Family Support Worker (Bilingual)

Metropolitan Family Services empowers families to learn, to earn, to heal, to thrive. Part mentor, part motivator, part advocate, since 1857, Metropolitan Family Services has been the engine of change that empowers families to reach their greatest potential and positively impact their communities. Metropolitan is Illinois’ first comprehensive human services agency and reaches more than 122,900 individuals and families in Chicago, Evanston/Skokie, the southwest suburbs and DuPage County with services promoting education, economic stability, emotional wellness and empowerment.

We are currently searching for a full-time Family Support Worker to join our Early Childhood Education Team!

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTION:

• Implement recruitment efforts for your site/locations including recruitment of children with disabilities, while maintaining full enrollment at all times along with a wait reflective of agency goals.
• Establish and maintain accurate documentation of age and income eligibility for children and pregnant women participating in the program.
• Collaborate with families and teaching staff to complete an accurate family assessment annually and provide intervention, referrals and assistance for interests, needs and circumstances identified.
• Provide case management services to families and children including assistance and referrals, i.e. emergency services, health/nutrition/dental referrals, disability referrals, and child abuse and neglect referrals, etc.
• Collaborate with families in accessing community services that meet their needs, circumstances and interests including following up with parents to assure that services are received.
• Assist families in identifying and defining goals as early as possible after enrollment; and ensure that progress review is done per procedure.
• Adhere to follow up procedures for tracking activities in all Prevention Initiative areas, i.e.: medical, dental, mental health, nutrition, disabilities, and family and community partnerships.
• Responsible for monitoring health/nutrition, ERSEA, and family assessment activities for families in the Prevention Initiative home based program.
• Maintain accurate and current record-keeping in the family file by following the established contents of files.
• Collaborate with all families and local health agencies to ensure that all children are linked to a medical and dental home for an ongoing source of continuous service.
• Responsible for planning and facilitating monthly parent meetings and trainings.
• Attend regularly scheduled staff meetings/trainings.
• Responsible for completing intake and eligibility appointments for Head Start center.
• Provide immediate referrals, assistance and follow-up for crisis intervention needs. 
• Maintain on-going contact with families regarding program services.  Document contact on case notes in family files. 
• Document and provide follow up regarding children’s absences in the program including daily and three day follow up as well as home visits as needed.
• Offer and provide assistance to families with attendance issues.
• Provide immediate referrals, assistance and follow-up for crisis intervention needs.
• Assist in the provision of monthly education meetings.   
• Participate in the monitoring of follow up on all issues found during screenings and goal development.   
• Respond appropriately to cultural diversity and be sensitive to the needs of the families and community served.
• Ensure that the usage of agency technology, equipment and time are used for agency business and equipment is well cared for.
• Performs other duties as may be assigned.   

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelor’s Level Degree in Family Services, Social Work, Psychology, Early Childhood Education, Sociology, Child Development or related field from an accredited college or university required. 
• Two (2) years of Social Service experience preferred. 
• Strong organizational skills and the ability to set priorities, organize time efficiently and handle multiple demands.
• Ability to work a flexible schedule including some evenings and/or weekends.
• Knowledge of community resources.
• Ability to work with diverse constituencies in a professional manner.
• Must have access to a vehicle, valid driver's license and proof of insurance to perform essential job functions.
• Bilingual in Spanish required.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

• While performing the essential duties of this job, the employee is required to sit and stand for sustained periods of time, frequently talk, hear, use hands and fingers to feel, handle and operate objects or controls, and occasionally stand, bend, stretch, stoop, kneel and crouch.
• The employee is required to have close visual acuity to perform an activity such as preparing and analyzing data and figures, transcribing and viewing a computer terminal.
• The employee may occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds.

SALARY:

• Compensation is commensurate with years of related experience, position requirements, and candidate qualifications. The average salary for the position is $55,000 per year.

Metropolitan Family Services offers a very generous benefits packet to our professionals: 

• Blue Cross and Blue Shield Medical Coverage: HMO, Traditional PPO, or PPO w/ HSA contributions.
• Dental and Vision Insurance Options
• 12 paid Holidays  
• Paid Time Off (PTO)
• 401K Plan
• Training and Professional Development Plan with E- Learning
• Wellness Initiative Program
• Employee Assistance Network

Salary : $55,000