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

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.

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 resources for a reasonable quality of life

Respect: Recognizing our own value and upholding the dignity and value of all people

Empowerment: Providing skills and resources to achieve full human development

• 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.
• 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.
• Mutual accountability – Holds others accountable with their roles; provides and receives feedback and takes constructive action.
• Client/customer advocate – Identifies opportunities to improve quality of services; presents one’s self professionally.
• Protects confidentiality & privacy – Respects and protects information about all staff and clients.

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.

• Maintains a caseload of 36 families in the Birth-Three program, as well as, support Pre‑K and School‑Age classrooms and families.
• Establish and maintain relationships with families in an effort to enhance the child’s social & emotional development, family functioning and their child care experience.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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).
• 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).
• Facilitate child staffings when necessary. Work with Child Development supervisors to schedule and facilitate monthly classroom “check in” meetings.
• Provide short‑term crisis intervention to children and families as needed.
• Initiate referrals and linkages to community agencies,…