Family Specialist Visa Sponsorship Jobs in Illinois

See yourself achieving solutions. Join our team!

Perks of Working at CYFS:

• 37.5 hour work week

Paid Time Off:

• 12 Paid Holidays
• 15 Paid Vacation Days (increases every 2 years)
• 8 Paid Sick Days
• 5 Paid Personal/Wellness Days
• 3 weeks of Paid Parental Leave

Educational Assistance:

• Public Service Loan Forgiveness qualified employer
• Tuition Assistance Program for staff who are continuing their education

Employee Assistance Program (EAP):

• 5 free counseling sessions per year for employee or their family
• Immediate community referrals to licensed counselors
• 24/7 call line
• Tax consultation/financial resources
• Discounted legal services and mediation services
• Health and Wellness resources

Use of agency vehicles and/or mileage reimbursement

Agency-issued cellphone or cellphone reimbursement

"Dress for your day" dress code

Opportunities for advancement and professional development.

Supportive, inclusive, and strengths-focused culture

Salary:

Starting at $48,000.00

About the Position:

Provides family peer support and resource development services that strengthen behavioral health supports for children and families. Drawing on lived experience as a parent or caregiver of a child or youth with significant mental, emotional, or behavioral health needs, helps families navigate systems of care, access community and psychiatric resources, follow treatment and discharge plans, reduce barriers to service use, and build confidence and stability. Supports the R.E.S.T. (Recovery, Empowerment, Support, Teamwork) Program and related SASS Mobile Crisis and Family Support services across Central Illinois.

A Typical Day as a Family Resource Developer / Family Peer Support Specialist:

• Provide family peer support, mentoring, encouragement, and practical assistance to parents and caregivers of children and youth with behavioral health needs.
• Participate in on-call rotation and respond to Mobile Crisis Response and Stabilization Support (MRSS) services.
• Use lived experience appropriately and professionally to build trust, normalize help-seeking, promote hope, and strengthen caregiver confidence in navigating the behavioral health system.
• Support the development and implementation of the R.E.S.T. Program to strengthen behavioral health supports for children and families across Central Illinois.
• Help families access outpatient psychiatric treatment, designated psychiatric appointments, stabilization services, transportation assistance, documentation supports, and other needed behavioral health resources.
• Coordinate access to CYFS-designated psychiatric appointments with the psychiatric provider partner and assist families with appointment preparation, follow-through, and barriers that may affect attendance.
• Collaborate closely with the SASS/MRSS crisis-response team, psychiatric providers, schools, hospitals, and community partners to promote continuity of care and reduce repeat crises.
• Participate in hospital discharge planning by helping families understand recommendations, identify supports, and follow through with discharge and safety plans.
• Attend meetings with families and service providers, including school staffings, court proceedings, public-benefit appointments, multidisciplinary teams, and care coordination meetings, to advocate for family needs and support access to services.
• Educate families about SASS Mobile Crisis, Family Support, R.E.S.T., and other available services, including what to expect and how to use supports effectively.
• Act as a liaison between families and assigned clinical or crisis staff; communicate family concerns, strengths, priorities, and barriers to the appropriate team member.
• Assist clinical and crisis staff in providing family education, support, skill-building, and resource navigation consistent with the treatment or service plan.
• Gather, maintain, and share current information about community resources, parent and caregiver groups, support groups, transportation resources, public benefits, and providers that serve children and families, including providers accepting Medicaid.
• Assist families in obtaining records and other documentation and completing applications for Family Support Program or other needed services.
• Provide transportation to clients when necessary to support established service goals and consistent with agency policy.
• Assist families in transitioning to other levels of care or community supports as crisis or SASS involvement ends.
• Provide education and technical assistance to professional staff regarding family involvement, caregiver perspectives, barriers to access, and family-centered engagement.
• Complete timely, accurate service documentation and maintain program data needed to monitor children and families served, services delivered, coordinated appointments, family outcomes, repeat crisis contacts, and required grant reporting.
• Participate in program evaluation and continuous learning activities, including gathering caregiver feedback and identifying opportunities to improve access, family experience, youth and family functioning, and continuity of care.
• Contribute to project learning by documenting benefits, challenges, anticipated and unanticipated outcomes, and qualitative improvements identified during the grant period.

Work Hours:

Schedule is flexible and non-traditional; based on the availability of clients.

Does the Following Apply to You?

• Bachelor's degree in Social Work, Family Therapy, Counseling or Psychology, or closely related Human Service field.
• Experience as the parent or caregiver of a child or youth with significant mental, emotional, or behavioral health needs and experience navigating behavioral health, crisis, education, healthcare, child-serving, and/or related systems is required.

Additional Qualifications:

• Completion of DCFS criminal background check and fingerprinting
• Must be at least 21 years of age
• Obtain an insured vehicle
• At least three years of driving experience with a valid driver's license

Additional Benefits:

• Choice of 4 medical plans including PPO and high deductible plans with HSA
• Dental and Vision Insurance
• 401k plan with 4% employer match
• Employer Paid Life Insurance and Long-Term Disability
• Flexible Spending Plan and Dependent Care Plan

About The Center for Youth and Family Solutions (CYFS):

(CYFS) is seeking compassionate, committed, and culturally competent individuals who align with our mission of helping children and families in need with dignity, compassion, and respect to resolve life challenges. CYFS is one of Central Illinois' largest, nationally accredited social service agencies, serving over 20,000 individuals in 37 counties.

Our family-centered, inclusive, trauma-responsive, and strength-based interventions help bring about lasting positive change.

The Center for Youth and Family Solutions is an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment 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 characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.