Family Liaison

Summary

Serves as a liaison among families, community, and school staff to ensure student academic and social success; facilitates communication and provides FCPS information and resources to families; encourages family engagement in student's education and connects families to what students are learning; builds relationships with and among students, families, staff members, and community members; promotes a welcoming school environment for culturally diverse families; provides information about and connects families to variety of resources and opportunities.

Qualifications

Required

• Any combination of education and experience equivalent to graduation from high school or possession of a General Equivalency Diploma (GED) certificate.
• One (1) year of experience working with families within a school, community program, or outreach program as a volunteer or paid employee.
  • Advanced degree(s) beyond the minimum degree requirement in a relevant field may be considered for some experience.
• May be required to work a flexible schedule for evening appointments and walk-in services and/or evenings for planned events.
• Proficiency in a second language may be required for some positions based on school needs.
• Knowledge of school and community programs, organizations, services, and resources.
• Knowledge of applicable local, state, and federal laws and regulations.
• Familiarity with the special needs of children and diverse concerns of parenting.
• Strong organizational and planning skills.
• Ability to navigate and use technology and associated software applications to support family and student learning.
• Ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing.
• Ability to develop and deliver presentations.
• Ability to develop and maintain effective working relationships with culturally diverse students, families, school staff members, and community members.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality.

Preferred

• Two (2) years of experience in family engagement, community engagement, or outreach programs.

Major Duties/Essential Functions

1. Provides the connection between families, community, and school staff to support student achievement and facilitate communications.
2. Provides information about FCPS and the school.
3. Assists families with navigating the school system and connecting them with appropriate staff for information and resolution of concerns.
4. Assists families with access to resources such as food, clothing, medical assistance, or recreational opportunities from local organizations and resource centers.
5. Identifies best practices and assists in the development of strategies to facilitate school/community collaboration.
6. Develops and coordinates programs to engage families and the community in students' education and school programs.
7. Plans, schedules, organizes, facilities, and participates in delivering a variety of school/community outreach programs, including one-on-one consultations, small meetings, presentations, conferences, and workshops for families and staff members.
8. Assists in the preparation and dissemination of family education materials.
9. Schedules and manages some parent center activities and programs; participates in community and civic activities to maintain visibility and credibility in the community.
10. Researches and develops strategies that promote staff members' outreach and empowers families as key decision makers.
11. Provides feedback to school administrators to improve family partnership programs.
12. Serves as home/school contact for teachers, school staff, and administrators to ensure information is communicated in a timely fashion.
13. Maintains a variety of confidential and non-confidential manuals and electronic lists and records (e.g. program participation, contact sheets, student logs, referrals, etc.) for the purpose of providing required information, reports, and/or documentation.
14. May visit families and students off-site for the purpose of enrolling students in a program, interviewing families, informing families/students of school and/or community resources and providing child development and parenting information.
15. Informally, and in a limited fashion, interprets if and where needed by faculty and families.
16. Performs other related duties as required or assigned.

Work Environment/Physical Requirements

This job operates in a professional office or school environment and has a noise level of mostly low to moderate. This role routinely uses standard office equipment such as computers, phones, photocopiers, filing cabinets, and fax machines.