Family Support Specialist (Bilingual - Spanish) - Elgin

Description:

The Family Support Specialist is responsible for providing intensive home visiting services to at risk families. The Family Support Worker works collaboratively with the other Family Support Workers. Together, the team carries out quality, comprehensive care.

Primary Functions:

• Adheres to the Healthy Families America critical elements as described in the HFA Accreditation Standards.

• Responsible for a caseload of 15-25 families. (See weighted caseloads in training manual).

• Maintains regular contact with clients in their home.

• Establishes a case plan with goals, objectives and activities with the family.

• Assists with strengthening the parent-child relationship, including video intervention.

• Assists parents in improving their skills to optimize the home environment.

• Aids in making and attending of health care appointments as well as making other community organization referrals.

• Aids with childcare and/or facilitates group activities and functions.

• Completes all required trainings.

• Assists and participates in fundraising activities.

Qualifications

• High School Diploma or equivalent required.

• Maturity and experience in successfully working with infants and young children/parents.

• Demonstrates motivation and ability to learn and apply basic parenting skills.

• Available to clients after hours as needed.

• Non-judgmental.

• Creative/knowledgeable about community resources.

• Strong interpersonal skills/ability to relate to people.

• Culturally competent.

• Some computer skills required.

• Demonstrates good writing and organizational skills.

• Not all Family Support Worker positions are bi-lingual. However, for those positions that do require this: bi-lingual in Spanish/English as follows: Reading - Required. Written – Preferred. Speaking – Required.

• Health Policies and requirements met (See Personnel Policies).

• Valid driver’s license and automobile insurance.

Essential Functions/Physical Requirements:
1. Ability to communicate effectively, both verbally and in writing.
2. Ability to drive a car. (Ability to drive a car entails driving to client’s homes in Kane County area; does not involve transportation of client(s), which is not allowed per program guidelines).
3. Must maintain current driver’s license and automobile insurance.
4. Ability to climb stairs and ambulate in and out of clients homes in all weather.
5. Ability to deal with high levels of stress.
6. Able to sit and stand for long periods.