Family Development Specialist

About the role

Teen Parenting Service Network (TPSN): is a statewide Network that works exclusively with pregnant and parenting youth in DCFS care and their children. In managing statewide services for pregnant and parenting youth under a single umbrella, UCAN provides seamless service to placement providers and pregnant and parenting youth through a continuum of care. UCAN provides a full scope of clinical, training, education and parenting services designed to help young parents cope with the effects of trauma. UCAN starts by meeting youth where they are at, identifying strengths and building from success. UCAN staff members are trained to identify and treat the effects of trauma while enhancing the parenting capacity of youth so that they can be the best parents that they can be.

Essential Functions and Responsibilities

• Builds and Supports Emotional Well-Being and Parenting Skills
• Provides clinical support to young parents to help them increase their functioning in life domains and examines how their trauma histories impact them in their daily life and the parenting of their child(ren).
• Provides individualized psychoeducation and support to young parents regarding parenting, child development, well baby care, and health and safety issues including safe sleep practices.
• Provides individualized psychoeducation to parents about methods of family planning and sexual health.
• Ensures linkage to the community for services that young parents need to be successful through enhancing the Community Map with the service team.
• Affirms young parents for post-partum depression to make recommendations and necessary referrals for services.
• Affirms young parents in their desire and ability to parent and makes recommendations to the case manager for additional services such as Options Counseling or a more comprehensive parenting assessment, Psychological or Psychiatric evaluation.
• Affirms engagement of partner/other parent in services and assists with establishing paternity and filing for child support if desired.
• Demonstrates insight regarding client strengths and needs and incorporates this into parenting/therapy services.
• Completes a New Birth Assessment (NBA) and all required assessment tools when assigned.
• Identifies any concrete needs of parent and child.
• Evaluates the current level of parent-child interaction.
• When necessary, provides training directly to youth; i.e. safe sleep training, appropriate caregivers.
• Communicates with the case manager at least monthly regarding progress and participation.
• Participates in all staffing's concerning assigned young parents and provides information and recommendations for additional services and actions.
• Reports client progress in court proceedings (when necessary) through clear written reports submitted as required, and through accurate verbal testimony.
• Makes recommendations to case manager for needed services and supplies.
• Maintains accurate, complete and timely client records as required by UCAN and TPSN policy and procedures.
• Enters updates and maintains accurate data in the ProFile data system, as required, including the documentation all contacts in ProFile within one week of occurrence.
• Reports all critical incidents, incidents of abuse or neglect, and unusual incidents to supervisor, management, or DCFS as required by UCAN, TPSN or by mandated reporting law.
• Sets annual developmental goals with supervisor to meet learning needs and interests, while also enhancing job performance and skills.

Professional Development

• Attends regular (twice per month) supervision, staff meetings, required training, and other professional workshops to enhance job skills.
• Performs other related tasks as required or assigned.

Qualifications

• BSW or BS/BA in Social Work, Early Childhood Education or a related Human Service field required.
• 3-5 years’ work experience in child welfare or human services.
• MSW or MS/MA in Social Work, Counseling, Early Childhood Education or a related Human Service field- preferred.
• Working toward professional license; LPC, LSW, LCPC, LCSW.
• MSW or MS/MA in Social Work, Counseling, Early Childhood Education or a related Human Service field LCPC or LCSW required.
• Bi-lingual in English/Spanish preferred.
• Open and respectful of cultural and socioeconomic characteristics of youth and is willing and competent to work with a diverse client population.
• Understanding of trauma-informed practice.
• Understanding of Positive Youth Development.
• Effective verbal and written communication skills.
• Working knowledge of the child welfare system.
• Ability to work both independently and a part of a high functioning team.
• Experience and ability to use computers for data entry, communication and report writing.
• Prominent ability to work effectively with young parents and their children.
• Current Infant/Child CPR and First Aid certification.
• Car and valid Illinois driver’s license and insurance required.
• Ability to transport children in accordance with IDCFS regulations.

Benefits

UCAN offers a comprehensive benefits package including Medical, Dental, Vision, Voluntary Life Insurance, Voluntary Short-Term Disability, Voluntary Critical Illness Insurance, Voluntary Accident Coverage, Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA), Health Savings Accounts (HSA), Retirement Plan (401k), Tuition Reimbursement, Group Life and AD&D Insurance, Group Long-Term Disability, Employee Assistance Program (EAP), and more. UCAN is an equal opportunity employer and strongly encourages candidates with lived experience and diverse backgrounds to apply.