Family Support Specialist

Family Support Specialist

Founded in 1981, Concordia Place is a vibrant mission driven organization providing multigenerational programs including early learning, after-school, and teen leadership for Chicago communities. Our centers are located in the Avondale, Ravenswood, North Center and Old Irving Park neighborhoods, with plans to expand into Albany Park. While we are diverse, we are united by our mission to create involved communities where all our neighbors can gather, learn, and grow.

Concordia believes everyone deserves opportunity, and that it is best served when it is broadly inclusive.

The Family Support Specialist collaborates with teaching teams and families to support children's learning and development through assessment, resources, and individualized services. This role plays a key part in enrollment and retention by guiding prospective families through the enrollment process and fostering strong, ongoing relationships. The position also provides support to families and teachers through engagement, education, and resources, and is part of the center leadership team.

Reports to the Program Director.

This is a full-time position. Full-time hours mean consistently working 5 days a week, Monday through Friday. This position is located at Concordia on Whipple - 3300 N. Whipple St., Chicago, IL 60618.

• Child Assessment, Referral for Services, and Progress Tracking
• Support teachers during the ASQ screening process; monitor to ensure they are occurring within 45 days of child's enrollment
• Review ASQ results and assess the developmental progress of children to determine need for services
• Discuss results of the ASQ with parents and teachers
• Assist families in the process of children receiving an IEP or IFSP referral from Early Intervention or CPS
• Coordinate the scheduling and implementation of the Individual Evaluation plan (IEP) and the Individual Family Service Plan (IFSP) recommendations
• Advocate for families in the Early Intervention and CPS referral process; attend meetings with families and teachers, and proactively monitor the process
• Family and Teacher Support
• Build collaborative, respectful relationships with teachers to support children and families
• Review classroom curriculum plans and provide strategies to support and adapt learning environments
• Meet with teachers and families to address individual child needs
• Provide feedback and guidance to teachers on supporting children in their classrooms
• Counsel families on children's social-emotional and developmental needs
• Conduct individualized family support visits and provide community resource referrals
• In collaboration with leadership, develop and implement an annual family engagement and training calendar
• Provide training and resources to teachers on topics such as special needs, mental health, and classroom interventions
• Advocate to ensure children receive appropriate services and supports
• Proactively provide outreach, support, and resources to families and staff
• Recordkeeping and Data Management
• Maintain accurate and complete case records, including home visits, parent conferences, and required regulatory documentation
• Ensure all child files are current and compliant with program and licensing standards
• Track and maintain accurate data related to child attendance and meal participation in accordance with reporting requirements
• Excellence in Mission
• Cultivate relationships with families, through ongoing parent engagement efforts
• Work with other Concordia Ministries leadership to ensure "a Place of One"
• Ensure facility program spaces are outward reflections of "a Place of Excellence"
• Enrollment, Recruitment, and Family Engagement
• Support program recruitment and enrollment efforts, including marketing initiatives, open houses, and community outreach
• Actively participate in recruitment and marketing efforts, including evening and weekend events as needed
• Support individual family enrollment by providing tours, meeting with prospective families, and assisting with enrollment paperwork, policies, and procedures
• Partner with administrative and marketing teams to support full program enrollment
• Cultivate strong relationships with families through ongoing engagement efforts
• Visibility and Community Engagement
• Represent the organization through community partnerships and outreach efforts
• Promote programs through community networks and online platforms
• Develop relationships with community organizations and service providers
• Coordinate program connections with internal teams and…