Early Head Start Family Service Worker

A vacancy exists for an Early Head Start Family Services Worker within the CCIU's Division of Student Services. This position will be located at the Gordon Early Literacy Center in Coatesville, PA, and will provide services across multiple PA counties, including: Chester, Philadelphia, Montgomery, and Delaware, with the potential to serve up to 16 counties.

Are you motivated to create brighter futures for students, families, and the entire community? If so, we want you on Team CCIU! At the CCIU, we pride ourselves on the creativity, dedication, and collaborative spirit that our employees bring to their work every day, and we know that achieving success together takes a team approach!

We strive to hire exceptional, motivated, and passionate individuals that help us achieve our vision of acting as educational leaders who contribute to a better Chester County and beyond.

If you are looking for an exciting, challenging opportunity to grow your career, don't wait – apply today to make Team CCIU even stronger tomorrow!

Summary

The Early Head Start Family Service Worker performs a variety of duties designed to aid the parents in their role as their child's first and primary educator. They serve as a link between the Head Start program (nutrition, health, education) and the family, and they also link the families to community resources. Experience and/or education permits some latitude in judgment and decision-making regarding families and children.

Essential Job Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain a confidential profile of family data to identify strengths, needs, and goals.
• Maintain accurate and timely documentation of all family contacts, follow-ups, and service coordination activities.
• Conduct home visits within established timelines to assess family needs, gather data, and obtain required documentation and signatures.
• Establish individualized family partnership agreements (IFPA) to support goal setting and empower caregivers in meeting their family's needs. Review and update family goals and progress in GoEngage.
• Encourage and support family involvement in program governance and activities (e.g., Policy Council, parent committees, classroom volunteering).
• Act as a liaison between the home and Early Head Start (EHS) centers to promote strong school-home partnerships.
• Act as an advocate for families, supporting access to services by referring them to external resources for additional support (e.g., food, housing, clothing, mental health, parenting education) and educating them on how to become advocates for themselves and their children.
• Conduct family home visits and meetings to monitor progress, reassess needs, and promote full participation in Head Start services.
• Monitor parent training needs identified through assessments and provide or connect families with relevant education opportunities.
• Assist families with all aspects of the enrollment and eligibility process, including completing forms and submitting required health and dental documentation.
• Conduct in-person interviews and collect necessary information to determine eligibility for services in alignment with program guidelines.
• Compile and maintain student and family information for eligibility verification and reporting requirements.
• Support families in obtaining health screenings and updating records as services are completed.
• Communicate with families to ensure timely completion of health and dental requirements.
• Assist in coordinating and performing health screenings (e.g., height, weight, nutrition) and follow-up care.
• Report any suspected abuse, neglect, patterns of medical neglect, or child injuries in accordance with mandated reporting requirements.
• Ensure confidentiality of all family and child information in compliance with federal, state, and local mandates.
• Develop and maintain partnerships with community organizations to provide families with appropriate resources and referrals.
• Collaborate with Family and Community Engagement Specialists regarding recruitment strategies and outreach efforts.
• Participate in multidisciplinary meetings, including case conferences, IEP/IFSP meetings, parent-teacher conferences, staff meetings, and case reviews.
• Support transitions for families, including movement into school-age programs, to promote continuity of care and education.
  
  

Qualifications

Education and Experience:

• Bachelor's Degree in Social Work, Human Services, Family Services, Counseling or closely related field required
• Bilingual, Biliterate, and Bicultural strongly preferred
• 5 years experience working in Head Start or similar agency required
• Relevant social work experience required
  
  

Professional Or Other Required Clearances

• Valid Driver's License & reliable transportation required
• Current police, child abuse, and FBI fingerprint clearances within 1 year required
  
  

Anticipated Salary Range

Project, Head Start, $62,816 - $80,288.00/yr.

• Placement on band is based on years of direct experience in a comparable role. 260 day position, 8 hours per day, 5 days per week
  
  

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Equal Opportunity Employer

Chester County Intermediate Unit is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Chester County Intermediate Unit ensures equal employment opportunities regardless of race, creed, gender, color, national origin, religion, age, sexual orientation or disability. Chester County Intermediate Unit has a policy of active recruitment of qualified minority teachers and non-certified employees. Any individual needing assistance in making an application for any opening should contact the Department of Human Resources at 484-237-5085.