Family Support Worker (South Chicago)

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 South Chicago Team!

SALARY: The average starting salary for this position will fall in the range of $47,000 and $52,000 annually. Where candidates fall in this range will be based on skill and experience level. 

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:

• Responsible for enrolling children and families into an Early Head Start home visiting site, as well as, providing casework services and referral resources.
• Work with the Project Manager and other staff to coordinate services relating to child and family well-being, including Disabilities, Health, Mental Health, Nutrition and Family Partnerships. 
• Deliver healthy, educational, nutritional and child growth and development information to parents via meetings in the client's home. 
• Provide support in parent and child activities that encourages developmentally appropriate activities for the changing needs of children. 
• Participation in weekly individual supervisions and regularly scheduled team meetings. 
• Collaborates with each family to set goals, completes all developmental, social emotional and health screening.
• Ensure completion and submittal of paperwork in a timely fashion.
• Complete Family Assessments and make appropriate referrals to assist parents in the development and implementation of their identified goals.
• Assist families with procuring required dental and medical records for children enrolled in the program; analyze medical records to determine special needs and requirements for each child.
• Ensure all grant-funding, licensing, and accreditation regulations, including Early Head Start Performance Standards, are met with regard to providing casework services and referral resources.
• Identify social and emotional needs of families through direct contact, teacher reports, and child observations and provide support through referrals.
• Establish and maintain a relationship with contracted Mental Health Consultant to coordinate referrals and observations in a timely manner.
• Respond to and work with external partners, including representatives from CDFSS (Chicago Department of Family Support Services), CPS (Chicago Public Schools), and NAEYC (National Association for Education of Young Children), and other licensing representatives as needed. 
• Attend parent committee meetings and provide translation for Spanish speaking parents.
• Create and update a Community Resource Directory and serve as the resource person for families to facilitate access to social services within the community.
• Maintain and manage all children's files and enters data into web-based tracking system.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelor’s Degree in Early Childhood Education, Psychology, Sociology, or related field. 
• 2 years of social service experience.
• Ability to work a flexible schedule including some evenings and/or weekends.
• Bilingual (English/Spanish), highly preferred. 
• Knowledge of community resources.
• Requires mobility to work with a community based caseload.
• Must have access to a vehicle, valid driver's license and proof of insurance to perform essential job functions.
• Home visiting experience, Direct service experience, and experience working with low-income families preferred. 
• Healthy Families experience desired.
• Basic knowledge of a computer. 
• Strong time management skills.     

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 50 pounds.

Metropolitan Family Services puts our people first with a top-of-the-line benefits package. Find out more by clicking here!

Some highlights include:

• Blue Cross and Blue Shield Medical Coverage, Guardian Dental Coverage, and VSP Vision Coverage.
• Metropolitan Family Services contributions of $2,000 to individual, and $4,000 to family, HSA accounts, pro-rated to your benefits start date.
• FREE General Medicine and Behavioral Health Teladoc services provided to all team members.
• Ascensus 401K plan services with a 4% employer match, vested at 100% on day one of eligibility.

And so much more! Make sure you click here to see the full suite of benefits offered!

Salary : $47,000 - $52,000