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Family Development Specialist

Casa Central

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Details
Posted:
November 9, 2018
Location:
Chicago, Illinois
Salary:
Type:
Full Time - Experienced
Category:
Case Management/Social Services
Preferred Education:
4 Year Degree
 
Position Summary:
The Family Development Specialist is responsible for assisting families in carrying out the parenting functions of education, socialization, and nurturing their children. In this role, the Family Development Specialist assesses what each parent needs in order to successfully prepare their children for kindergarten, and ensures that support and information is provided.
 
Essential Duties and Responsibilities:
 
Agency:
  • Nurtures positive and collaborative working relationships with other Agency staff as well as outside providers.
  • Implements the Agency mission, philosophy, core values to direct daily work and decision-making adheres to agency policy.
  • Cultivates a professional and respectful work environment.
  • To be actively involved and knowledgeable of the Agency’s Performance Quality Improvement process.
  • Approves time sheets and ensures compliance with Agency and funder guidelines. Accountable for daily activities within the allowable activities approved by the Agency.
Essential Duties:
Include the following, other duties as assigned:
  • Participates in development and implementation of the annual outreach/recruitment plan.
  • Is responsible for a caseload of between 24-40 families.
  • Is responsible for enrollment which includes all governmental eligibility forms, assignments and alerting the appropriate staff when children or parents have special needs.
  • Works with the parent and home educators to develop and implement the Family Assessment, Family Partnership Agreement, and Family Goal Plan.
  • Conducts interviews with parents in homes or at centers.
  • Acts as case manager for each assigned family and assesses need for intervention, refers and links families, follows up with supportive services, assesses and documents progress.
  • Consults with teaching staff in helping them to understand the total child in relationship to their environment.
  • Assists in the identification, referral, and follow-up of children with special needs.
  • Collaboratively evaluates and plans for treatment and follow-up of children with the Home Educator, and Disability/Mental Health Manager..
  • Cooperates with medical staff during examination for consultation and staff of children.
  • Is responsible for tracking and recording each child’s height and weight.
  • Assesses and assists with children’s transitional activities.
  • In conjunction with the Home Based Education Coordinator, home educators, and Disability/Mental Health Manager, assists in developing a plan for children who are experiencing difficulty relating to peers, or other adults.
  • Ensures that Family/Child Goals, disability/mental health work plans are explained to the parents, and that there is a home plan that is being implemented.
  • Represents the family’s circumstance and concerns to the Home Educators and other Head Start staff. 
  • Is responsible for planning and implementing a minimum of one parent education series per year.
  • Is responsible for ensuring that the parents receive information on education activities that can be done at home to enhance early learning.
  • Encourages parent participation in program events, parent meetings, and Policy Committee.
  • Plans and implements male involvement parenting group sessions.
  • Interprets Head Start program to parents, community agencies and organizations.
  • Identifies and understands the scope of community resources and how they can meet the needs of children and families served.
  • Provide assistance and coverage in the classrooms/home based caseloads and program site as needed.
  • Maintains and updates family files, COPA, and other documentation required by the program.
  • Participates in the annual Head Start Self-Assessment, COA Case Record Reviews; assists with the all program reports requiring enrollment and attendance data.
  • Other duties as assigned.  

General Requirements:
Sensitivity to cultural diversity is required.  Will be subject to drug and alcohol screening, as well as aptitude and skills testing.   To perform this job successfully an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily.  The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required.   Reasonable accommodations may be made to perform the essential functions.
 
Education/Experience:
BA degree in social work or related social services, plus two (2) years of social work experience obtained under qualified supervision, OR A.A.S.W., with a minimum of 2-3 years working with families and children.
 
Language Skills: 
Bilingual/Bicultural (Spanish/English)
 
Computer Literacy & Knowledge Skills Abilities:
Word processing; spreadsheets; internet skills; data entry skills.
 
Mathematical Skills:
Basic math skills
 
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.  While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit, talk and hear.  The employee frequently is required to use hands. Must be able to lift a 50 lb. Child.
       
Work Environment:
 Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.  The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate. Will work evenings and weekends as needed. Local travel required for home visits, training, and family advocacy.
 
Other:
Must have a valid driver’s license; car; and insurance. Required to have a personal cellphone, and be able to respond during working and non-working hours. Casa Central has a Personal Cellphone Usage Policy that includes a reimbursement amount.

About Casa Central
Casa Central transforms lives and offers community support, with a special focus on Hispanics. Our network of social services propels children and youth, individuals and families, and seniors toward self-sufficiency and a higher quality of life.
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