Salary begins at $43,800 annualized based on background and experience. * $2,000 * Hiring Bonus for external candidates (50% after 90 days of employment and 50% after one year of employment).

Illinois Action for Children (“IAFC”), a local, state and national leader in the early childhood care and education sector for over 50 years. IAFC programs, services, and advocacy improve learning and life outcomes for children and families, including reducing the effects of poverty. IAFC works to ensure that every child in Illinois – particularly those in need – have access to the necessary resources to succeed in school and in life.

Along with our mission, IAFC is committed to building and maintaining a diverse, equitable, inclusive, and anti-racist culture. We are dedicated to this pledge through our hiring practices and our focus on creating a culture and environment where diverse perspectives, ideas, and identities are valued and integrated into our way of working and servicing our staff and clients. IAFC staff represent a wide diversity of racial, socio-economic, gender, religious, and national identities. We welcome all applicants who share our mission and vision to join us in our essential work.

Under the direction of the Home Visiting Supervisor, the Parent Educator will implement the Parents As Teachers home visiting program. Home visitors use the family's home environment to help create rich learning opportunities that build on everyday routines and set the stage for school readiness. Parent Educators will visit each family once per week or every two weeks, depending on funding; and one or two group socializations per month, depending on funding. Visits will include an educational component on child development; activities for parent and child; health screenings and results; providing resources and referrals; and support with any issues or concerns the parent may have. The Parent Educator will also monitor education and family engagement compliance and receive Training and Technical Assistance (T&TA) where required.

This incumbent will be expected to promote and adhere to the workplace core capabilities of: accountability, customer focus, continuous quality improvement, communication, competent people and clear priorities. All work to be completed with minimum supervision and in accordance with organizational standards.

Benefits of Working at IAFC:

• Working with passionate team members that are driven by our Mission: Illinois Action for Children is a catalyst for organizing, developing and supporting strong families and powerful communities where children matter most.
• We strive to foster and implement a culture of diversity, equity, and inclusion across our organization. We know it is not only critical to the success of diversity initiatives - but instrumental in creating an unbiassed and inclusive workplace! It not only relates to the diverse clients we serve but also creates a positive employee experience.
• We offer an extensive benefits package that adds value to your total compensation. Our benefits include:

• Health, dental and vision insurance plans with company contribution of 95% for single coverage
• 401k with company match
• Generous PTO – first year-23 days, the second year-28 days, the third year and on - 35 days
• 11 Paid Holidays and 1 Floating Holiday
• Tuition Reimbursement
• Flexible Spending Account
• STD & LTD insurance
• Company paid Life Insurance

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES include but are not limited to the following. The organization reserves the right to add to, delete, change or modify the essential duties and responsibilities at any time:

• Prioritizes the health and safety of children enrolled in the program.
• Travels to the homes of families on the assigned caseload.
• Conducts family needs assessment
• Implements the Parents As Teachers (PAT) Curriculum model.
• Conducts development screenings for infants and toddlers using the Ages and Stages Questionnaire (ASQ). Observes and assesses each child’s development and utilizes results of developmental screenings to help identify any special needs.
• Provides families with developmentally appropriate activities and information to promote the social, emotional, physical, and cognitive development of the child.
• Establishes a partnership with the family by setting goals for their child and themselves.
• Using the PAT model, supports parent-child interactions and offers information and activities that align with the family's goals.
• Provides parents with guidance on home safety, nutrition, effective discipline, constructive play activities, and other related topics.
• Provides information on community and interagency services, and refers families to community resources including medical and mental health providers and interagency services, as needed.
• Develops and maintains supportive strength-based, culturally sensitive relationships with pregnant women and their families by providing education, physical and emotional support.
• Ensures that pregnant women and their families receive comprehensive home visiting services to ensure the optimal development of pregnant women and their new born babies helping them to establish healthy parent-child relationships.
• Coaches pregnant teens on what to expect during pregnancy, and on what to expect during the first few weeks and months of their child’s life.
• Ensures pregnant women - including pregnant teens - have access to comprehensive prenatal and postpartum care.
• Provides prenatal education to pregnant women on topics such as a fetal development, labor and delivery, postpartum recovery, and benefits of breastfeeding.
• Assists with coordinating doctor and dental visits, and other community needs identified by families.
• Completes Personal Visit Plans as required by Parents As Teachers Model and coordinates service plans for the parents as required by Parents As Teachers Model.
• Provides appropriate staff with information regarding home visits, screenings and results, referrals, resources and family needs.
• Plans and facilitates parent education groups focusing on the nine Prevention Initiative core areas.
• Plans and facilitates parent/child interaction groups (socializations) and field trips.
• Maintains and updates child files and child information in the electronic database.
• Participates in recruitment efforts of program staff to help maintain full enrollment.
• Executes our workplace core capabilities of: accountability, customer focus, continuous quality improvement (CQI), communication, competent people, and clear priorities.
• Independently works on multiple tasks effectively in support of department.
• Other functions: The organization may assign other functions to the job at its discretion.

QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS: To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required.

EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE: Bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Education, Child Development, Education, Social Service or related field. One to two years related experience is required.

CERTIFICATES, LICENSES, REGISTRATIONS: Certified in Parents as Teachers model (within six months of hire). Must hold or obtain Gateways to Opportunity Family Specialist Credential (within six months of hire). Valid driver’s license and access to reliable, insured transportation between program sites required.

While we desire for this job posting to be comprehensive, all aspects of the position may be amended at any time at the discretion of IAFC including job duties, work location and/or work schedule.

This position will work in the southwest suburbs of Chicago, IL

Illinois Action for Children is EEO/M/F/V/D employer.

As established by the Illinois Action for Children Board of Directors, all employees are required to receive a vaccination against COVID-19, unless a medical or religious reasonable accommodation is approved. If offered a job, the candidate must be able to prove that they have been vaccinated with one of the CDC-authorized vaccines, including either Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna, or Johnson & Johnson / Janssen or request and be granted an accommodation before their start date.