Position: Community Based Match Support Specialist

FLSA Classification: Exempt

Reporting Relationship: Manager of Community Based Match Support

ABOUT BIG BROTHERS BIG SISTERS OF METRO CHICAGO (BBBSChi):

BBBSChi’S Mission is to create and support one-to-one mentoring relationships that ignite the power and promise of youth.

BBBSChi’S Vision is that all youth achieve their full potential.

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Metropolitan Chicago is an affiliate of the nation’s largest donor-and volunteer-supported mentoring network. We provide high quality mentoring services to thousands of children and their families across Cook, DuPage and Lake Counties in both Illinois and Indiana. Big Brothers Big Sisters carefully matches children (“Littles”) with caring, screened and trained adult mentors (“Bigs”). Throughout the course of their mentoring relationship (“match”), we monitor and support the match, providing safety and quality measures, as well as outcome-based activity ideas and goals. Learn more at www.BBBSCHGO.org.

BBBSChi’s Core Value is that we deeply believe Access, Belonging, and Opportunity is paramount and fundamental to BBBSChi’s success. We all work to build and maintain a positive work environment for our staff, volunteers, and program participants. It is our belief that every staff member should embrace these principles in the decision-making process. Therefore, we fully expect the ideal candidate will carry out their function with these core values in mind and treat everyone respectfully and fairly.

Position Summary:

The Match Support Specialist is responsible for providing case management services to the volunteers and children matched in one-to-one mentoring relationships. The purpose of match support is to ensure child safety, promote positive impacts for youth, and foster a constructive and satisfying relationships between children and volunteers, in addition to a strong sense of affiliation with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Metropolitan Chicago. This position will produce positive outcomes in the following areas: match closure rate, average match length, volunteer/child rematch rate and customer satisfaction.

Supervisory Responsibilities:

This position has no supervisory responsibilities.

Responsibilities:

• Through scheduled in-person, telephone and electronic contact with parent, child and volunteer, ascertain that the elements of child safety, match relationship development, positive youth development and volunteer satisfaction are fulfilled and that potential problems and barriers are identified and addressed as early as possible.
• Provide timely and comprehensive written summaries of all match support contacts.
• Conduct Match Introduction Meetings for some new matches, Match Intervention Meetings, and other meetings as needed with match parties.
• Facilitate partnerships with match parties to provide enrichment opportunities for matches and program participants.
• Attend other agency activities to ensure positive growth in match relationships as assigned by Supervisor.
• Facilitate New Mentor Trainings for volunteers on a quarterly basis
• Establish, monitor and meet goals for match length and customer satisfaction.
• Enter and maintain database changes in addresses, phone numbers, workplaces and other volunteer/client information.
• Utilize the Risk and Protective Inventory (RPI) survey tool to identify risk and protective factors to enhance youth; Strength of Relationship survey (SOR) to determine strength of the match relationship; and Youth Outcome Surveys (YOS) to determine child’s growth in the program. Additional tools may be utilized as needed.
• Conduct exit interviews by phone with all parties at match closure. Assess reasons for match closure and re-match/re-engagement potential.
• Identify and promote re-engagement of volunteers as Bigs, board members, donors and in other volunteer capacities.
• Share with Development and Marketing department staff potential partnership relationships as discovered through volunteers and parent/guardian's employers and/or affiliations.
• Other duties as assigned.

Skills and Qualifications:

• A belief in the Mission and Vision of BBBS
• Bachelor’s degree in social services, human services or related field required.
• Prior case management experience preferred.
• 1-2 Years of child development experience and/or experience working with children in a social services environment is required.
• Assessment and relational development experience with child and adult populations.
• Understanding of child development and family dynamics.
• Experience working in diverse populations is preferred.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills.
• Bilingual (English/Spanish) preferred
• Ability to work both in team and independently exercising good judgment, make sound decisions & problem solve.
• Ability to work with confidential information required.
• Must be an integral person with strong interpersonal skills
• A strong commitment to quality and results
• Strong computer skills - Proficiency in Microsoft Office and internet based applications
• Must have reliable transportation and be willing to travel as necessitated by job responsibilities.
• Must be able to work hours in the evenings and weekends to correspond with program participant schedules.

Work Environment:

This position operates in a professional office environment.

This role routinely uses standard office equipment such as computers, phones, photocopiers, etc.

There is an expectation to work in office a minimum of two days per week.