Project Associate (Lived Expert)

Chapin Hall is seeking an individual with lived experience with the child welfare system who, through on-the-job-training and coaching, will contribute their skills, knowledge, and insights to the responsibilities of a Project Associate role.  This is an entry level position, and it is understood that candidates will require on the job training and support to conduct the duties and responsibilities listed below. This role is considered part-time (averaging 13 hours per week) and temporary (expected to last 12 months).

This position is designed to leverage personal experience and professional development to support projects aimed at improving outcomes for children, youth, and families.  The Project Associate will support three major Illinois Department of Children and Family Services projects through:

• Assisting in collecting, organizing, and analyzing data from qualitative interviews.
• Supporting the development and implementation of recruiting strategies to engage youth, families, and stakeholders.
• Conducting structured and semi-structured interviews.
• Helping to translate research findings into actionable insights to support program and policy improvements.  

Chapin Hall embraces a “Work from Anywhere” approach which offers flexible remote work from anywhere in the United States. Chapin Hall also offers in-person opportunities for staff to build: 1) connections, 2) team cohesion and creativity, and 3) a sense of belonging to the organization. modifications.

RESPONSIBLITIES (On-The-Job-Training)

Participant Focused Data Collection & Knowledge Translation

• Recruits youth, families, and community stakeholders for research studies through outreach, partnerships, and digital platforms.
• Obtains informed consent and explains study objectives, confidentiality, and participant rights in an accessible, culturally sensitive manner.
• Conducts or supports interviews, focus groups, and surveys, ensuring respectful communication and active listening while coordinating participant engagement to ensure they feel comfortable, respected, and supported throughout the research process.
• Transcribes and codes qualitative data, utilizing software tools to organize, manage, and analyze information on youth and family well-being, service access, and program outcomes, while maintaining data integrity and adhering to research protocols.
• Works with team members to improve interview questions and data collection methods.
• Conducts literature searches to support research objectives and contextualize findings.
• Creates charts, graphs, and summaries to clearly present research findings.
• Helps translate data and community feedback into actionable recommendations for policy and practice.
• Assists in disseminating project findings to external audiences.

Ethics, Compliance, & Data Integrity

• Confirms that information used in the study is reliable and meets ethical research standards.
• Ensures all research activities protect participant privacy and follow data protection and ethical guidelines.

Collaboration & Project Support

• Attends team meetings and other internal meetings to discuss progress, share updates, and offer input.
• Supports efforts to improve programs using data, research, and community input.
• Performs other tasks to help projects run smoothly.

• Performs other tasks as assigned.

• Minimum High School or General Equivalency Degree (GED) Education or equivalent.
• Lived experience with the child welfare system. This refers to the firsthand experiences of individuals who have been directly impacted by the child welfare system. These individuals have personal knowledge of the challenges, processes, and outcomes associated with the child welfare system. Experience as a biological parent or kinship caregiver in the IL DCFS system is preferred.
• Efficiently manages tasks, prioritizes, and meets deadlines with attention to detail.
• Comfortable with digital platforms (e.g., Zoom) and secure file transfers.
• Maintains consistent communication with families throughout the project.
• Ability to work effectively with team members to meet goals and milestones.
• Occasional travel to Chicago for training and supervision, with expenses covered by Chapin Hall. 
• Willing to work evenings or weekends to accommodate study participant schedules.
• Eager to develop new skills in leadership, communication, research, and policy.
• Maintains discretion when handling sensitive information.
• Engages effectively with individuals and groups.
• Ability to manage multiple tasks and meets deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
• Proactively solves problems and takes initiative.
• Communicates clearly, both verbally and in writing.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively.
• Familiar with Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) and Office 365.

MINIMUM PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Must be able to remain in a stationary position for extended periods of time.
• Must be able to operate a computer extensively for four (4) or more hours per day.
• Must be able to travel locally and out of state occasionally.

Pre-employment background checks are required for all Chapin Hall positions. Chapin Hall approaches background checks with respect and fairness, ensuring that every applicant is given equitable review and opportunity. Chapin Hall’s background check process complies with Section 2-103.1 of the Illinois Human Rights Act. Accordingly, a conviction will only be considered disqualifying if it has a substantial relationship to the job, or if hiring the individual would pose an unreasonable risk to workplace safety. If you have any questions, please reach out to HumanResources@chapinhall.org.

Formal expressions of interest are accepted online only. A cover letter, resume, and reference contact information are required to be considered for this position.

Individuals in need of reasonable accommodations to complete the application process should contact Human Resources by sending an email to recruiting@chapinhall.org.

Chapin Hall is an Affirmative Action, Equal Opportunity Employer that values and actively seeks diversity in its workforce. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, age, sex, genetic information, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, citizenship, citizenship status, pregnancy or maternity, national origin, status as an individual with disability, ancestry, protected veteran status, or any other status protected by law. Per U.S. Department of Labor regulations, Chapin Hall offers visa sponsorship in limited instances for hard-to-fill specialty occupation roles. If you have questions about visa sponsorship at Chapin Hall, please reach out to humanresources@chapinhall.org

Regarding the salary range

Chapin Hall adheres to a competitive market-aligned salary structure for all its administrative, policy, and research roles. Starting salaries within posted ranges are determined by the Chapin Hall Human Resources Department using a consistent, rigorous, and equitable review process.