OVERVIEW: Family Focus’ mission is to promote the well-being of children from birth by supporting and strengthening their families as individual units and within their communities. We are committed to ensuring our centers provide exemplary services with innovative programs and that family support principles are integrated into every aspect of the work.
POSITION SUMMARY: The Doula Specialist is responsible for promoting healthy pregnancies, breast feeding and building a trusting relationship that offers strength-based services for families. The Doula will advocate for families, provide community outreach, prenatal education activities, and assist the family in preparing for childbirth through both home visiting and group based services.
RESPONSIBILITIES:
Perform initial assessment of family.
Assist family in strengthening the parent-child relationship by incorporating a strength- based model. Suggests parent child interactions accordingly.
Assist family in establishing goals and a plan for accomplishment of those goals, as well as the assessment of the normal growth and development of the target child.
Assist parents in improving skills to optimize the home environment.
Help families to improve support system.
Increase family’s ability to problem solve and advocate for themselves and their children.
Identify and refer family for contact/appointments at other supportive agencies, including health care appointments.
Track immunizations.
Organize opportunities for parents to meet on a monthly basis for socialization, education, and support.
Conduct/Monitor development screenings.
· Provides intervention with appropriate developmental activities necessary to address developmental and parenting deficits.
· Monitors the well being of the children in the home and reports and concerns to the immediate supervisor.
· Documents contacts with the family members or on behalf of family members completes required forms and reports in a timely manner.
· Attends relevant lectures, courses, workshops, training courses and conferences to further professional growth, as approved by supervisor.
Participate in the on-going development and related activities of a comprehensive quality improvement process within the Child and Family Services division.
Performs other relevant duties as assigned by supervisor.
Perform documentation of services provided in participant files and the Ounce Net MIS tracking system in a timely manner, meeting funders’ requirements for deadlines.
Participate in all team meetings, present case materials and request information from other staff during team meetings.
Attend required trainings through the Ounce of Prevention Fund.
Assist with agency sponsored events.
Assist families in initiating and strengthening the parent-child relationship.
Provide information, education, and resources that will prepare the parent and her family for the birth process during home visits.
Identify needs and refer families to additional community resources, including health care and other basic necessities.
Provide transportation to families for medical appointments, groups, holiday events or any program related activity that may arise.
Responsible for assisting families in establishing goals and a birth plan for accomplishing those goals.
Attend and support the laboring mother and her family and/or support person(s).
Conduct outreach activities and educate the community.
Maintain postpartum contact for eight to twelve weeks post delivery at least once a week, plus regular phone contact and supports breast feeding and infant care as well as provide support to the new mom.
QUALIFICATIONS:
Bachelor’s Degree in social service or related field (preferred), or equivalent experience.
Must be on-call 24/7 to Doula participant families.
Bilingual in Spanish
Must have dependable transportation, valid driver’s license, and proof of auto insurance.
Must have completed the Doula 20-session training program or must complete the 20-session training within 3 months of employment.
Self-starter, capable of producing excellent work with minimal supervision.
Ability to multi-task and manage time effectively.
Excellent interpersonal and organization skills.
Experience working with highly stressed families in overburdened communities.
Knowledge of issues related to maternal/child health and child abuse risk.
Knowledge of child development; particularly infant/toddlers.
Commitment to prevention and strength-based interventions.
Demonstrated written and oral communication skills.
Sensitivity to working with families of diverse cultural backgrounds.
Considerable experience working with children, adolescents, and families: Experience working with teen mothers a plus.
Strong team building capabilities.
Strong technology and computer skills.
Work related travel within the DuPage County community.
Knowledge of DuPage County community resources a plus.
Family Focus values a diverse and inclusive workplace and is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. Employment decisions are based on agency needs, job requirements, and individual qualifications. Qualified applicants will be considered in accordance with applicable laws and regulations.
LEVEL OF LANGUAGE PROFICIENCY
Bilingual in English & Spanish.
PROFESSIONAL LEVEL
None specified
MINIMUM EDUCATION REQUIRED
4-year degree
HOW TO APPLY
humanresources@family-focus.org