PARENT EDUCATOR MIDWEST HEALTHY START

Sga Youth; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 40,000 - 55,000; Full time

Job summary

A community service organization in Chicago is seeking a compassionate Family Support Worker to support families with young children. The role involves recruiting participants, conducting home visits, and establishing trusting relationships with families. Essential qualifications include an Associate Degree in Social Work, experience with young children, and a sensitivity to cultural diversity. The organization emphasizes effective communication and a commitment to supporting families from diverse backgrounds. This position presents an opportunity for meaningful community engagement.

Qualifications

• Experience working with young children is required.
• Sensitivity to cultural diversity is required.
• Ability to establish helping relationships with diverse families.

Responsibilities

• Recruit and maintain a caseload of 50 participants.
• Conduct monthly home visits with each participant.
• Establish trusting relationships with participants' families.

Skills

Cultural sensitivity

Crisis management

Effective communication

Bilingual in English and Spanish

Education

Associate Degree in Social Work or related field

Certified Lactation Counselor

Job description

Description

• Recruit and maintain a caseload of 50 participants and conduct monthly home visits with each participant on caseload.
• Establish and maintain cooperative, trusting relationships with individuals’ families, and clinical/community-based organizations.
• Use language that conveys caring and is non-judgmental.
• Identify and share appropriate Healthy Start information and encourage and/or navigate referrals to and from clinics, community-based organizations, community members, and current participants.
• Use a range of outreach methods to engage individuals and groups in diverse settings.
• Complete required assessments, including Healthy Start tools to better understand participants, their families and their communities.
• Assist participants/families with creating goals that will be documented on an Individual Family Service Plan, which must be updated quarterly.
• Screen and refer for substance abuse and postpartum depression treatment as indicated.
• Plan and assist parents/caregivers with implementing developmentally appropriate home‑based activities.
• Explain the importance of well‑child visits including immunizations, and assist participants in finding a medical home for their infant/child and keeping recommended appointments.
• Educate participants about infant safety, including safe sleep practices for baby.
• Discuss the importance of and promote father/partner engagement with the infant/child with all participants.
• Discuss the importance of ongoing parent‑child interactions, including reading to infants/children every day.
• Assist participants with completing a Family Reproductive Plan.
• Complete ASQ‑SE 2 and ASQ‑3 screenings with parent/infant/child.
• Assist in identifying children with special needs and make the necessary referrals.
• Assist in planning and implementation of socialization’s and monthly parent meetings.
• Integrate other components, i.e. health, nutrition, mental health, parent involvement and special needs into the home visit.
• Advocate for and promote the use of culturally and linguistically appropriate services and resources within the Healthy Start program and with the diverse community partners.
• Understand organizational policies and procedures and ensure all work efforts conducted are consistent with Healthy Start guidelines and SGA policies and procedures.
• Maintain and preserve a confidential family file.
• Compile and enter data into ETO as required by the Program and agency.
• Maintain/update client files and records to ensure Healthy Start and ETO databases are updated as required per policy (within 24 hours) and Healthy Start Standards and Guidelines.
• Provide data and information that will assist in program reporting.
• Inform the Healthy Start Team of resources available to community families.
• Develop a consistent schedule to visit with program participants.
• Participate in on‑going training and staff development provided by SGA, the Program Director, other consultants, workshops and conferences.
• Contribute to the agency’s efforts related to prevention and integrated service delivery with other community providers.
• Demonstrate knowledge and be involved in the Agency’s Continuous Quality Improvement Activities.
• Support and contribute to inter‑system collaboration with other service providers to improve social service delivery systems.
• Attend regularly scheduled staff meetings, education meetings, social service and health meetings.
• Comply with HIPAA regulating stipulations.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Requirements

Education

• Associate Degree in Social Work, Early Childhood or related field required.
• Certified Lactation Counselor, preferred.

Experience

• Experience working with young children is required.
• Parents As Teachers knowledge preferred.

Other

• Sensitivity to cultural diversity is required. Ability to communicate and cooperate with diverse families, various professionals and community groups.
• Must demonstrate the ability to establish helping relationships with families of varying educational, experiential and socio‑economic backgrounds and handle emergency and crisis situations.
• Bilingual/Bicultural in English and Spanish, preferred.
• Must have valid driver’s license and insurance.
• Must be able to transport oneself to and from home visits.
• Ability to speak effectively before groups of customers or employees or the organization.
• Exercises discretion and independent judgment in executing tasks.

Physical Requirements

• Must be able to remain stationary 50% of the time.
• Constantly operates a computer and other office productivity machinery, such as a calculator, copy machine, and computer printer.
• Occasionally ascends/descends stairs.
• Constantly positions oneself to assist children during activities.
• Frequently moves desks, chairs, tables, easels, and children’s toys.
• At times may be required to lift up to 25 lbs. for various classroom and event’s needs.
• Frequently moves in outdoor weather conditions.

Nothing in this job description restricts management’s right to assign or reassign duties and responsibilities to this job at any time; this description reflects management’s assignment of essential functions, it does not proscribe or restrict the tasks that may be assigned. This job description is subject to change at any time.

An Equal Opportunity Employer