Family Development Specialist (TPSN) Northern Region

Position Title : TPSN Family Development Specialist I, II, and III (Covers the Northern Regions :

Dekalb, Kendall, Stephenson, Whiteside and Winnebago County)

Department : TPSN

Reports to : TPSN Family Development Supervisor

Position Objective and Summary :

The Family Development Specialist works with young parents who are in the care and custody of the State of Illinois and their children. The Family Development Specialist promotes the crucial connection between parents and children by building skills, knowledge, support and confidence. The Family Development Specialist promotes healthy parent and child relationships through clinical assessment and support, psychoeducation and linkage with community resources. The primary responsibilities of this position are providing parenting and clinical support and assessment, completing New Birth Assessments for young parents and communication with and training of Network partners while utilizing UCAN's Clinical Philosophies through Trauma Informed practice and Positive Youth Development.

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.
• Assesses young parents for post-partum depression to make recommendations and necessary referrals for services.
• Assists in evaluating the young parent's 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.
• Engages 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 clients; i.e. safe sleep training, appropriate caregivers.

Documentation and Reporting

Organization and Service Delivery

Building Relationships and Networks

Supports Child Development and Safety

Professionalism and Work Conduct

Professional Development

Education / Job Experience / Certification :

Family Development Specialist I

Leadership Responsibilities for Family Support Specialist II and III :

Co-leads TPSN Specialty Trainings in Cook and Downstate pertaining to child & family development, family planning and New Birth Assessments

Family Development Specialist II

Family Development Specialist III

Special Knowledge and Qualifications :

Position Status : Full Time Exempt

Work Environment : This position requires travel to provide services to clients in their homes and in their community. This position may require the transportation of clients and / or their children.

Work Conditions : This position may require work on weekends, evenings, and overtime.