Family Support Specialist

Every Child Deserves a Head Start

Family Support Specialist

Paterson, Jersey City, and Cliffside Park

Greater Bergen Community Action's (GBCA) Head Start Preschool program is a rewarding place for individuals passionate about helping others who seek to grow their careers while making a difference. Our mission is to provide a quality, comprehensive educational program that prepares children and their families for kindergarten and life beyond. With its origins in the War on Poverty, Head Start is one of the longest-running federally funded programs. The Head Start model has been praised and emulated throughout the country.


At GBCA, our Head Start Preschool program collaborates with local school districts. Our compensation package is competitive. We offer a supportive work environment that recognizes the value of every employee, and our focus is continually on staff wellness.


If you are new to the social work field or are an experienced professional, we welcome you to work in our Head Start preschool program. Come make a difference. Learn what it is like to teach children and reach families the Head Start way.


Minimum Qualifications:

• A minimum of a bachelor's degree in social work or a related field
• Prior experience preferred.
• Communicates clearly and effectively.
• Must demonstrate English proficiency - both oral and written.
• Demonstrates good computer skills.
• Able to work a flexible schedule, including recruitment and community outreach efforts during evening hours and weekends as needed.
• Ability to physically care for the needs of the children in the classroom. This includes sitting, standing, bending, and lifting to fifty (50) pounds.
• Valid NJ driver's license preferred and use of own vehicle for self-transportation; local travel is required.

Responsibilities include:

• Learn and adhere to the philosophy and mandates of Head Start and Early Head Start as outlined in the Performance Standards, licensing requirements, and the Policies and Procedures of Greater Bergen Community Action (GBCA).
• Understand how children develop and learn in a variety of school, family, and community contexts and provide opportunities that support their intellectual, social, emotional, and physical development.
• Responsible for setting up and maintaining children's files.
• Enters and updates relevant social service information in the data management system.
• Responsible for facilitating parent involvement in the center.
• Connects parents to community referrals as needed.
• Conducts home visits, communicates with families, and completes all corresponding documentation.
• Generates monthly social service reports.
• Actively participates in at least two (2) recruitment events each semester outside of traditional working hours, performs community outreach, and is responsible for program option transitions. Schedules may be flexed at the supervisor's direction to accommodate hours worked for events.
• Ensures that all component areas maintain and share transfer and withdrawal documentation.
• Collaborates with program staff to facilitate parent groups.
• Attends pre-service, in-service, and all staff meetings and any other additional meetings deemed appropriate and necessary by the supervisor and/or any other administrative team member.
• Takes daily attendance and compiles the Monthly Attendance Report and the USDA Report.
• Contact the family within 1 hour if a child is absent without notification.
• Conducts well checks when a child is absent without any parent/guardian notification and ensures family status when a child is absent three (3) or more consecutive days.
• Updates emergency cards, contacts the family when the child is sick, and notifies the nurse of all outcomes.
• Completes all family partnership agreements in a manner.
• Keeps track of parent volunteer reports.
• Share information with parents/guardians and plan, as a team, strategies for meeting each child's individual needs.
• Share information with education staff concerning individual needs and/or concerns regarding each child.
• Establishes and maintains a harmonious relationship with fellow staff and parents.
• Responsible for the overall safety of each child in the GBCA HS/EHS program
• Provide office and/or phone coverage and assist with classroom coverage as needed.
• Is punctual and adheres to the work schedule assigned.
• Assumes and performs any other duties as assigned.

EEO Statement

Greater Bergen Community Action, Inc. provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.