Family Support Specialist

If you are a person who enjoys working with children and values the role of early education, please consider this opportunity!  You will enjoy working alongside other dedicated adults to provide exceptional care to children 3 to 5 years old.

Wage ranges $15.93 - 24.74 (wage varies based on education level and work experience)

Qualifications:
The ideal candidate has experience in early childhood programs and working with low-income families, has good attendance and dependable transportation. 
 
Education:
High School diploma or equivalent, Head Start Family Services Credential or equivalent, or Associates Degree in Family Services, Human Services, or related field required or, Child Development Associates (CDA) with extensive Head Start experience may be considered in lieu of the above credentials.  Applicant credentials will be reviewed on a case by case

Requirements:
All applicants will be required to provide a satisfactory background check (prior to job offer), have and maintain a valid driver's license and be able to pass a pre-employment physical and TB screen. 

Essential Duties:

1. Supporting parents in their role as their child's first and most important teacher in supporting school readiness goals,
2. Responsible for assuring that the development of an Individualized Family Partnership Agreement is available to each enrolled family and for linking families to community services necessary to reach their goals,
3. Maintains continuing contact based upon individual family needs and program expectations,
4. Follow-up on excessive absenteeism,
5. Ongoing support for families with challenging behaviors,
6. Works with other staff to support parent involvement and volunteering in the classroom programs,
7. Organize and carry out parent meetings such as open house, Parent Committee meetings, parent education, family activities, and other activities,
8. Participate in classroom activities, including classroom support as needed,
9. Follow-up on child and family medical needs as requested, including assisting families in accessing medical and dental care,
10. Actively participates in the outreach, recruitment, selection and enrollment of children as directed
11. Accepts donations, documents donations, and distributes donations as they are needed and per program policies,
12. Understands, interprets and articulates policies and procedures to parents and the community,
13. Assists with Community Needs Assessment by sharing relevant information from families for analysis,
14. Builds cooperative relationships with area service providers and community and LEA resources,
15. Assist with recruitment/enrollment activities, preschool round up sessions and 0-5 transition activities,
16. Relays community and family concerns to appropriate staff,
17. Actively participates with staff during team meetings to best support both the family and the child's needs,
18. Attends necessary meetings including IEPs, center parent meetings, team meetings, etc.,
19. Checks e-mail system daily to stay abreast of program concerns, and
20. Assists children on and off the bus, monitors children while on the bus and buckle safety restraints for children being transported by the program's transportation department.