Preschool for All Family Support Advocate

Position Details

Position Information

Position Type
Civil Service

Classification Title
Program Service Aide

Position's Functional Title
Preschool for All Family Support Advocate

Position Start Date
05/01/2023

Position End Date (if temporary)

Position Summary

Governors State University’s Family Development Center is seeking to hire an Early Head Start Family Support Specialist ( FSS ) to actively recruit eligible families to the program offered at the Family Development Center. This position will assist eligible and interested families with the enrollment process and be the first point-of-contact. The FSS will provide comprehensive services and focus on family services, parent engagement and community resources referrals. Under the Family Services Director, this position will abide by eligibility requirements under the Head Start Performance Standards.

ESSENTIAL RESPONSIBILITIES :

90%
1. Take inquiries and applications for Family Development Center Programs. Follows up with families including but not limited to their medical providers to assure all health, dental, referrals and any additional paperwork is received. Contact and communicate with interested families via phone, email, Webex, in-person or by other means as necessary, ensuring the program maintains a welcoming environment for families.

2. Collaborate and coordinate with interdisciplinary team, including but not limited to the HSD, FSD, Ed. Director, IT FSS, IT Supervisor, PreK Supervisor, Center Director, and Bookkeeper to enroll, orient and engage families in the FDC Programs. Assure all DCFS, Health, ISBE and OHS childcare paperwork is in place prior to enrollment.

3. Actively plan, track, recruit and market the FDC Programs within the community/service area, including but not limited to going door to door, holding/attending community events,
attending/holding community meetings and networking with current and potential community partners.

4. Track classroom attendance daily, completing reports and turning them into the FSD .

5. Complete classroom head counts based on attendance and conduct calls to families not in attendance by 10:00am daily, logging all communication.

6. Follow-up on all absences daily and performing wellness checks in person with chronic absences within 3 days with continual communication documentation and communicating chronic absences to the FSD .

7. Complete and maintain Family Strengths and Needs Assessments bi-annually with all enrolled families engaging and encouraging all families to create Family Goals while maintaining a minimum of 60% of families who have ongoing goals, provide social services referrals, maintaining detailed notes and documentation, and following up with needs of families, update the Family Goals systematically.

8. Plan and attend all parent events at the center, including evening and weekend meetings.

9. Implement ISBE and DCFS plan by providing transition information to families whose children
are transitioning to their local school district for kindergarten.

10. Maintain, track and follow-up with all medical, dental, physicals, immunizations, and social
service referrals.

11. Maintain detailed records and clear communication, partnering with families and classroom
teachers to provide a holistic educational experience.

12. Create and maintain all assigned children and family files in a confide ntial and orderly manner.

13. Comp lete all documentation w ithin assigned deadlines.

14. Complete all data entry into computerized database and tracking system by assigned deadlines.

15. Maintain and engage families in a Parent Committee, inclusive of a diverse range of family
perspectives and othe r leadership opportunities.

5%
1. Assist families needing transportation for medical, social service or other non-children needs to
appointments including providing transportation using agency van to and from parent meetings and policy council as needed.

2. Attend required/requested Early Head Start/P reschool For All, DCFS, Gateways training programs.

3. Attend community meetings as assigned.

4. Assist in collecting data for the annual self-assessment and community assessment.

5. Other duties as assigned.

Other Responsibilities
5%
1. Adhere to all plans, policies and procedures of Governors State University ( GSU ), Family
Development Center and Early Head Start.

2. Stays well informed regarding family engagement and recruitment.

3. Attend all meetings and trainings as required.

4. Comply with regulatory health requirements, including a pre-employment physical and lift test.
Provide proof of MMR and DTAP immunizations, initial TB test and annual DCFS Physical
Exam.

5. Assists with questions and problems courteously and promptly.

6. Review GSU work email and respond as needed.

Hourly Range: $16.54 – $19.02 ($32,253 – $37,089 yearly).

(This is a non-unionized position. Salary starts at the base and is determined based on Education and Experience exceeding the minimum qualifications).

This position qualifies for an expansive suite of fringe benefits including, various insurance options, paid time off, retirement and investment options, and tuition waivers. Visit: https://www.govst.edu/benefits/ .

Minimum Qualifications

REQUIRED : COLLEGE TRANSCRIPT MUST BE ATTACHED TO HAVE YOUR COLLEGE CREDITS CONSIDERED TO MEET THE MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS .

1. Any one or any combination totaling two (2) years (24 months) from the following categories:

A. College course work in behavioral science, social work, sociology, psychology, or a closely related field as measured by the following conversion table or its proportional equivalent:
 30 semester hours equals one (1) year (12 months)
 Associate’s Degree (60 semester hours) equals eighteen months (18 months)
 90 semester hours equals two (2) years (24 months)
 Bachelor’s Degree (120 semester hours) equals three (3) years (36 months)

B. Work experience that provided a knowledge of human behavior by having demonstrated through public contact the ability to cope with a variety of people, (such as customer service, salesperson, or receptionist).

EXAM TYPE : CREDENTIALS ASSESSMENT ( YOU DO NOT NEED TO COME FOR THIS EXAM ).

For more details regarding this classification, visit: https://www.sucss.illinois.gov/pages/classspec/Detail.aspx?tblClassIndexID=3985.

Preferred Qualifications

• Valid Driver’s License and use of a dependable insured car.
• Prior experience working within an early childhood center and family services.
• Prior experience working with Microsoft Operations and ChildPlus data management system

Posting Date
04/03/2023

Closing Date
04/17/2023

Open Until Filled
No

Posting Number
CS0785P

Type of Search
External

Quicklink for Posting
https://employment.govst.edu/postings/8461

Employee ID

Department

Special Instructions to Applicants

DOCUMENTATION REQUIREMENT :
For consideration, applicants are required to attach the following:
1: All College/University Transcripts (to have your college credits considered in meeting the minimum qualifications).
2: Online Application – Must be fully completed, include all dates of employment, employment status (full-time or if part-time, include percentages), job duties and responsibilities (full details).
3: Cover Letter.
4: Resume.
5: A list of three Professional References (We will only contact your references if you are a finalist).

RESIDENCY REQUIREMENT :
Illinois residency required within 180 days of the hire date.

CREDENTIAL ASSESSMENT EXAM DETAILS :
This vacancy involves a Credential Assessment Examination which consist of a review and rating of the applicants Education, Experience, Licenses, and other qualifications. Applicants are required to provide electronic documentation as listed above to verify that the minimum qualifications for this position have been met.

VETERAN’S PREFERENCE POINTS :
Veterans may be eligible to receive additional points on a passing final examination score. To determine eligibility, submit one of the following documents to the Department of Human Resources:
1: Department of Defense – DD214 / DD215
2: National Guard – NGB22 Form
3: Discharge Orders
4: Reserves – DD256 Discharge Certificate

Note: Documentation must be received by the closing date of this posting.

Supplemental Questions

Required fields are indicated with an asterisk (*).

1. * Are you a resident of the State of Illinois?
   • Yes
   • No
2. How did you hear about this employment opportunity?
   • Public Job Posting
   • Internal Job Posting
   • Agency Referral
   • Advertisement/Publication
   • Personal Referral
   • Website
   • Other
3. * How many years of experience do you have in this type of position?
   • 0-1
   • 1-3
   • 3-5
   • 5-7
   • 7+
4. * Please describe your experience working with Human and/or Social Service programs.
   
   (Open Ended Question)
   
   
5. Are you available to work in the evening (6 pm to 10 pm)?
   • Yes
   • No
6. * Please describe the attributes that will make you a strong candidate for this position.
   
   (Open Ended Question)
   
   
7. * Do you have a valid State of Illinois Driver’s License?
   • Yes
   • No
8. * Please describe any previous experience you have working in a customer service environment.
   
   (Open Ended Question)
   
   
9. * Are you a current or former Head Start or Early Head Start Parent?
   • Yes
   • No
10. Have you attached a copy of your college/university transcript to have your college credits considered for meeting the minimum qualifications?
    • Yes
    • No
11. Have you completed the entire application including beginning and end dates of employment, full time/part time status, percentages, and full details of work performed?
    • Yes
    • No

Required Documents
Required Documents

1. Resume
2. Cover Letter
3. List of Three Professional References
4. Transcripts

Optional Documents

1. Letter of Recommendation
2. Veteran’s/Military Preference Points Documentation
3. Other
4. Other2
5. Other3
6. Written Response to Interview Question 1