SUMMARY:

The Head Start/Early Head Start Family Services Worker reports to the Child Development Services Manager; assist in the maintenance of a cumulative file that documents services delivery in the areas of health (medical, dental), mental health, disabilities, family partnerships, and nutrition.

Work is performed under the supervision of the Child Development Services Manager and the general guidance and is reviewed through monitoring, conference, reports and results obtained.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

Include the following:

• Build nurturing relationships with families to identify barriers to self-sufficiency, establish goals for independence from public assistance, facilitate mobilization and serve as a source of support.
• Under the direction of the Child Development Services Manager, collect data to identify family's strengths, weaknesses and stages of development.
• Interviews selected families to obtain pertinent data; i.e., family history, health, mental health, developmental, nutritional, parent interest and submits to the Child Development Services Manager for review and forward for input into the agency?s Management Information System.
• Responsible for recruitment, enrollment and attendance.
• Refers clients to other organizations to obtain needed resources to meet the needs of families.
• Provide intake services for children for Head Start/Early Head Start Centers within the target community.
• Provides orientation for parents on the agency and the Head Start/Early Head Start program and other available community resources.
• Maintains cumulative file on all assigned families in accordance with program?s established record keeping system including: (a) emergency or crisis assistance; (b) education and other appropriate interventions; and (c) opportunities for continuing education, employment training, and other employment services through formal networks in the community.
• Provide access for the delivery of prenatal and postpartum care services for pregnant women to include but not limited to: (a) early and continuous risk assessments and (b) mental health interventions and follow-up.
• Tracks attendance, secure referrals, provide follow-up to identify social service needs of children and families.
• Provides supportive services to parents, i.e., transportation, babysitting, making and accompanying children and parents to appointments.
• Make follow-up visits to homes of Head Start/Early Head Start families to (a) assess social service needs affecting the child's attendance patterns and (b) provide support to strengthen the family unit.
• Maintains and follows program confidentiality policies concerning information about children, families, and other staff members.
• Assist in getting parents at Parent Meetings, workshops, training and conferences.
• Attends and participates in staff/department meetings when required.
• Assists in garnering in-kind contributions.
• Participates in on-ongoing pre-service and in-service training, agency events, workshops and educational classes for personal development, as assigned or requested.
• Covers front desk/office as needed.
• Reports suspected child abuse and neglect situations.
• Serves as a bus monitor as needed. Assist with loading and unloading of children from buses.
• Performs other related duties as assigned.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES:

None