Family Support Specialist
At OHU, our Hope Members are the heartbeat of our organization. Together, we have built a culture of support, trust, and care.
This position comes with a $2,000 sign on bonus!
Culture of Care
The ELCD program at OHU is known for its closely-knit teams who often work together for years at a time! The team members join their shared love of educating young children towards creating a warm and positive working environment. New employees who come from a corporate environment quickly fall in love with the atmosphere at an OHU child development center!
"We are such an inclusive organization, we don't turn anybody away. Everybody is welcome. Working here, I feel like family. I've never felt so appreciated working in a place before. They really take care of you here, listen to your concerns and act on them. It's just amazing! And it's really easy to make it amazing when the people you work with are amazing."
Shari Conley, Joliet Early Learning Center (Joliet, IL)
What you would be doing:
Enrollment and Recruitment
- Recruits and enrolls families into the early childhood programs
- Organizes and maintains complete, accurate, and up-to-date records for children and families
- Maintains enrollment throughout the program year through various recruitment strategies; ensures vacancies are filled immediately
- Collaborates with Special Needs Coordinator to recruit children with disabilities into the program
Family Relations
- Builds respectful, culturally-sensitive relationships with families
- Embeds "Strengthening Families" initiatives throughout the program
- Communicates effectively with families through written and oral communication
- Encourages families to participate in program activities, parent meetings, home visits, and parent-teacher conferences
- Participates in parent meetings, family activities, and trainings
- Participates in all home visits and parent-teacher conferences to assess and support family resources and needs
- Assists families in developing Family Partnership Agreements, in order to encourage and promote their overall development including achievement of self-sufficiency as well as positive developmental outcomes for their children
- Understands the program's outcome goals and works diligently with the families to pursue positive outcome goals while participating in services
- Maintains Parent Resource area and Parent Bulletin boards
- Follows up on child's absenteeism; working with parents to address barriers to regular attendance as needed
Recordkeeping
- Ensures accurate and timely entry of all required child and family information in the data system
- Works in collaboration with Center staff and consultants to monitor, track, and coordinate services to children and families
- Ensures that health documents are complete and up-to-date, sending reminders to parents when follow-up is needed
- Appropriately documents monthly contacts with families in case notes
Professional Leadership and Community Outreach
- Participates in IFSP/IEP meetings for children
What we will expect of you:
Education
- Associate's degree preferred
Certification
- Family Support Specialist credential or credential-eligible required
What you can expect from us:
- OHU program leaders work to provide warm and supportive leadership that flexes around your life as much as possible when needed
- A flexible full-time schedule
- Staff Celebrations (including weekly lunches!)
- Ongoing professional development tailored to yours and your classroom needs
- If you desire to advance in your career over time, program leaders will work with you to do so
- You will be part of a center that grows programs in keeping with the community needs
- You will also be part of a well-respected company (OHU is 125 years old!) that has a seat in community partnerships
We Invest in You!
- Tuition assistance up to $2500 per fiscal year
- Up to 4 weeks paid Vacation Days, up to 6 paid Personal Days, 1 paid Mental Health Day, and up to 5 paid Sick days annually
- Medical, dental, vision, 403 (b) retirement, flexible spending accounts, health savings account, dependent care, commuter and transit
- Agency-paid Life&ADD insurance up to $50K based on salary and short-term disability
- Agency-paid long-term after 1 year of employment
- Voluntary Supplemental Life&ADD, Critical Illness, Accident and Hospital for Employee, Spouse, and Child(ren)
- Voluntary Legal Plans
- Voluntary Pet Insurance
- Employee Assistance Program with 6 free counseling sessions
- Career ladders, professional development, and promotion opportunities
- Free LCSW and LCPC Supervision hours available in some locations
A Different Kind of Employer: One Hope United is strong and ready to grow. Are you ready to grow with us?
- 800+ talented professionals strong, serving 10,000 children and families in Illinois and Florida
- Fiscally stable, $70 Million agency-- strong since 1895
- Energetic leadership and a rich community of support
One Hope United does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. One Hope United is an Equal Opportunity Employer and a Drug-Free Workplace. OHU participates in E-Verify.
#INDELCD
Pay Range: $25.39 per hour