ABOUT US:

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.

SUMMARY:

In partnership with Illinois Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) and the Erikson Early Childhood Project, Illinois Action for Children currently provides enhanced referral services for families with foster children age birth – 3, age 3-5 and families receiving intact family services. In addition, as part of the DCFS School Readiness Initiative, Illinois Action for Children provides resource and referral services to ensure the enrollment of 3–5-year-old DCFS children in care in a high-quality early learning program. Providing high quality service to this population requires a nuanced approach that includes coordination between the family, caseworker, IAFC staff and the DCFS Office of Child Development. IAFC’s Enhanced Referrals Team works closely with all partners to ensure coordination and service delivery.

The Lead Enhanced Referrals Coordinator serves as a point person for the Enhanced Referrals Team. The person in this role acts as a liaison to various IAFC programs, DCFS and other external partners and supports daily team functions and workload in coordination with the Enhanced Referrals Manager. All work is to be completed with minimum supervision and in accordance with organizational standards.

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 is to be completed with minimum supervision and in accordance with 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.

1. Act in the role of “point person” or “lead” to other Coordinators that perform essentially the same work. Responsible for assigning work to team and ensuring completion of all steps of referral process.
2. Act as a mentor to staff on team to assist in cross training activities and familiarity with IAFC, DCFS and IDHS services, programs, and teams.
3. Act as lead on complex referral cases, including all Intact Family Cases.
4. Provide education Act and consultation to parents seeking childcare. Discuss developmental needs, provider options and benefits, availability of slots, quality indicators, licensing, and financial issues.
5. Act as a liaison with DCFS’s Office of Early Childhood, ensuring the approval of DCFS parent applications.
6. Regularly review and monitor data systems, including Salesforce and SmartSheet, to ensure accurate data entry.
7. Monitor data, identifying trends and problematic areas; report these issues back to the manager. Reconcile and prepare reports on enhanced referral services.
8. Assist manager with coordinating Lunch and Learns and family engagement events.
9. Execute our workplace core capabilities of accountability, customer focus, continuous quality improvement (CQI), communication, competent people, and clear priorities.
10. Other Functions: The Organization may assign other functions to the job at its discretion.

EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE:

The position of Lead Enhanced Referral Coordinator requires a bachelor's degree in Early Childhood Education, Social Work, Human Services, or a related field with at least 1 year work experience in an early childhood or social work setting, preferably working directly with families. Knowledge of early childhood education programs, home visiting and early intervention preferred.

OTHER SKILLS AND ABILITIES:

Fluency in English and Spanish

Ability to travel locally

Competent in Microsoft Office including Word, Outlook, Excel, and PowerPoint

Salesforce competency preferred

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

Location: Chatham

Minimum starting salary $43,800 - compensation commensurate with experience

Illinois Action for Children currently offers a hybrid work model, including days onsite and remote

IL 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 or request and be granted an accommodation before their start date.