Who We Are:
Rooted in a rich history of social services, Onward Neighborhood House opens doors to improve lives and uplift communities through educational, economic and support services. Read through our programs section to find more information on how we work to impact the greater Belmont Cragin area or find ways to get involved and volunteer! To learn more about us, please visit us atwww.onwardhouse.org
About the Role:
Under the general supervision of the Parent Engagement Coordinator, the Family Support Worker is responsible for assessing the social service needs of participants, providing direct and indirect services and referrals, and engaging participants in various activities and leadership roles throughout the agency through mentoring and training.
What you’ll do:
Core duties and responsibilities include the following. Other duties may be assigned
- Coordinate comprehensive assessment of social service needs of clients and develop a written service plan for each case.
- Establish strong, trusting and collaborative relationships with participant families and serve as the liaison between parent groups, Program Director, and other staff.
- Provide services, resources, referrals and support based on the individual needs of the families.
- Engage with families to complete a comprehensive Strength and Needs Assessment, develop a written Partnership Agreement, and help families identify goals.
- Establish formal linkage agreements with community agencies and institutions.
- Attend Individual Education Plan (IEP) meetings and IFSP meetings to serve as a support and advocate for children and parents.
- Coordinate parent engagement activities through recruitment and organization of events and services.
- Identify individual and group training needs for parents and provide technical assistance to meet these needs.
- Assist in identifying, planning and conducting Parent Committee Meetings, parent trainings, and parent workshops.
- Assist parents in identifying and developing local community resources.
- Recruit families and complete intake and registration for families who will participate in the programs.
- Provide transportation options to parents and children for program activities when necessary.
- Conduct home visits to families at least annually for each family and as needed.
- Collaborate with other staff, volunteers, interns, and/or neighborhood organizations with on-going program implementation and in developing special events.
- Attend weekly family support meetings, parent meetings, and other meetings as necessary.
- Perform record keeping and other reporting functions as required by Head Start Performance and NAEYC Standards. Submit all agency reports in a timely manner.
- Shares responsibility with other family support workers to oversee agency food pantry intake.
- Facilitate and ensure parent participation in the committee structure of the Head Start delegate agency and city-wide council.
Our Perfect CandidateEducation and Experience:
- Bachelor’s Degree in in Social Work required
- 1+ years of experience in a pre-school program
- Driver’s license and own transportation
- Bilingual (English/Spanish) REQUIRED
- Flexible in work schedule.
Required Abilities and Skills:
- Strong interpersonal, verbal, and written communication skills
- Time management skills to prioritize and meet deadlines
- Expertise in analysis, critical decision making, and process improvement
- Demonstrated ability to anticipate and solve practical problems
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office Applications including Excel, PowerPoint, and Word
Center Offers:
- Competitive salary will commensurate with experience and education
- Comprehensive benefits package available: (i.e. health, life and short/long term disability insurance, vacation, 403(b) thrift plan (upon 1 year of employment), etc.)
Job Type: Full-time
Pay: $47,000.00 - $52,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- 403(b)
- Dental insurance
- Health insurance
- Paid time off
Schedule:
Application Question(s):
- Is your Degree a Bachelors in Social Work?
Education:
Experience:
- Social Work: 1 year (Required)
Language:
Ability to Commute:
- Chicago, IL 60639 (Preferred)
Work Location: In person
