Brightpoint (formerly known as Children’s Home & Aid) invites you to join our team of mission-driven staff who share a common vision: an equitable world where all children and families thrive in strong communities. As a leader in the human services sector for 140 years, we aim to advance the well-being of children by investing in families and strengthening communities through data-informed, collaborative, and preventative solutions. 

Children with special needs and their families need extra attention to ensure that they are identified early and their needs are met in a comprehensive and individualized way. As the Early Childhood Mental Health & Disabilities Specialist, you will provide that extra level of comprehensive, holistic, family-centered support. You will manage all aspects of our agency’s Chicago-based disabilities/mental health services and work closely with other Early Head Start staff to ensure that children receive comprehensive and integrated services.

Candidate qualifications: 

Bachelor’s Degree required in Early Childhood Education, Special Education, Child Development, Psychology, or a closely related field. One year of experience working with children with special needs. Ability to attend community engagements and on-site meetings required. Valid driver's license, insurance, and a reliable vehicle are required. Ability to communicate in both English and Spanish preferred.

*Candidates without the required education/credential may be considered with an approved educational plan.

Job details: 

Compensation: Range starts at $20.19/hr; offers are commensurate with experience and bilingual (English/Spanish) candidates may receive additional compensation. Benefits: Medical/dental/vision insurance, 3+ weeks paid time off in the first year including the week between Christmas and New Year’s Day (PTO increases with tenure); 11 paid holidays, supplemental insurance options, 401(k) with match (more benefits details here)  Location: Hybrid (on-site/community-based/remote): Work is completed on site and in other community-based locations in the Kane, Kendall, DeKalb, Grundy and Boone County communities. Working from the office is required for team meetings and other program needs with the opportunity to work remotely up to one day per week. The agency office for on-site work will be at the Brightpoint Child & Family Center in Carpentersville Schedule: Full-time, hourly; general business hours with some flexibility required for special projects and evening/weekend recruitment events. Student Loan Forgiveness: Brightpoint is an approved agency for Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF). 

Where you work matters. 

We believe that by building diverse and inclusive teams of passionate advocates for youth and families, we can continue to show up for Illinois families, putting those families at the center of every decision, and strengthening the communities where we all work, play, and live together. (More about who we are here.) 

We invite you to become an active member of a team that supports, inspires, and challenges each other, and grow your career in an organization that celebrates emerging leaders and provides development and learning opportunities aligned with your individual goals and aspirations. If you are looking for an opportunity to do meaningful work, including raising your unique and authentic voice to disrupt the systemic inequality impacting children and families, we encourage you to apply today.   

Click here to review our agency’s Blueprint for Impact.  

Brightpoint is committed to the principles of Equal Employment Opportunity and Affirmative Action. All employment activities are conducted in an equal and equitable fashion. The Agency prohibits employment discrimination on the basis of race, color, gender, age, religion, disability, national origin, ancestry, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, marital status, parental status, veteran status, source of income, and any other legally protected category in the recruitment, selection, hiring, determination of salary level and benefits, promotion, demotion, layoff, termination, and other terms and conditions of employment.