ABOUT US: Illinois Action for Children (\xe2\x80\x9cIAFC\xe2\x80\x9d), 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 \xe2\x80\x93 particularly those in need \xe2\x80\x93 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. SUMMARY: Under the direction of the North Lawndale Community Connections Manager, the Parent Connections Associate will work with parents/caregivers with children 0-18 in North Lawndale to coordinate and facilitate parent activities through the Parent University Chicago program. The program is funded with the generous support of the Steans Foundation. The Parent Connections Associate will coordinate parent-driven workshops by using the Parent University model to increase parent education and empowerment in the North Lawndale community. These sessions and workshops will be responsive to parents\xe2\x80\x99 desires to increase parent engagement and strengthen families in the community. The balance of the work will also entail working with North Lawndale partners to provide guidance and support to parents about how to access services, work with providers to connect parents to resources, and manage the various aspects of caregiving for children. The Parent Connections Associate will develop a caseload of parents from the workshops and will meet with parents one-on-one to address any barriers identified through the needs assessment filled out by the parent at the beginning of the workshops and connect them to community resources that enhance the overall well-being of the family based on their needs. The Parent Connections Associate will set goals to strengthen and empower parents as well as increase parents\' confidence and competence in their parenting abilities, providing children with a safe, stable, and supportive family environment. The candidate should possess a positive attitude and strive to see the best in the community and its families. The ideal candidate will have a strong background working in vulnerable communities and be able to effectively communicate with a variety of audiences: families, children, and professionals. The candidate is expected to promote and adhere to the workplace core capabilities of accountability, customer focus, continuous quality improvement (CQI), communication, competent people, and clear priorities. All work is to be completed by organizational standards. 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.

• Plan and identify parent-driven workshops using the Parent University model in North Lawndale. Coordinate and facilitate workshops for parents \xe2\x80\x93 managing the calendar of events.

• As required, present publicly about the program and its services.

• Collaborate with the Marketing and Communications department to advance a recruitment strategy to promote the program services.

• Engage and recruit parents residing in North Lawndale to community workshops

• Build relationships and rapport with community partners and organizations that provide services in North Lawndale.

• Build knowledge of all resources and supports in North Lawndale, becoming an expert in the area

• Meet with parents regularly to address their individual goals as needed \xe2\x80\x93 including regular communication, meetings, and check-ins

• Identify, develop, and maintain a caseload of parents living in North Lawndale that need support and connect them to resources that help them thrive.

• Cultivate strong relationships with parents by listening to their needs, challenges, and solutions to enhance their life

• Promote and connect children to formal early learning programs

• Work with partners to centralize resources in the North Lawndale digital hub

• Maintain database and data entry for the program to track measurable results that assess the impact of parent services and training

• Participate in evaluation processes for the program.

• Coordinate and integrate strategies and activities in North Lawndale with community partners and other teams working in North Lawndale

• Complete other duties as assigned.

• Execute our workplace core capabilities of accountability, customer focus, continuous quality improvement (CQI), communication, competent people and clear priorities.

EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE:

• Bachelor\'s degree or higher in Social Work, Education, Psychology, or related field.
• At least three years of related experience and/ or training
• Ability to work in a variety of settings with culturally diverse families and communities with the ability to be culturally sensitive, appropriate, and professional
• Ability to build strategic relationships with a wide variety of stakeholders with divergent interests and goals.
• Experience coordinating workshops and using multiple technical platforms when needed.
• Experience embedding an equity lens in working with communities
• A strong sense of respect for confidentiality, involving families and fellow employees.
• Willingness to work flexible hours evenings and some weekends
• Excellent documentation skills
• Excellent written and verbal communications skills with the ability to establish rapport at all levels.
• Excellent presentation and public speaking skills with diverse audiences
• Ability to legally operate a motor vehicle and provide own transportation with a valid driver\xe2\x80\x99s license
• Excellent skills working with Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint

CERTIFICATES, LICENSES, REGISTRATIONS: A valid driver\xe2\x80\x99s license, reliable personal transportation, and insurance are required to visit community sites. OTHER SKILLS & ABILITIES

• Ability to work independently, with a flexible schedule, which may include nights and/or weekends
• Able to present information effectively and respond to questions
• Ability to work well independently and as a team member
• Effective written and spoken communication
• Ability to manage staff and relate to a variety of personalities and cultures
• Accurate record-keeping skills
• Ability and willingness to travel locally and statewide

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 unbiased 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 \xe2\x80\x93 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

Office Location: 1340 S Damen, Chicago, IL This is a field position working in the North Lawndale community, It is based on a two-year grant assignment with the possibility of continuing after the two years, Salary: Yearly/$47,100 (minimum) Illinois Action for Children is EEO/M/F/V/D employer 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. 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.