Position Summary

The Center-based Parent Engagement Associate (PEA) Case Manager works directly with families receiving EHS services at an MCC EHS Center and/or a Partner Site Center. The PEA leads and assists in the recruitment and enrollment of pregnant women and families with very young children into the EHS program. This position also supports and assists families as they identify and meet their own goals through Family Partnership Agreements following the Head Start Parent, Family and Community Engagement Framework, a family-centered case management model. PEAs work collaboratively with Coordinators, Site Supervisors, Center Directors and Teaching staff in order to encourage children attendance and parent involvement, monitor child/parent participation, and support families in completing EHS health and education requirements.

Benefits include:

• Three (3) weeks paid vacation, plus One (1) week paid Winter Break
• Medical, Dental, Vision, Voluntary & Supplemental Life Insurance through CIGNA
• Cafeteria Plan through Benefit Wallet: FSA and Commuter plans

Essential Functions

• Assists the Family and Community Engagement (FCE) Coordinator in the administration of services and initiatives that fall under the Family and Community Engagement service area.
• Supports FCE Coordinator in the development and maintenance of tracking systems for enrollment, attendance and other service deliverables.
• Participates in ongoing monitoring efforts and review of service are policies and procedures to ensure the program continually meets and exceeds Head Start Program Performance Standards
• Prepares parent newsletters and reports on a monthly basis and as assigned.
• Reviews, monitors and analyzes data from Child Plus on an ongoing basis in order to support children attendance, encourage families’ participation, and ensure timely completion of EHS requirements with clients and partner sites.
• Conducts daily visits to partner sites to monitor children’s attendance and ensure a high quality delivery of services.
• Communicates with community resources regarding program as assigned.
• Assists in coordination of and attends meetings for Parents, Parent Committee, and Policy Council, and other activities representing MCC as needed.

Other Tasks

• Encourages parent engagement guided by the Head Start Parent, Family and Community Engagement Frame work
• Assists parents in developing and planning goals, activities and workshops that enable parents to become advocates for themselves and their families
• Assists FCE Coordinator in ensuring parent participation on Parent Committees, Policy Council and other program planning activities
• Ensures parent engagement and involvement in the planning, implementation, and ongoing monitoring of all program services (health and disabilities, child development and school readiness and program wide events)
• Assists FCE staff with the development and implementation of the EHS Male Involvement program initiative, and provides staff support for ongoing activities
• Maintains records and submits regular reports on Parent Engagement activities and committee meetings
• Works with FCE Coordinator to ensure compliance with Head Start Performance Standards related to parent engagement in Program Governance

Case Management

• Provides case management to center-based families as assigned
• Conducts family needs assessment interviews with all assigned families and follows through with assistance in meeting the expressed needs of families
• Supports families in both the center-based and home-based settings in achieving family goals
• Conducts visits with each center-based family bi-annually
• Supports each family member’s access to primary health care, including prenatal care and ongoing well baby care
• Supports parents in promoting their children’s optimal development
• Helps family members access all available health and social services in the community
• Maintains informative, on-going case records for assigned families as mandated by Family and Community Engagement reporting requirements on Child Plus
• Monitors and follows up with families regarding absences and lateness of assigned children by revising Child Plus reports, visiting center-based sites, monitoring teaching staff attendance records and communicating with the families.
• Conducts outreach to assigned families by referring to counseling, crisis intervention, advocacy and other service agencies.
• Participates in staff trainings, meetings and client related team meetings
• Enters all required data into Child Plus and keeps accurate and complete records at all times.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Excellent written, communication and organizational skills
• Commitment to the mission and vision of MCC
• Strong time management & problem solving skills
• Reside in/have knowledge of community being served
• Ability/experience in helping families set and achieve goals
• Ability in building professional relationships with families

Experience, Education, and Licensure

Required

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience
• Bi-lingual language skills, Spanish/English
• Valid driver's and driving experience

Preferred

• Knowledge of infant and toddler development and community
• Interest in maternal and child health