Family Engagement Specialist

Family Engagement Specialist

The Family Engagement Specialist will work collaboratively with families to implement a research-based home visiting model. They will provide direct services to children and families including screening and assessment, community based groups, home visits, recruitment and connections to resources.

Family Engagement and Education:

• Ensures that there is a welcoming environment for families and the community inclusive of all languages and cultures.
• Coordinates and conducts home visits to positively impact child development by nurturing a healthy parent child relationship o Creates individualized plans for each visit showing evidence of reflection, observation and planned data collection o Documents each home visit documenting child and family progress towards goals, action plans and growth targets
• Intentionally facilitates parent-child interaction using evidence-based strategies and the Program curriculum to support family goals, child development and parenting skills development
• Conduct intake and ongoing screenings, developmental monitoring and assessments to inform goals and services
• Engages parents/families in community school teams, parent advisory committees and other leadership opportunities.
• Supports efforts to identify and recruit the most at-risk children in the community for early learning programs.
• Plan and facilitate parent-child groups to support knowledge of child development, parenting skills and parent driven topics.
• Collaborates with mental health partners to facilitate evaluation of children and referrals to mental health resources as needed and with full parental consent.
• Provides support to children with special needs, including empowering parents as advocates for their children. o Make formal referrals to Early Intervention
• Uses Program, class and family data to drive strategies, supports and family goals

Connection to Resources/support with goal achievement:

• Complete family-centered assessment and partner with families to identify goals for their family and help them develop a plan towards achieving their goals.
• Refers families to resources to support their plan.
• Documents referrals and progress towards goals.

Training and professional growth:

• Complete the Baby TALK certification training before providing services
• Complete annual staff self-assessment and develop professional goals and action plans
• Attend 15 hours of professional development per school year

Performs such other tasks and assumes such other responsibilities as may be assigned from time to time.

Education, Certification, Qualifications Profile:

• Bachelor's degree in child development, human services, early childhood education, social work or a related field preferred; Bachelor's degree in alternate field with relevant experience considered.
• Baby TALK certification preferred
• Commitment to supporting families through relationship-based work.
• Bilingual (Spanish) preferred
• Cultural competency necessary.
• Reliable transportation and valid driver's license and car insurance if applicable.
• Such alternatives to the above qualifications as the Board finds appropriate and acceptable

Skills, Knowledge, Abilities:

• Ability to maintain accurate records.
• Ability to travel to District locations as well as within and outside of the community.
• Ability to work 1-2 evenings a week to accommodate family and parent education/events, services at school, home, and community-based.
• Ability to establish and maintain cooperative working relationships with others in the course of the workday.
• Ability to establish rapport with families and empower them by building on their strengths.
• Ability to work independently, stay on-task, multi-task, and take responsibility to complete assigned projects in a timely and efficient manner.
• Ability to communicate effectively with parents, students, teachers, administration and community members.
• Ability to establish strong communication with families and be committed to reflective practice (e.g., non-judgemental, objective, reflective, empathetic, patient, tactful)
• Ability to use email and office equipment effectively.
• Ability to read, write and speak English sufficient to communicate with staff and supervisors.
• Ability to add, subtract, multiply and divide, and perform basic arithmetic operations as needed.
• Ability to work with a diverse group of individuals and is sensitive to cultural differences.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality of information regarding students, employees and others.
• Ability to establish supportive and compassionate relationships.
• Ability to maintain composure in stressful situations and adapt in response to changing conditions.
• Ability to report work orally or in writing to supervisor as required.
• Ability to carry out instructions furnished in written or oral form.

Travel Requirement:

Travel between schools, across the district required.

Evaluation:

The position will be observed twice per year through home visit observation and use of the HOVRS tool. The position will be evaluated annually, by the last employment day in April by the Supervisor of the Birth to Three program

Work Environment:

• Community settings, family's homes, and schools.
• Indoor classrooms/school exposure to: student noise, work in standard school building environment.
• Outdoor schoolyard and grounds, field trips: exposure to temperatures (hot, warm, cool & Cold).

Physical Job Requirements:

Employee is Required to:

Occasionally Frequently Continuously

Stand X

Walk X Sit X

Use hands dexterously (use fingers to handle, feel) X Reach with hands and arms X Climb or balance X Stoop/kneel/crouch/crawl X Talk or hear X Smell X Travel within District x Physical (Lift & Carry): Up to 10 pounds Up to 25 pounds X Up to 50 pounds Up to 75 pounds Up to 100 pounds More than 100 pounds

ADOPTED: November 17, 1988

REVISED: July 16, 1998 December 18, 2008 October 17, 2019 June 14, 2022 February 23, 2023 December 5, 2024