Family Reunification Specialist at Heartland Human Care Services – Chicago, Illinois

Title: Family Reunification Specialist

Location: Logan Square, Chicago IL

Schedule: Full-Time and Part-Time schedule available; Tuesday to Saturday (8:00am-4:30pm) or Sunday to Tuesday (8:00am-4:30pm)

Summary:

Under the general guidance of the Managing Director of Supportive Services and/or designee, the position provides a variety of specialized services that promote direct care of children within unique residential child programs to support the minors' transition to community settings in the care of trusted adults. The position provides services in alignment with complex and unique funder policies and service expectations. This includes individual meetings as well as groups to educate the minor on care needs and transition preparation tasks. The position is expected to understand the impact of a child’s history and residential contexts on the child’s wellbeing and provide supportive engagement. This position also plays an active role in coordinating directly with stakeholders and outside collaborators, as well as internal coordination within a multidisciplinary care framework. The position is required to facilitate individual meetings with youth and support group sessions for orientation, intake, placements, general psychoeducation where applicable, amongst other tasks. The Family Reunification Specialist leverages industry knowledge and best practices to promote the mission and vision of Heartland Human Care Services.

Why Join Us?

• Make a meaningful impact on the lives of individuals seeking education and career pathways.
• Collaborate with a diverse and passionate team dedicated to the mission and vision of our organization.
• Achieve your goals in a supportive environment that prioritizes your well-being and personal flexibility.

Our Benefits:

• Medical insurance. BCBS PPO, HMO, and HDHP with HSA Plan
• Dental insurance.
• Vision insurance.
• 401(k) 3% Employer Contribution.
• Commuter benefits.
• Professional Development Assistance.
• Disability insurance.
• Voluntary Benefits.
• Flexible Spending Account.
• Life/AD&D Insurance.
• Employee Assistance Program.
• Special Vendor Discounted Offerings on Travel, Amusement Parks, etc.

Essential Functions:

Duties & Responsibilities

• Collects and assesses family background information through interviewing children, families and care providers and reviews documents from police, Child Protective Services, and other agencies.
• Refers family reunification cases to partner agencies, and participates in researching, assessing, and recommending family reunification and general care options for youth.
• Collaborates with funders and stakeholders engaged in service provision for children, while promoting and evaluating best-interest recommendations based on child welfare best practice standards.
• Ensures individual service planning, as well as weekly meetings with minors in care be it individually or groups, to provide case management, psychoeducation preparation for care post-discharge, and linkage supports.
• Participates in referring to other programs, including foster care, and the initial preparation of referral.
• Manages relationships with multiple parties (i.e., family members, potential sponsors, and stakeholders) and maintain appropriate professional decorum and boundaries when dealing with each.
• Provides advanced advocacy, assessment, and case management services to individuals, families and groups and establishes appropriate service/treatment plans, reviews case progress and determines case closure according to program guidelines and standards.
• Provides case consultation as appropriate and develops/implements special projects such as the development of informational materials, providing training for other staff in social work and treatment/service theory, and participating in assigned professional and community activities.
• Completes all necessary forms, case records and statistical reports in an accurate and timely manner and submits such documentation to the supervisor/manager within the designated timelines.
• Participates in staff meetings, staffing, working groups as required to support the goals and the overall development and implementation of the agency’s strategic plan.
• Supervises program participants individually or in groups when applicable.
• Helps program participants to modify attitudes and patterns of behavior by increasing understanding of self, personal problems, and program participants' part in creating them.
• Provides transportation of program participants as needed based on funder guidelines.
• Assists in household maintenance responsibilities, as necessary.
• Develops and maintains professional relationships with social service organizations and government agencies to enhance service delivery and to interpret Organizational programs for outside audiences.
• Adheres to professional standards as outlined by governmental bodies, NASW (and/or other appropriate professional associations), private funding sources, Organization plans/policies, and program guidelines.
• Participates in periodic evaluative reviews and/or in-house and external staff training to ensure that he/she understands and continues to adhere to such standards.
• Other duties, as assigned.

Education and Experience:

• Bachelor’s degree in Human Services, Psychology, Social Work or related discipline is required.
• Minimumone (1) year of related experience is required.

Certifications/Licenses:

• A driver’s license with no prior suspension may be required per funder.

Knowledge/Skills/Abilities (K/S/A):

• Ability to read and interpret documents such operating and maintenance instructions, and procedure manuals. 
• Ability to write routine reports and correspondence. 
• Ability to speak effectively before groups of customers or employees of organization.
• Access to regular, dependable, and timely transportation
• Ability and comfortability working with people of varying socioeconomic backgrounds.
• Excellent communication skills. Strong networker, convener, relationship builder and communicator with experience collaborating with diverse work teams and stakeholders.
• Demonstrated ability to handle confidential and sensitive information possessing skills to handle situations in a professional and diplomatic manner.
• A high degree of collaboration and emotional intelligence, self-motivation, and analytical ability.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office, Internet Explorer, Outlook/Exchange; Windows operating systems; and other software routinely used by Heartland Human Care Services.
• Ability to solve practical problems and deal with a variety of concrete variables in situations where only limited standardization exists.
• Ability to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, diagram, or schedule form.
• Ability to work independently and remain self-motivated with minimal direct supervision.
• Strategic thought partnership and consultancy skills.

Work Arrangement:

• This role is not eligible for remote work. All hours will be worked in person at the designated programs as assigned.
• The employee in this position at a residential program may be required to stay on Organization premises during break and/or meal periods and until their replacement arrives.

Work Environment:

• The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.
• Each program site operates on a 24/7 basis,365 days per year. To meet both the needs of our participants and contractual obligations, employees are required to be flexible in regard to scheduling and work location.
• Program sites are located throughout the Chicago area, including the North and South sides of Chicago, as well as the suburbs. Employees maybe required to report to any one of our locations on a temporary or permanent basis.

Physical Demands:

• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk and hear.
• The employee is regularly required to sit, stand, and walk.
• The employee must be able to stoop, kneel and/or crawl.
• The employee is regularly required to use hands to key, handle, or feel and reach with hands and arms.
• The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds.
• The employee must have unrestricted ability to provide physical restraint.
• Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and ability to adjust focus.

Equal Opportunity Employer Statement

HHCS is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer. Employment decisions are based on merit, qualifications, and business needs. HHCS is committed to providing a work environment that is free from discrimination and harassment. Consistent with applicable federal, state, and local laws, HHCS prohibits discrimination or harassment against any employee or applicant on the basis of race, color, religion, creed, sex (including pregnancy, sexual orientation, and gender identity or expression), national origin, citizenship, age, disability, genetic information, marital status, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. This policy applies to all employment practices, including recruitment, hiring, promotion, compensation, benefits, training, discipline, and termination. HHCS also provides reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities and for sincerely held religious beliefs, as required by law.