skills
• Excellent attention to detail
• Team player
• Bilingual - Spanish & Polish preferred

Benefits of working at IAFC:

• Working with passionate team members that are driven by our Mission: Illinois Action for Children is a catalyst for organizing, developing and supporting strong families and powerful communities where children matter most.
• We strive to foster and implement a culture of diversity, equity, and inclusion across our organization. We know it is not only critical to the success of diversity initiatives - but instrumental in creating an unbiased and inclusive workplace! It not only relates to the diverse clients we serve but also creates a positive employee experience.
• We offer an extensive benefits package that adds value to your total compensation. Our benefits include:
• Health, dental and vision insurance plans with company contribution of 95% for single coverage
• 401k with company match
• Generous PTO first year-23 days, the second year-28 days, the third year and on - 35 days
• 11 Paid Holidays and 1 Floating Holiday
• Tuition Reimbursement
• Flexible Spending Account
• STD & LTD insurance
• Company paid Life Insurance

Salary: $17 per hour Location: 1340 S. Damen, Chicago, IL

IL Action for Children is EEO/M/F/V/D employer

While we desire for this job posting to be comprehensive, all aspects of the position may be amended at any time at the discretion of IAFC including job duties, work location and/or work schedule.

Illinois Action for Children