Education and Enrichment Specialist

About the role

At One Family Illinois (formerly SOS Children’s Villages Illinois) we are committed to keeping brothers and sisters in foster care together by providing safe, stable, and loving homes. We do this by offering an innovative approach to traditional foster care. Our model of care provides a private, single-family home, access to a community center, and support from professionally trained Foster Parents and staff. With this, the children we serve benefit from the stability of remaining with their siblings as well as the support of neighboring One Family Illinois Foster Parents and the entire community.

Responsibilities

• Works with the children in the Safe Haven Program and Sibling Foster Care Program to develop age-appropriate programming to supplement school and other engagement activities that the children take part in.
• Works with the Professional Foster Parents in the Safe Haven Program and Sibling Foster Care Program, the Village Program Director, the Village Program Assistant, the Advancement Department, the Clinical Department, and members of the Village Administrative Team regarding client and community needs and service availability.
• Grows and maintains relationships with local schools and community partners.
• Monitors progress reports and report card grades and assists in pairing youth with educational assistance, such as tutoring, when needed.
• Communicates regularly with teachers, school counselors, school social workers, and principals to ensure our youth are being supported educationally, emotionally, and socially in the classroom.
• Develops community partnerships for purchasing, programming, and networking purposes.
• Identifies community recreational, cultural enrichment, psychological, health care, mentoring, and social service programming for children and families.
• Develops, enhances, implements, and oversees enrichment programs to enhance the lives of the children and families, including after-school programs and summer activities inclusive of life skills, self-awareness, self-esteem, arts and culture, and donor/corporate activities.
• Helps transition youth moving into and out of the Safe Haven Program and Sibling Foster Care Program by providing introductions, opportunities to participate in activities, and access to important resources in their communities.
• Assists in coordinating Special

Benefits

• Competitive healthcare plans through BCBS for you and your dependents (eligible the first of the following month after 30 or more days of full-time employment)
• Vision, dental, and life insurance offerings
• Flexible paid time off
• Access to an Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• 403b retirement savings plan (nonprofit version of 401K); contributions allowed immediately upon full-time employment; organization contributes 4% after 12 months of full-time employment regardless of employee contributions
• Part of the federal student loan forgiveness program
• Access to financial advisors and financial education tools
• Tuition reimbursement options
• Opportunities for further education and time to attend trainings/workshops for personal/professional development