Faith In Action Jobs in Chicago, IL (NOW HIRING)

Why Join Concordia Place?
Do you want to positively impact children's growth? Interested in teaching a fun and purposeful play-based curriculum? What about working with qualified teachers in beautiful indoor and outdoor play areas? If the answer is a resounding yes, then Concordia Place is right for you!

Founded in 1981, Concordia Place is a vibrant mission driven organization providing multigenerational programs including early learning, after-school, and teen leadership for Chicago communities. Our centers are located in the Avondale, Ravenswood, North Center and Old Irving Park neighborhoods, with plans to expand into Albany Park. While we are diverse, we are united by our mission to create involved communities where all our neighbors can gather, learn, and grow. Concordia believes everyone deserves opportunity, and that it is best served when it is broadly inclusive.

Our Guiding Principles

• Faith in Action
• A Place of Yes
• A Place for All
• A Place of One
• A Place of Excellence

Overview

Recognizing that the family is the child’s first teacher, the Home Visitor supports parents on their journey into and through parenthood. The Home Visitor forms positive, trusting relationships with participating families to support, strengthen, and build confidence in their parenting role. The Home Visitor conducts developmental assessments, develops home-based personalized lesson plans and services, as well as group social connections and educational opportunities. Reports to the Home Visiting Manager.

Responsibilities

Personalized Family Support

• Meet one-on-one with families to understand their needs; work together to define their goals
• Support families in reaching their identified goals; provide parent tools and skills to stimulate their child’s health development
• Create individualized lesson plans tailored to the child and family: age-appropriate activities for the child and resources for parents
• Implement Parents as Teachers curriculum guidelines, include requirements from the funding partners
• Conduct Ages and Stages Questionnaires (ASQ) with families every four months (or as required) to determine need for case management, referrals as well as Individual Family Service Plan (IFSP)
• Prepare and submit appropriate documentation and reports, maintain client records in accordance to professional standards and funder requirements
• Maintain required screenings, update immunizations, educational status, WIC appointments, and family planning for participants and their children

Social Connections

• Organize monthly group activities to provide support, education, and information on topics that reflect families’ needs and interests, such as child development and parenting
• Encourage family inter-connections, engagement and sharing
• Promote activities to families to ensure high attendance
• Invite home visiting families to Concordia’s center-based events, and foster relations between families

Outreach, Enrollment and Program Development

• Actively recruit families for home visiting services; maintain a relevant pipeline to maximize caseload
• Collaborate with Concordia program leadership to refer families and children between programs
• Network in the community to provide a Concordia presence and visibility; interact professionally with business and community leaders to develop community relationships and collaborate with other agencies and services
• Participate in meetings, conferences, in-service training required by Concordia and funders; represent Concordia at external meetings
• Work as a cohesive part of the leadership team to develop a sense of shared mission, coordinating and collaborating with other Concordia sites and departments
• Perform other duties as needed or assigned

Qualifications

• Minimum of a Bachelor of Arts degree (B.A.) in Social Work, Human Services, Early Childhood Education, or a related field.
• Family Specialist Credential level 5 from Gateways
• Must speak, read, and write Spanish fluently (bilingual in English and Spanish)
• Maintain Parents as Teachers certification
• Experience in child development, early childhood education, social work, or related field
• Demonstrated ability to communicate clearly both verbally and in writing. Bilingual Spanish & English is preferred
• Ability to establish priorities, work independently, and monitor progress towards outcomes
• Knowledge and understanding of communities served

Requirements

• This role will interact with families, Concordia program leaders and other team members that requires mostly in-person meetings, onsite visibility, and events within and outside of normal business hours
• Requires some evening and weekend hours for outreach events and one-on-one family meetings
• Own vehicle, with proof of valid driver’s license and current automobile insurance are required to complete caseload responsibility
• This job operates in a professional office environment. This role routinely uses standard office equipment. This position requires the person to talk and hear, long periods of sitting, and computer and phone use; other activities while performing this job the employee is regularly required to stand; walk; handle or feel; reach with hands and arms. The employee is frequently required to stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl, and may frequently lift up to a 30-pound child
• A commitment to the mission and guiding principles of Concordia Place
• Be comfortable working for a faith-inspired organization; Concordia Place is a social service mission of Concordia Church that serves everyone regardless of any religious beliefs or affiliation.

Salary, Perks and Benefits

• Salary Range: $50,000 - $55,000 annually

Concordia Place offers a generous compensation and benefits package to employees. Here is an overview of the many perks of working at Concordia Place:

• 403b Retirement Savings Plan (with an Employer Match)
• Vacation Days
• Sick Days
• 1 week paid winter holiday
• 12 paid holidays per year
• Floating Holidays
• Employer paid Short Term Disability
• Employer paid Basic Life & ADD
• Medical insurance with employer contribution
• Voluntary Dental insurance
• Voluntary Vision insurance
• Voluntary Basic Life & ADD
• Voluntary Long-term disability insurance
• Voluntary Aflac plans
• Employer Paid Employee Assistance Program
• Employee Referral program
• Childcare tuition discount for employees
• Quarterly in-service days and professional development resources for teaching staff