Easterseals serving Chicagoland and Greater Rockford
Family and Health Advocate - Bilingual Cantonese
Easterseals serving Chicagoland and Greater Rockford, Chicago, Illinois, United States, 60290
Overview
Family and Health Advocate - Bilingual Cantonese at Easterseals serving Chicagoland and Greater Rockford. This full-time role supports families at assigned sites throughout Chicago and surrounding suburbs under the direction of the Family and Health Coordinator. The FHA builds trusting relationships and provides ongoing direct support services to families to fulfill Head Start/Early Head Start/Preschool for All/Prevention Initiative requirements in areas including ERSEA, PFCE, and Health and Nutrition. The position is headquartered at Easterseals Chicago, 1939 W 13th Street, Chicago, IL 60608. Major Functions / Responsibilities
Develop and maintain professional partnerships with administrative and teaching staff at assigned sites; evaluate needs and provide support to sites in meeting Head Start Program Performance Standards and PFA/PI requirements. Build trusting relationships with families; provide ongoing support through monthly contact, family assessment and goal setting, referrals and services, follow-up, advocacy, and implementation of parent engagement curriculum. Provide two family visits per year to each family in their home. Maintain a regular schedule of site visits to ensure HS/EHS/PFA/PI service delivery and ongoing family contact, including flexible hours (early morning and evening as needed); be present on site for activities such as drop-off/pick-up, eligibility screenings, playdates, acceptance meetings, first days at the center, parent meetings/workshops/events, and meetings with the director for enrollment and verification. Promote literacy by increasing families’ access to materials and encouraging involvement in classroom activities. Maintain full enrollment at assigned sites through ongoing recruitment and by following the eligibility, selection, acceptance, and enrollment process; fill vacancies within 30 days. Implement attendance follow-up procedures, including attendance home visits as needed, to support regular attendance. Collaborate with Easterseals and site staff to ensure enrolled children stay up-to-date on well-child visits, physicals, immunizations, EPSDT screenings, vision/hearing, and dental exams; educate families on preventive health care; follow up on health issues as needed. Measure heights and weights of children ages 2 and up according to a twice-yearly schedule. Work with teachers and instructional coaches to communicate with families about developmental, social-emotional, or behavioral concerns; participate in SRT and Social Emotional Review Team meetings; support families through the IEP/IFSP process and advocacy for their goals. Encourage parent participation in site-level Parent Committees and agency-wide Policy Council; coordinate parent elections for Parent Committee officers and Policy Council Representatives. Plan an annual Parent Involvement Activity Calendar and Budget with Parent Committees and sites; coordinate and be present for activities such as Parent Orientation, meetings, workshops, and parent-child activities. Maintain complete and accurate records in the ChildPlus system and binders at sites; implement tracking to meet required timelines. Participate in community engagement activities, recruitment, linkage agreements, and agency/network meetings; maintain Community Resource Board at sites. Submit all required paperwork timely and attend required meetings; participate in Enrollment/Recruitment Campaigns and program assessments; contribute to Program Goals and School Readiness goals and promote safety. Based on caseloads, FHAs may provide regional support with family engagement and recruitment; perform other duties as assigned. Qualifications & Requirements
Education / Certification: Bachelor’s degree or higher in social work, human services, family services, counseling, or related field. Or Associate’s degree in related field plus minimum 1 year of experience in social services or early childhood education. Or degree in another field with 1-3 years of experience in social services or early childhood education. No degree required plus 1-3 years of experience in social services or early childhood education; family specialist credential must be earned within 18 months of hire if no degree or degree in another field. Experience Bilingual ability (English/Cantonese) may be preferred or required for some positions. Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite and related software (including Microsoft Teams). Vehicle / Transportation Valid driver’s license, auto insurance, reliable vehicle; regular travel to Easterseals and partner sites. Skills / Abilities Ability to establish rapport and build trusting relationships with families. Non-judgmental, compassionate, and culturally sensitive approach; strong communication, adaptability, and equity-mindedness. Willingness to visit families in home and community settings; flexible hours including evenings. Ability to receive feedback, engage in reflective learning, and inform work with families. Ability to collaborate with all levels of the organization and partner agencies; articulate program outcomes. Strong organizational skills, attention to detail, and ability to manage multiple projects. Excellent interpersonal, verbal, and written communication skills. ADA : Easterseals will make reasonable accommodations in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act. All persons hired for this position must be able to perform physical tasks and lift up to 50 pounds as required, unless exempted by the ADA. Salary : $44,098 - $55,123 annually
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Family and Health Advocate - Bilingual Cantonese at Easterseals serving Chicagoland and Greater Rockford. This full-time role supports families at assigned sites throughout Chicago and surrounding suburbs under the direction of the Family and Health Coordinator. The FHA builds trusting relationships and provides ongoing direct support services to families to fulfill Head Start/Early Head Start/Preschool for All/Prevention Initiative requirements in areas including ERSEA, PFCE, and Health and Nutrition. The position is headquartered at Easterseals Chicago, 1939 W 13th Street, Chicago, IL 60608. Major Functions / Responsibilities
Develop and maintain professional partnerships with administrative and teaching staff at assigned sites; evaluate needs and provide support to sites in meeting Head Start Program Performance Standards and PFA/PI requirements. Build trusting relationships with families; provide ongoing support through monthly contact, family assessment and goal setting, referrals and services, follow-up, advocacy, and implementation of parent engagement curriculum. Provide two family visits per year to each family in their home. Maintain a regular schedule of site visits to ensure HS/EHS/PFA/PI service delivery and ongoing family contact, including flexible hours (early morning and evening as needed); be present on site for activities such as drop-off/pick-up, eligibility screenings, playdates, acceptance meetings, first days at the center, parent meetings/workshops/events, and meetings with the director for enrollment and verification. Promote literacy by increasing families’ access to materials and encouraging involvement in classroom activities. Maintain full enrollment at assigned sites through ongoing recruitment and by following the eligibility, selection, acceptance, and enrollment process; fill vacancies within 30 days. Implement attendance follow-up procedures, including attendance home visits as needed, to support regular attendance. Collaborate with Easterseals and site staff to ensure enrolled children stay up-to-date on well-child visits, physicals, immunizations, EPSDT screenings, vision/hearing, and dental exams; educate families on preventive health care; follow up on health issues as needed. Measure heights and weights of children ages 2 and up according to a twice-yearly schedule. Work with teachers and instructional coaches to communicate with families about developmental, social-emotional, or behavioral concerns; participate in SRT and Social Emotional Review Team meetings; support families through the IEP/IFSP process and advocacy for their goals. Encourage parent participation in site-level Parent Committees and agency-wide Policy Council; coordinate parent elections for Parent Committee officers and Policy Council Representatives. Plan an annual Parent Involvement Activity Calendar and Budget with Parent Committees and sites; coordinate and be present for activities such as Parent Orientation, meetings, workshops, and parent-child activities. Maintain complete and accurate records in the ChildPlus system and binders at sites; implement tracking to meet required timelines. Participate in community engagement activities, recruitment, linkage agreements, and agency/network meetings; maintain Community Resource Board at sites. Submit all required paperwork timely and attend required meetings; participate in Enrollment/Recruitment Campaigns and program assessments; contribute to Program Goals and School Readiness goals and promote safety. Based on caseloads, FHAs may provide regional support with family engagement and recruitment; perform other duties as assigned. Qualifications & Requirements
Education / Certification: Bachelor’s degree or higher in social work, human services, family services, counseling, or related field. Or Associate’s degree in related field plus minimum 1 year of experience in social services or early childhood education. Or degree in another field with 1-3 years of experience in social services or early childhood education. No degree required plus 1-3 years of experience in social services or early childhood education; family specialist credential must be earned within 18 months of hire if no degree or degree in another field. Experience Bilingual ability (English/Cantonese) may be preferred or required for some positions. Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite and related software (including Microsoft Teams). Vehicle / Transportation Valid driver’s license, auto insurance, reliable vehicle; regular travel to Easterseals and partner sites. Skills / Abilities Ability to establish rapport and build trusting relationships with families. Non-judgmental, compassionate, and culturally sensitive approach; strong communication, adaptability, and equity-mindedness. Willingness to visit families in home and community settings; flexible hours including evenings. Ability to receive feedback, engage in reflective learning, and inform work with families. Ability to collaborate with all levels of the organization and partner agencies; articulate program outcomes. Strong organizational skills, attention to detail, and ability to manage multiple projects. Excellent interpersonal, verbal, and written communication skills. ADA : Easterseals will make reasonable accommodations in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act. All persons hired for this position must be able to perform physical tasks and lift up to 50 pounds as required, unless exempted by the ADA. Salary : $44,098 - $55,123 annually
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