Northwest Michigan Community Action Agency, Inc.

Job Description

Job Title: / Family Engagement Specialist
Department: / Child Development
Reports to: / Program Services Coordinator
Grade: / EC
Supervises: / N/A
FLSA Status: / Non-Exempt
Prepared by: / Kerry Baughman
Date: / January, 2016
Purpose:
The Early Head Start Family Engagement Specialist will deliver family support services to families in a manner that reflects the NMCAA Head Start Programs goals and expectation as delineated in the local program plans.
Essential functions:
Eligibility, Recruitment, Selection, Enrollment and Attendance
1.  Responsible for recruitment, application process, caseload selection and full enrollment for EHS. Accompanies Child Family Specialist on enrollment visit.
2.  Timely and appropriate follow up with families on all referrals made to the EHS program.
3.  Maintain and update EHS waitlists quarterly.
4.  Collaborate with diagnostic professionals to secure appropriate IEP documentation for enrolled EHS children.
Education and Early Childhood Development
1.  Serve as the transition liaison between program and families for transitions from EHS to HS, EHS to childcare, and when transferring to a new EHS Child Family Specialist or another EHS program.
2.  Plan and provide a minimum of two county-based socialization experiences per month with Child Family Specialists while maintaining health and safety guidelines. These socializations support child development by strengthening the relationship between parent and child.
Child Health and Safety
1.  Provide health/dental education through newsletter and parent engagement activities for HS/EHS families.
2.  Monitoring Child Plus health reports to assess the progress made by enrolled families in meeting EHS health requirements, to support families in addressing barriers to meeting these requirements and identify common gaps in service and barriers to success.
3.  Assist EHS families in meeting required health screenings and follow up, including hearing and vision screening within 45 days of enrollment.
4.  Maintain health and safety guidelines at all family engagement activities that are the responsibility of the FES.
Community Partnerships
1.  Build partnerships with community-based health, social service, childcare and education/job training opportunities to support the needs and goals of HS and EHS families.
2.  Promote HS/EHS Programs and events and act as a program liaison to the professional community.
3.  Represent NMCAA and serve as an active collaborative member of the county’s Early
Childhood Workgroup and other committees as assigned.
Family Partnerships
1.  Provide resource and referral information to classroom teaching staff in support of HS families when requested.
2.  MAINTAIN Yearly and ongoing updates to community resource directories.
3.  Link EHS families as appropriate with Northwest Michigan Community Action Agency programs, community resources and service providers, and on-going health care systems in an effort to problem solve barriers and address family needs.
4.  Complete a minimum of one home visit per quarter with each enrolled EHS family in addition to home visits provided by the Child Family Specialist.
5.  Team with Child Family Specialist to prepare a monthly informational and educational parent newsletter for EHS and HS enrolled families.
6.  Work in partnership with families and Child Family Specialists to review family initiated goals.
7.  Using designated program tools, assess EHS family needs and provide appropriate assistance, guidance, support, resources and/or referrals to service providers.
8.  Plan, implement and promote family engagement activities that are the responsibility of the FES role for EHS and HS families.
Facilities, Materials and Equipment
1.  Responsible for ensuring that EHS socialization sites within the county consistently meet all state licensing requirements.
2.  Active participation in ongoing assessment of the socialization environment through the use of the Creative Curriculum Infant and Toddler Checklist/Responsive Environments.
Management Systems and Procedures
1.  Secure collaborative agreements with community partners.
2.  Attend monthly recaps, staff trainings, EHS and community meetings, participate in professional development growth opportunities as specified by your direct supervisor, the Program Services Coordinator.
3.  Establish an ongoing communication system with your PSC to ensure supervisory support when any concerns arise around family or staff safety.
4.  Maintain confidential, accurate and up-to-date family files per the EHS Child/Family Information Activities and Inventory Guide.
5.  Attend all PSC designated team or county-based meetings to discuss trends in families and community, share resource information, and/or coordinate other shared roles such as newsletters, workshops, socializations.
6.  Adhere to work schedule as required. Socializations and parent engagement activities may require evening and weekend hours. Staff must adjust weekly schedule when this occurs so as to not exceed allotted weekly work hours.
7.  Perform other duties as assigned by supervisor.
Position Objectives:
1.  Implementation of Early Head Start (EHS) community partnerships, parent engagement activities, resource and referral, EHS health services and EHS eligibility, recruitment, selection and enrollment.
2.  The parameters set forth by the Head Start Parent Engagement Framework will be met through the FES utilization of the Strengthening Families Framework.
Measured by:
1.  The accuracy and timeliness of completed work.
2.  The quality of services provided.
3.  Feedback from agency leadership, staff, community partners and families.
4.  Flexibility to adjust to situations and react as necessary for the betterment of the agency.
Minimum Education:
1.  Preference given to Bachelors Degree in Social Services or Health field or equivalent experience.
Minimum Experience:
1.  Prior experience working with low income/at risk families
Essential Abilities:
1.  A commitment to the NMCAA philosophy and mission.
2.  Ability to maintain confidentiality.
3.  Ability to interact positively with co-workers and clients in a non-judgmental, tactful and courteous manner.
4.  Ability to suggest innovative approaches in completing job responsibilities.
5.  Ability to work openly and cooperatively as a team member.
6.  Ability to perform physical tasks to carry out specific job duties.
Minimum Skills Required:
1.  Ability to meet the State of Michigan and Federal background check requirements.
3. Ability to meet the State of Michigan physical and TB examination requirements.
4. Knowledge of basic computer skills and office equipment.
6. Proficient writing skills.
7. Strength-based approach in working with families.
Minimum Physical Expectations:
1.  Physical activity that requires keyboarding, sitting, phone work and filing.
2.  Physical activity that requires travel by car.
3.  Physical activity that requires lifting less than 25 lbs.
4.  Physical activity that requires bending, stooping, reaching, climbing, knelling and/or twisting.
Minimum Environmental Expectations:
1.  Routine use of standard office equipment such as computers, phones, copiers, filing cabinets and fax machines.
2.  Possible exposure to blood and bodily fluids.
3.  Possible exposure to communicable diseases.

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