BILINGUAL FAMILY SUPPORT SPECIALIST

Shelter, Inc.; Arlington Heights (IL); On-site; USD 50,000 - 61,000; Full time

Job summary

Shelter, Inc. in Illinois is hiring a Bilingual Family Support Specialist to maintain long-term contact with families, conduct home visits, and assess needs. You will screen families prenatally or after birth, guide parents, and connect them with community resources to support positive home environments.

The role requires fluency in English and Spanish, strong communication, and flexibility. A driver’s license and ability to lift 40 lbs are part of the requirements, and CPR/First Aid

Qualifications

• Bachelor's or associate degree in early childhood education, social work, or closely related field from an accredited school required; master's degree in social work or similar field and experience is desired.
• Infant mental health endorsement preferred.
• Experience in working with or providing services to children and families.
• Ability to establish trusting relationships.
• Acceptance of individual differences.
• Experience and humility to work with culturally diverse families.
• Knowledge of infant and child development.
• Willingness to engage in building reflective capacity (self-awareness, supervision).
• Fluency in both English and Spanish required.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Strong organizational and time management skills.
• Basic familiarity with Microsoft Windows and Office.
• Ability to work flexible hours.
• Must have Illinois driver's license, automobile, and insurance proof.
• Must become CPR, Infant CPR, and First Aid certified within six months.
• Must pass medical and TB tests and be fully vaccinated for COVID-19 per CDC.

Responsibilities

• Conduct home visitations and adjust visits as child ages up to five years.
• Screen parents prenatally or post-birth to determine service eligibility.
• Provide long-term supportive and educational services to participating families.
• Assist parents in improving skills for a positive home environment.
• Help families solve problems and advocate for themselves and children.
• Collaborate with families to set and achieve personal goals.
• Support access to medical homes, immunizations, and well-child visits.
• Conduct social-emotional and developmental screenings and refer to Early Intervention as needed.
• Provide parent–child activities to support development and stimulation.
• Address developmental deficits through targeted activities.
• Maintain updated family demographics, assessments, and reports in Visit Tracker.
• Meet documentation timelines and produce monthly activity reports.
• Report schedule changes to supervisor and participate in supervision.

Skills

Bilingual Spanish/English

Communication skills

Trust-building

Cultural competency

Family services experience

Flexible hours

Microsoft Office

Education

Bachelor's degree in early childhood education or social work

Associate degree in related field

Master's degree in social work (desired)

Tools

Microsoft Office

Job description

BILINGUAL FAMILY SUPPORT SPECIALIST

Job Description

ESSENTIAL FUNCTION

The Bilingual (Spanish/English) Family Support Specialist is responsible for initiating and maintaining regular long-term (up to 5 years) contact and support with participant families. The Family Support Specialist is responsible for building a trusting relationship and offering strength-based services to all families assigned to their caseload. The Family Support Specialist provides support, education, and assists family in establishing and achieving goals. The Family Support Specialist also provides assessment through screening first time parents at the hospital or their home, determining their strengths and needs, and referring them to community services as needed.

SPECIFIC DUTIES

DIRECT SERVICE

• Conduct home visitations according to the Level of Needs Standards, tapering off as the child reaches five years of age.
• Responsible for the initial screening of parents during prenatal period or immediately after birth of child to determine factors which may qualify the family for services.
• Provide long-term supportive and educational services to parents admitted to the program.
• Assist parents in improving their skills to optimize a positive home environment.
• Increase the family's ability to problem solve and advocate for themselves and their children.
• Partner with families to establish and achieve personal goals.
• Support parents in obtaining a medical home and timely immunizations and well child visits.
• Conduct regular social-emotional and developmental screenings of children participating in the program and refer to Early Intervention as needed.
• Provide parents through parent child activities opportunities to support their child's development and encourage age-appropriate stimulation.
• Intervene with any appropriate developmental activities necessary to address developmental deficits.
• Keep up to date with community resources to assist families in meeting needs and accomplishing goals.

PROGRAM ADMINISTRATION

• Maintain accurate information about family demographics, assessments, home visitation reports and program outcomes in Visit Tracker.
• Meet program timelines for all documentation and reporting requirements.
• Maintain a monthly report of daily activities with families.
• Report any changes of schedules to supervisor.
• Follow Program Policy & Procedures for home visiting.
• Participate in staff meetings and reflective supervision.
• Complete time reports every two weeks in ADP.

ACCOUNTABILITY

The Family Support Specialist shall be supervised and accountable to the Healthy Families Supervisor

JOB QUALIFICATIONS

• A bachelor's degree or an associates degree in early childhood education, social work, or a closely related field from an accredited school required; master's degree in social work or similar field and experience is desired.
• Infant mental health endorsement preferred.
• Experience in working with or providing services to children and families.
• An ability to establish trusting relationships.
• Acceptance of individual differences
• Experience and humility to work with culturally diverse families.
• Knowledge of infant and child development.
• Willingness to engage in building reflective capacity (e.g. capacity for introspection, communicating awareness of self in relation to others, recognizing value of supervision etc.)
• Fluency in both the English and Spanish language is required.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Strong organizational and time management skills.
• Basic familiarity and experience working with Microsoft Windows and Office software.
• Ability to work flexible hours.
• Demonstrated commitment to and understanding of Shelter's mission, vision, and values.
• Must have a valid Illinois driver's license, an automobile, and must submit proof of Illinois auto insurance.
• Must become certified in CPR, Infant CPR, and First Aid within the first six months of employment.
• Must complete a medical and T.B. test. Must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19, according to the latest CDC guidelines.
• Must be fingerprinted by the State of Illinois and must submit to a full background check through the Department of Children and Family Services.
• Must submit official educational transcripts from the last school in which a degree was awarded.
• Ability to lift 40 lbs.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS AND WORKING CONDITIONS

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 accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential job functions. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to sit; talk or hear; stand; walk; and use hands to handle or operate objects. The employee is occasionally required to climb or balance, stoop, kneel, crouch, lift, reach with hands or arms, and run. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 40 lbs. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, and the ability to adjust focus.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

Shelter, Inc. is committed to providing safe, inclusive, and supportive resources for youth and families from all backgrounds and identities. We actively strive to create an environment that supports all employees, placing value in contributions from people from diverse backgrounds, and honoring all experiences, perspectives, and unique identities. The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. Work is performed at the assigned facility and frequently in vehicles, family settings, and meeting rooms both in the facility and at other agency sites.

CLASSIFICATION STATUS

This is an exempt position.

SALARY

$55,000.00

ABOUT SHELTER

Since 1975, Shelter has been a leader in Chicagoland for providing the emotional and physical care, programs, and services that children need to build safer, healthier, and brighter futures. We are the only agency in the state of Illinois to provide fully comprehensive and community-based services for children and families at risk and in need. Our programs include emergency housing, transitional living, foster care, home visiting, and clinical support services. We are available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Shelter is committed to providing safe, inclusive, and supportive resources for youth and families from all backgrounds and identities.