Metropolitan Family Services empowers families to learn, to earn, to heal, to thrive. Part mentor, part motivator, part advocate, since 1857, Metropolitan Family Services has been the engine of change that empowers families to reach their greatest potential and positively impact their communities. Metropolitan is Illinois’ first comprehensive human services agency and reaches more than 117,000 individuals and families in Chicago, Evanston/Skokie, the southwest suburbs and DuPage County with services promoting education, economic stability, emotional wellness and empowerment.

We are currently searching for a full-timeFamily Support Worker to join ourSouth Chicago Team!

SALARY: Compensation is commensurate with years of related experience, position requirements, and candidate qualifications. The average salary for the position is$50,000.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:

• Responsible for enrolling children and families into an Early Head Start home visiting site, as well as, providing casework services and referral resources.
• Work with the Project Manager and other staff to coordinate services relating to child and family well-being, including Disabilities, Health, Mental Health, Nutrition and Family Partnerships. 
• Deliver healthy, educational, nutritional and child growth and development information to parents via meetings in the client's home. 
• Provide support in parent and child activities that encourages developmentally appropriate activities for the changing needs of children. 
• Participation in weekly individual supervisions and regularly scheduled team meetings. 
• Collaborates with each family to set goals, completes all developmental, social emotional and health screening.
• Ensure completion and submittal of paperwork in a timely fashion.
• Complete Family Assessments and make appropriate referrals to assist parents in the development and implementation of their identified goals.
• Assist families with procuring required dental and medical records for children enrolled in the program; analyze medical records to determine special needs and requirements for each child.
• Ensure all grant-funding, licensing, and accreditation regulations, including Early Head Start Performance Standards, are met with regard to providing casework services and referral resources.
• Identify social and emotional needs of families through direct contact, teacher reports, and child observations and provide support through referrals.
• Establish and maintain a relationship with contracted Mental Health Consultant to coordinate referrals and observations in a timely manner.
• Respond to and work with external partners, including representatives from CDFSS (Chicago Department of Family Support Services), CPS (Chicago Public Schools), and NAEYC (National Association for Education of Young Children), and other licensing representatives as needed. 
• Attend parent committee meetings and provide translation for Spanish/Polish speaking parents.
• Create and update a Community Resource Directory and serve as the resource person for families to facilitate access to social services within the community.
• Maintain and manage all children's files and enters data into web-based tracking system.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelor’s Degree in Early Childhood Education, Psychology, Sociology, or related field required. 
• Two yearsof social service experience,required.
• Ability to work a flexible schedule including some evenings and/or weekends.
• Knowledge of community resources.
• Requires mobility to work with a community based caseload.
• Employment with MFS requires proof of vaccination or an approved Medical exemption, required. 
• Must have access to a vehicle, valid driver's license and proof of insurance to perform essential job functions,required
• Home visiting experience, Direct service experience, and experience working with low-income familiespreferred. 
• Healthy Families experience desired.
• Basic knowledge of a computer. 
• Strong time management skills.

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS: 

• MFS staff are required to provide proof of vaccination or have an approved Medical exemption prior to starting employment. If an approved Medical is obtained, weekly testing may be required. 

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

• While performing the essential duties of this job, the employee is required to sit and stand for sustained periods of time, frequently talk, hear, use hands and fingers to feel, handle and operate objects or controls, and occasionally stand, bend, stretch, stoop, kneel and crouch.
• The employee is required to have close visual acuity to perform an activity such as preparing and analyzing data and figures,transcribingand viewing a computer terminal.
• The employee may occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds.

Metropolitan Family Services offers a very generous benefits packet to our professionals:

• Blue Cross and Blue Shield Medical Coverage: HMO, Traditional PPO, or PPO w/ HSA contributions.
• Dental and Vision Insurance Options
• 12paid Holidays
• Parental Leave
• Bereavement Pay 
• Paid Time Off (PTO)
• 401K Plan
• Training and Professional Development Plan with E- Learning
• Wellness Initiative Program
• Employee Assistance Network