Family Services Coordinator for Head Start Program

Department: Management

Location: Edwards

Compensation: $17.00 - $19.00 / hour

Description

Embrace Life Inc is looking for an experienced educator to join the Embrace Life family as a Head Start Family Services Coordinator. This role will align with our Regional Manager to support and build relationships with children, their families, and the community in line with the goals and requirements of the Head Start program. This program works in partnership with local families to provide comprehensive early learning and child care.

The ideal candidate will have a strong Christian moral compass, a background in child care/development, experience providing high quality services, and experience working with other Head Start facilities. This role will also serve as a trusted collaborator with and liaison between the families of children in the program and the facility's staff. As a Christian company, values and ideals aligned to a Christ-lead life is imperative.

Embrace Life MISSION

We partner with families and children to live their ultimate potential and to fully Embrace Life.

Our structured learning environments are aimed to get kids excited about learning while setting a firm base on the key functional areas.

Our ministry of instilling Christian principles focuses on kids feeling good from the inside out. We operate from the knowledge that each child and their families are all unique, created with special gifts and are all created with a purpose.

The Family Services Coordinator serves as the primary liaison for families with children who are enrolled in Embrace Life Child Care’s Head Start program. They are responsible for planning, organizing, and implementing the Family and Community Partnership in addition to overseeing the recruitment and enrollment of children for the program. This individual will be tasked with developing strong relationships with parents and family members, ensuring they receive clear, thorough, and consistent communication with the center staff regarding their child’s education and development.


Essential Functions and Responsibilities

Essential Functions and Responsibilities

• Organizes and conducts meetings and training sessions for staff and parents, facilitating the development of individualized short and long term goals for each child with the support from all caregivers
• Conducts at least one evening home visit a month to each enrolled family, in addition to visits in compliance with Head Start guidelines
• Organizes and participates in delegate inter-agency meetings
• Participates in community boards, councils, advisory groups, etc., representing Embrace Life’s Head Start program and actively recruits parents as volunteers
• Organizes and facilitates all Parent Committee and Policy Committee meetings according to federal and IMSHSP guidelines, and provides training to parent representatives
• Attends state-wide pre-service training; participates in delegate pre-service training and maintains ongoing efforts for professional development
• Maintains organized records of activities related to Family Engagement, including family files
• Identifies local resources that provide services to migrant and seasonal families, developing and maintaining relationships with them; updates the Community Resources Director
• Serves as an advocate for Migrant and Seasonal Head Start families and promotes their ability to advocate for themselves; ensures the delivery of social services, emergency and non-emergency services when required
• Submits accurate, prompt reports as requested by center director or grantee staff
  
  

Skills, Knowledge and Expertise

Skills and Experience

• Prior experience within the Head Start program is strongly preferred
• Familiarity with child development or early childhood education in addition to experience working directly with the youngest children is highly valuable
• Working knowledge and understanding of social welfare programs, immigration laws, community resources, and social services program
• High organization, communication, and time management skills and the ability to juggle multiple responsibilities simultaneously
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office programs in conjunction with strong written communication skills
• Access to reliable transportation with valid insurance and driver’s license
• Flexibility to work evenings and weekends in order to meet Head Start requirements for home visits
• Ability to work successfully and compassionately with culturally diverse staff and clients

Qualifications

• High School diploma or GED
• National Head Start Association Family Services Coordinator certification required
• AA or BS degree in social work preferred
• Fluent in written and spoken Spanish and English required
• Proof of a physical examination within the last six months, which includes a tuberculosis test, and comply with other background checks as required by DCFS licensing
• Personal qualifications include emotional maturity, willingness to cooperate with the aims of the program, respect for children and adults, flexibility, patience, good personal hygiene, and physical and mental health which does not interfere with responsibilities
  
  

Benefits

• 401(k)
• Employee discount
• Paid time off
• Parental leave
• Professional development assistance