Staff, Programs - Family Assistant

Job Description

Job Description

OBJECTIVES: Reporting to the Manager, Programs – Education/Site Supervisor, the Staff, Programs – Family Assistant will support the Headstart program by serving children from birth through five years of age. The Family Assistant will work collaboratively with Northside staff to ensure that children and families receive comprehensive, high-quality services in accordance with Head Start performance standards. This role is essential in strengthening family engagement, supporting child health and development, and connecting families to vital resources. The Family Assistant supports Northside’s mission by empowering families and promoting the overall well-being and development of all designated family members.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

1. Strengthen family engagement and advocacy through parent meetings, community collaborations, and ongoing communication.
2. Ensure compliance with Head Start health and performance standards, including monitoring physicals, immunizations, and screenings.
3. Partner with assigned families to identify needs, establish family goals, and connect them to appropriate Northside and community resources.
4. Support positive family outcomes through regular communication, referrals, and completion of Family Partnership Agreements with quarterly updates.
5. Conduct collaborative home visits to address educational and social service needs and strengthen home–school connections.
6. Maintain high program quality and compliance through accurate, timely, and confidential documentation and mandated reporting.
7. Contribute to program accountability and improvement by participating in trainings, self-assessments, and federal reviews.
8. Promote child well-being by observing and interacting with enrolled children and supporting their overall development.
9. Maintain full enrollment by recruiting, enrolling, and accurately maintaining records and waitlists for eligible children and families.

SPECIFIC SKILLS:

• Working knowledge of government regulations, including Head Start performance standards.
• Ability to read, analyze, and interpret professional journals, general periodicals, technical procedures, and program regulations.
• Strong written communication skills, including correct grammar, spelling, punctuation, and the ability to organize documentation accurately.
• Effective verbal communication skills to engage families, community members, managers, regulatory agencies, and groups in both individual and group settings.
• Strong problem-solving skills with the ability to address practical challenges in environments with limited standardization and multiple variables.

CORE COMPETENCIES

• Excellent work ethic
• Commitment to working in a mission-driven organization
• Demonstrated personal ethics and values
• Cross-team collaboration and cooperation
• Team player who works well with a diverse group of people

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Associate’s degree (AA) in Human Services or a related field required; Bachelor’s (BA) degree in Social Services, Child Development, or a related field preferred.
• Family Development Credentials (FDC) required or ability to obtain within a specified timeframe.

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS:

• Salary commensurate with experience. Northside offers a competitive salary and benefits package. Salary Range $35,000 - $42,000

About Northside

Northside Center for Child Development serves more than 5,500 children and families across New York City each year through high-quality, outcome-driven behavioral health, early childhood education, and enrichment services. With over $34 million in annual funding, Northside provides the comprehensive support children and families need to overcome adversity, build resilience, and pursue their dreams.

Founded in 1946 in Harlem, Northside has been a cornerstone of the community for eight decades, leading the way in integrating education and mental health to support children’s development. Several of Northside’s innovative programs were the first of their kind in Harlem, setting standards of care that continue to influence social service agencies throughout the United States today.

Northside’s founders, Drs. Kenneth B. and Mamie Phipps Clark, were renowned, pioneering psychologists whose groundbreaking research was instrumental in the 1954 Brown v. Board of Education landmark Supreme Court decision that declared school segregation unconstitutional. Their belief in the worth, dignity, and potential of every child continues to guide Northside’s mission and inspire its work today. Northside is driven by its vision and principle, “Each Child…First Chance.”