Family and Health Advocate, Bilingual Spanish

About the Role

At Easterseals serving Chicagoland and Greater Rockford, we are committed to early learning and disability support, transforming lives through expert educational, family, and community services. As an affiliate of America’s largest nonprofit health care organization, we have served our communities since 1936.

The Family and Health Advocate - Bilingual Spanish (FHA) builds trusting, collaborative relationships and provides direct support services to families at assigned sites throughout Chicago and surrounding suburbs. This role works collaboratively with sites and the Early Learning Services team to deliver services that fulfill Head Start/Early Head Start/Preschool for All/Prevention Initiative requirements in ERSEA, PFCE, and Health and Nutrition. This position is ideal for someone passionate about achieving positive child and family outcomes through high-quality engagement, with respect for diverse family values and cultures.

Headquartered at Easterseals Chicago Location, 1939 W 13th Street, Chicago, IL 60608.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain professional partnerships with site administrative and teaching staff; evaluate needs and provide support in meeting Head Start Program Performance Standards and PFA/PI requirements.
• Build trusting relationships with families and provide ongoing support, including:
• At least one significant monthly contact per family (in person whenever possible).
• Family assessment and goal setting.
• Referrals, services, follow-up, and advocacy.
• Implementation of parent engagement curriculum.
• Provide two family visits per year to each family in their home.
• Develop and maintain a regular schedule of site visits to ensure implementation of HS/EHS/PFA/PI services and ongoing family contact, with flexibility for early mornings and evenings.
• Be present on site for:
• Drop-off and pick-up on a regularly scheduled weekly basis.
• Eligibility screenings.
• Playdates.
• Acceptance meetings.
• Each child’s first day at the center.
• Parent meetings, workshops, and events.
• Weekly check-ins with site directors for site verification and enrollment/selection discussions.
• Other parent meetings as identified.
• Promote literacy by increasing families’ access to materials and encouraging involvement in classroom activities.
• Maintain full enrollment of Head Start/Early Head Start/PFA/PI children at assigned sites through ongoing recruitment and adherence to eligibility, selection, acceptance, and enrollment processes; 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 are up-to-date on well-child visits, physicals, immunizations, EPSDT-required screenings, vision and hearing, and dental exams.
• Educate families on the purpose of preventive healthcare.
• Ensure protocols are followed for ongoing health issues (e.g., asthma, food allergies) and follow up with families and doctors’ offices.
• Measure children’s heights and weights (ages 2 and up) on a twice-yearly schedule.
• Collaborate with teachers and instructional coaches to communicate with parents regarding developmental, social-emotional, or behavioral concerns requiring referral.
• Participate in SRT (Screening Review Team) and Social Emotional Review Team meetings.
• Provide resources and support to families through the IEP/IFSP process and in advocating for their child’s 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.
• With Parent Committees and sites, plan an annual Parent Involvement Activity Calendar and Budget, including annual Parent Orientation, Parent Committee meetings, parent workshops, and parent-child activities, ensuring adherence to current requirements.
• Coordinate and be present for these activities.
• Maintain complete and accurate records in the ChildPlus system.
• Maintain complete and accurate child/family binders at sites.
• Utilize ChildPlus for tracking to ensure required timelines are met.
• Participate in community engagement activities and relationship-building, including recruitment, developing linkage agreements, and attending agency/network meetings and community events.
• Maintain a complete and updated Community Resource Board at sites.
• Submit all required paperwork accurately and in a timely manner.
• Attend all required meetings.
• Complete and submit site verification forms and maintain Outlook calendar.
• Participate in Enrollment/Recruitment Campaign, annual self-assessment, community assessment, and PIR.
• Contribute to the achievement of Program Goals and School Readiness goals.
• Promote a culture of safety.
• May provide regional support with family engagement and recruitment based on caseload sizes.
• All other duties as assigned.

Requirements & Tech Stack

• Bilingual ability (English/Spanish)
• Microsoft Office Suite or related software, including Microsoft Teams
• ChildPlus system
• Outlook calendar

Qualifications

• Education/Certification:
• Bachelor’s degree or higher in social work, human services, family services, counseling, or a related field.
• Or Associate’s degree in social work, human services, family services, counseling, or a related field, plus a minimum of 1 year of experience in social services or early childhood education.
• Or Degree in another field* plus a minimum of 1-3 years of experience in social services or early childhood education.
• Or No degree* plus a minimum of 1-3 years of experience in social services or early childhood education.
• If no degree, or if degree is in another field, a family specialist credential must be earned within 18 months of hire.
• Experience:
• Experience in social services or early childhood education (as specified in education/certification).
• Vehicle/Transportation Requirements:
• Valid driver’s license
• Auto insurance
• Reliable vehicle
• Travel to Easterseals and partner sites regularly.
• Skills/Abilities:
• Able to establish rapport and build trusting relationships with families.
• Demonstrates a non-judgmental, compassionate, and culturally sensitive approach to working with families.
• Demonstrates an open, adaptable, reflective, engaging, honest, and culturally sensitive communication style.
• Ability to visit families in home and community settings and work flexible hours, including evenings.
• Ability to engage in reflective learning practices and utilize constructive feedback.
• Ability to work well with all levels of the organization, partner sites, other agencies, and funding source personnel.
• Demonstrates the ability to conceptualize and articulate program outcomes.
• Ability to manage multiple projects.
• Well organized, highly detail-oriented, and accuracy-driven.
• Excellent interpersonal skills.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Physical Requirements (unless exempted by ADA):
• Ability to perform physical tasks such as bending and floor-sitting.
• Ability to lift up to 50 pounds frequently.

Salary: $44,098 - $55,123/Annually