Family Support Specialist

JOB TITLE : Family Support Specialist


STATUS: Full Time

FLSA STATUS: Non-Exempt


HOURS/WEEK : 40


DIVISION: St. Vincent de Paul Center

DEPARTMENT : Family Support Services

DIRECT SUPERVISOR : Director of Family Support

Mission

Marillac St. Vincent Family Services strengthens, empowers, and gives voice to those in need - in the Vincentian spirit of service - through education and comprehensive programs to build vibrant communities in Chicago.

Core Values

Our employees commit themselves as individuals to live out the core values of integrity, excellence, creativity, advocacy, respect and empowerment in our daily work, as we serve the needs of others.

Integrity - Acting with transparency, humility and honesty

Excellence - Providing quality care with compassion

Creativity - Being continuously resourceful and inventive

Advocacy - Supporting the cause of those who lack resourcesfor a reasonable quality of life

Respect - Recognizing our own value andupholding the dignity and value of all people

Empowerment - Providing skills and resources to achieve full human development

Team Behaviors

1. Versatility - Understanding and appreciating different and opposing perspectives on an issue; adapting one's approach as the requirements of the situation change; an eagerness for positive action; self-control; active listening.
2. A collaborative work model - Cooperatively working and sharing responsibility; contributing to the group effort; realizing a sense of commitment and ownership in the success of the organization and team's goals.
3. Mutual accountability - Holds others accountable with their roles; provides and receives feedback and takes constructive action.
4. Client/customer advocate - Identifies opportunities to improve quality of services; presents one's self professionally.
5. Protects confidentiality & privacy - Respects and protects information about all staff and clients.

General Summary

Provide a broad range of services to families enrolled in the Child Development program. Establish and maintain relationships with families in an effort to enhance the child's social & emotional development and their child care experience. Provide support and assistance to Child Development staff when dealing with challenging children and families. Help to establish and manage community partnerships and referral sources.

Duties & Responsibilities

1. Maintains a caseload of 36 families in the Birth-Three program, as well as, support Pre-K and School-Age classrooms and families.
2. Establish and maintain relationships with families in an effort to enhance the child's social & emotional development, family functioning and their child care experience.
3. Establish initial and on-going relationships with families to assist them in developing and achieving goals for themselves and children. Conduct social history assessments and goal plans with each family at the point of admission into the program.
4. Provide counseling and case management services to parents and families including but not limited to child care issues, special needs services, behavior management, homelessness, unemployment, neglect/abuse, assistance with housing, emergency food needs and clothing.
5. Respond to Child Development referrals for Family Support Services. Communicate with Child Development staff on outcomes of referrals as appropriate. Look at social services to share information with staff.
6. Conduct regular classroom observations. Consult with Child Development staff on individual cases regarding management of behavior problems within the classroom (e.g. social, behavioral, developmental problems, abuse, etc.). Collaborate with nurse, teachers, Infant toddler specialists, and parents to advocate for needs of the child(ren).
7. Develop behavior management plans/contracts. Schedule and facilitate meetings with families to discuss action plans, boundaries, consequences, goals etc. and discuss plans with Infant Toddler Specialist (ITS).
8. Facilitate child staffings when necessary. Work with Child Development supervisors to schedule and facilitate monthly classroom "check in" meetings.
9. Provide short-term crisis intervention to children and families as needed.
10. Initiate referrals and linkages to community agencies, including Chicago Public Schools and Early Intervention. Assist families in obtaining appropriate and timely services for special needs including IEP and IFSPs. Coordinate referrals for internal services (speech therapy, art therapy, social skills groups) on-site for children enrolled in child care and be ready to go to the next steps, if necessary if the parent does not comply.
11. Facilitate annual training for Child Development staff to provide education on the areas where there should be Family Support Services involvement and any special topics as needed.
12. Coordinate monthly parent support groups based on need throughout the school year.
13. Assist families who lose eligibility for the IDHS Child Care Assistance Program to either return to work, or otherwise meet requirements to maintain their services.
14. Make DCFS hotline calls when appropriate. Coordinate with DCFS child welfare workers.
15. Maintain professional, clinical, up to date documentation, including case notes, client goals and treatment plans, of all work completed with children, families, collateral contacts and Child Development staff.
16. Develop and manage collaborative relationships with community agencies, school services, onsite service providers, and consultants.
17. May provide other related social service duties to meet Center needs as requested, including but not limited to holiday gift distribution, special events for Child Development families, parent/family education & support workshops, etc. May provide supervision to Social Work Intern(s), when necessary.
18. Attends team meetings and contributes to dialog, program planning, and supports others and appropriately adapts behavior in response to team needs.
19. Act with integrity and aspire to model our Core Values in the delivery of all services.

Job Requirements

Experience/Education

Bachelor's Degree in Social Work (BSW), Human Services or related field required. Minimum of 2 years of social work experience with child welfare, families with young children or children with special needs. Early Headstart/Headstart experience preferred.

Qualifications

1. Knowledge of child development, case management and therapeutic skills.
2. Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, verbal and written.
3. Good listening and analytical problem-solving skills.
4. Strong time management skills.
5. Ability to multi-task and establish priorities.
6. Ability to work collaboratively as a team member.
7. Demonstrated computer literacy.

Language

Ability to read and speak English proficiently. Bilingual is a plus.

Physical Demands

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

1. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk or hear.
2. Possess the ability to fulfill and any all office activities normally expected in an office setting, to include, but not limited to: remaining seated for periods of time to perform computer entry, participating in filing activity, lifting and carrying office supplies (paper reams, mail, etc.)
3. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 30 pounds.

Work Environment

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

1. Internal office space.
2. Student classroom
3. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate to loud
4. Playground outside