Head Start Family Service Specialist (1873)

POSITION SUMMARY
Under the direction of the Operations Executive of Early Learning the Family Services Specialists will recruit and enroll families; support families to meet all the requirements of CCL, CSPP, Head Start and Early Head Start prior to and throughout enrollment (e.g., health requirements, nutrition requirements, immunizations, etc.); provides support to families in accordance with their specific needs; support families with other service areas as needed, such as health, nutrition, education, mental health, and disabilities. The Family Services Specialist helps families to attain self-sufficiency through goal setting and family engagement activities. This role is more of a support and collaborative partner with the health and nutrition coordinator and other service areas plus they will be supported by the Operations Executive.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS
Administrative

• Manage a caseload of approximately 50 Head Start families and 10 Early Head Start families per Specialist.
• Work closely with families, teachers, and support staff to provide comprehensive case management & services.
• Understand and implement Head Start Performance Standards, requirements of the Head Start Act, the requirements of the LACOE contract and the requirements of the California Department of Education (CDE).
• Maintain accurate documentation of services to families and children, and disseminate information to the appropriate departments, agencies, and leadership.
• Initiate, maintain, and follow up with the referral process in conjunction with the family, teachers, family service specialists, and service support personnel.
• Maintain accurate compliance program information including timely reporting and data entry (ChildPlus, ActiveNet, etc.).
• Maintain professional communication with parents, participants, clients, vendors, team members and volunteers.
• Complete monthly monitoring reports for ERSEA, FCE, Health and Nutrition, etc.
• Prepare periodic reports, as required.
• Monitor and complete reporting related to attendance, absences, and case notes with families.

Enrollment & Recruitment

• Implement ongoing outreach and recruitment strategies to ensure site enrollment for assigned Head Start/State Preschool (CDE) programs.
• Complete enrollment (Head Start, Early Head Start, CSPP, CCTR) with families assigned to their caseload and other families as needed.
• Reports participant vacancies in a timely manner and collaborate with leadership to maintain enrollment standards and goals at assigned program sites.
• Participate in recruiting events, tabling events, coordinating recruitment events, and recordkeeping of recruitment.

Family Support & Resources

• Assess strengths, concerns, and priorities for assigned Head Start and Early Head Start families.
• Engage families in a mutually respectful, positive, goal-oriented partnership to promote positive child and family outcomes and result in self-sufficiency.
• Assist Head Start and Early Head start families by helping them set goals and access resources (health, housing, employment).
• In partnership with Site Directors and Teachers, facilitate parent/guardian activities, workshops, and trainings to promote parent advocacy and involvement.
• Enhances parent's skills and understanding regarding parental engagement and activities that promote literacy.
• Collaborate with the Site Directors to plan and implement monthly parent meetings.
• Establish and maintain partnerships with community-based organizations to facilitate family access to support services, resources, and other relevant referrals.
• Invite community-based programs to monthly parent meetings in response to parent-identified needs/interests.

Health & Nutrition

• Facilitate and document basic health-related services to children such as hearing screenings, vision screenings, documentation of height & weight, etc.
• Work with families to review and document health and dental requirements at enrollment and throughout the year, as required by LACOE and CDE contracts.
• Provide parents with all necessary paperwork related to health issues, medication, and allergies.
• Work with Health Specialist to ensure the site allergy-alert list is up to date and posted as required.
• Ensure all health and nutrition compliance requirements are completed and documented in a timely manner.

Integrated Service Delivery

• In collaboration with the Operations Executive of Early Education, submit referrals for support services, including disability and mental health support services.
• Attend and participate in Multidisciplinary Team meetings
• Facilitate the exchange of information between assigned families and content area specialists through the referral process and team meetings, as appropriate.

Other Essential Functions

• Attend staff meetings and trainings as required.
• Uphold YMCA policies for safety, supervision, mandated reporting and risk management.
• Demonstrate the Six Pillars of Character (Trustworthiness, Citizenship, Respect, Responsibility, Caring, and Fairness) as well as the YMCA Core Values of caring, respect, honesty and responsibility in all dealings with members, guests, volunteers and fellow staff.
• Demonstrate competencies in and willingness to develop in the Cause Driven Leadership areas of mission advancement, collaboration, operational effectiveness and personal growth.
• All other duties as assigned by your supervisor.

YMCA LEADERSHIP COMPETENCIES
The Y's Leadership Competency Model is comprised of 14 Leadership Competencies (leadership knowledge, skills, and behaviors required for success in the Y), organized by the four disciplines of Cause-Driven Leadership:

• Advancing Our Mission & Cause: Provide visionary leadership to the organization and to ensure that all resources are mobilized to adapt to new challenges and needs in the community
  • Competencies Include: Change Leadership, Engaging Community, Philanthropy, & Volunteerism
• Building Relationships: Connect people to the Y's cause by developing inclusive relationships, partnerships and collaborations so that Ys can co-create solutions to pressing social needs
  • Competencies Include: Collaboration, Communication & Influence, & Inclusion
• Leading Operations: ensure relevance, effectiveness, and sustainability of the organization so that we can continue to fulfill our promise to the community
  • Competencies Include: Critical Thinking & Decision Making, Fiscal Management, Functional Expertise, Innovation, & Program/Project Management
• Developing & Inspiring Others: support the holistic development of self and others so that everyone can embrace the Y's cause, sustain the Y's culture, and inspire others to take individual and collective action to further our impact
  • Competencies Include: Emotional Maturity & Developing Self & Others

While all competencies are significant, the following are critical to success in this position:

• Engaging Community
• Collaboration
• Critical Thinking & Decision Making
• Emotional Maturity

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

EDUCATION:

• Bachelor's degree (preferred) from an accredited four-year college or university in Child Development, Early Childhood Education, Human Development, Sociology, Psychology, Social Work, or a related field.
• Candidates with a completed AA degree in Early Childhood Education, Child Development, or related field and who take a course of at least three semester units per year in child development, or a general education class required for the bachelor's degree will be considered.

SPECIALIZED SKILLS: Bilingual (English/Spanish)

RELATED EXPIERENCE: Two years of experience in programs offering child and family assessment services, home visiting services, and/or early intervention services; Direct experience in working with children ages 0 to 5, parent education services, and family support and referral services or similar, required.

CERTIFICATIONS & LICENCES: Current approved EMSA Adult, Infant and Child CPR, First Aid, & AED Certification (8 hours). Completion of child abuse prevention training prior to first day in program. Completed nine (9) hour course in Preventative Health Practices (PHP) and other compliance courses, as assigned. Ability to pass fingerprint clearances.

IMMUNIZATIONS & PHYSICAL: Current TB test clearance (must be submitted every two years). Cleared physical exam. Current Influenza (limited exceptions), pertussis, and measles vaccinations.

WORK ENVIRONMENT/MINIMUM PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

• You must have the physical, visual, and auditory ability to perform the essential functions of the job with or without reasonable accommodation.
• Must be able to stand for extended periods and lift up to 30 pounds.
• Must demonstrate auditory and visual ability to observe and respond to participants in the program.
• Approximately 50% of the time is spent sitting, while frequently required to walk, stand, and bend.
• Position requires frequent travel to different work sites.

#1873