Family Child Care Specialist

Family Child Care Specialist Carole Robertson Center's Family Child Care Specialist is responsible for providing comprehensive support and guidance to family child care partners and families. The Family Child Care Specialist will work with family child care partners to support their professional provision of quality Early Head Start and Head Start services.

In this role, the Family Child Care Specialist will be expected to develop a relationship with parents and/or guardians and support parents in setting and achieving all assigned milestones established by the organization in the areas of education, health, mental health, family and community partnerships, disabilities and ERSEA in collaboration with the family child care partners.

Major Responsibilities and Key Tasks Develops, and maintains professional and supportive relationships and family child care partners through in person and/or virtual bi-weekly visits as needed. Provides family child care partners with coaching, mentoring, modeling, and technical assistance and enhances implementation strategies to deliver quality services for children and families.

Supports and assists with monthly family child care partner workshops and meetings while ensuring continuous and active participation. Assists family child care partners in navigating through the myriads of stakeholders' required mandates; acts as liaison between all stakeholders. Ensures that all required files are complete, accurate, and confidentially maintained in a timely manner.

Oversees and monitors consistent implementation of the Creative Curriculum for Family Child Care, Teaching Strategies Gold Assessment and Ready Rosie in accordance with best practices and is consistent with the organization's philosophy and policies. Conducts all component of enrollment, including entry of accurate data into the identified database (s) for all assigned families on their caseload.

Supports the family child care partners in the recruitment and outreach process to ensure full enrollment at all times. Refers families to resources according to needs. Documents referrals and progress towards goals and follow up with all assigned families in their caseload regarding referrals on a regular basis. Helps parents access consistent health care in a "medical home" for their children, and monitor health records in collaboration with the partner site staff.

Maintains and updates consistent data in assigned database (s) regarding all components of enrollment, family assessments and partnership agreements, needs, strengths and referrals, etc. for all assigned families on their caseload. Monitors all component data on a regular basis and follows up with all assigned families on their caseload regarding missing documentation on a regular and escalating basis.

Obtains missing items and document all efforts conducted through phone calls, home visits and all other necessary means to contact all assigned familied on their caseload. Participates and assists with the Head Start/ Early Head Start self-assessment, site monitor visits, developmental screenings and referrals to Chicago Public Schools (CPS) or Early Intervention (EI).

Maintains community resource guides to assist parents in identifying and accessing local community resources. Supports family child care partners with parent meetings. Support family child care partners with involvement in parent workshops and meetings, parent policy council and attends as needed. Supports and adheres to the agency's ongoing monitoring plan and processes and ensures family child care specialist compliance with all agency and funder requirements.

Works with health staff, mental health staff, EI/CPS staff, and other pertinent individuals in meeting the needs of children with special needs. Supports the referral process to Early Intervention or Chicago Public Schools and provides support to families throughout the referral process. Aggressively pursues the best outcomes for children and families.

Performs record-keeping and other reporting functions as required by the organization and funder and submits all organization reports in a timely manner. Attends pertinent meetings, and trainings related to the responsibilities above and as assigned by the supervisor. Generates monthly reports, which include enrollment, service delivery statistics, program details, and other written and/or oral reports as needed.

Requires the ability to spend extended periods in classroom setting, providing direct support to children as needed. Performs other duties as assigned. Required Knowledge, Skills and Abilities Applicants for the position of Family Child Care Specialist shall possess a bachelor's in Early Childhood Education, Child Development Education, human Service, Foamily Service or a related field of study.

Professional Experience Must have at least 2 years of experience working in a community based social services field. Must have at least 1 year of experience working with family child care partners. Must be willing to participate in agency outreach and recruitment events, including evening and weekends. Must be able to work in teams as well as independently in carious situations.

Demonstrate excellent interpersonal communication and organization skills. Demonstrate administrative and written communication skills. Demonstrate oral and written communication skills. Must be able to understand, analyze, interpret, and make decisions about complex information received. Must be able to resolve problems, handle conflict, and make effective decisions under pressure.

Must have a valid driver's license and have access to a vehicle and willing to travel between sites as well as locally.

Benefits

Health Insurance (medical, dental, vision) Retirement savings plan (401(k)) Paid Time Off (vacation, sick leave, holidays) Employee Assistance Program 2026-27 CRCL Benefits Guide CRCL 2026-2027 Bi-Weekly Rate Sheet If you are having issues accessing the link, please be sure to check out our Careers page for more information!

Carole Robertson Center for Learning provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristics protected by federal, state, or local laws.

This policy applied to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training.