Family Services Specialist

Position Summary

The primary scope of this position to implement an exemplary innovative system of family support services and community engagement for both the Head Start and Early Head Start Programs in compliance with the Head Start Performance standards and all other regulatory requirements. Family Service Specialists are responsible to provide comprehensive high-quality services through commitment and leadership that empowers the whole child, whole family through partnering with the family, staff, and the community.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES (Head Start Performance Standard 1302.92)

• Demonstrate knowledge of GCCSA Head Start/Early Head Start’s mission, goals, policies, and procedures.
• Demonstrate knowledge of Head Start Performance Standards, Head Start Parent, Family and Community Engagement Framework, and Eligibility, Recruitment, Selection, Enrollment, Attendance (ERSEA) Management system and other regulatory requirements.
• Demonstrate on-going personal and professional growth and development to meet program and regulatory requirements.
• Coordinate, communicate and collaborate with the Family Empowerment Specialist and Center Administrator to identify the needs and concerns at the centers, to effectively address any concerns, ensuring positive, goal-oriented relationships with children, families, and staff.
• Communicate and collaborate with all Content Area Managers, Specialists, and other program staff to ensure integration of all Head Start/Early Head Start services
• Monitor data base system to ensure required tasks and supporting documentation are completed timely and accurately including case notes, Individual Family Partnership Agreements, applications, admissions/enrollments, etc.
• Attend in-service trainings, orientations, workshops, and seminars as designated
• This job description in no way states or implies that these are the only duties to be performed by the employee occupying this position. Employees will be required to follow any other job-related instructions and to perform any other job-related duties requested by their supervisor.
• This job description may be revised upon development of other duties and changes in responsibilities.
  
  

Eligibility, Recruitment, Selection, Enrollment, and Attendance (Head Start Performance Standard 1302.10-1302.16)

• Adhere to all Eligibility, Recruitment, Selection, Enrollment, and Attendance (ERSEA) standards and GCCSA policies and procedures.
• Determine, verify, and document eligibility
• Monitor data base system reports for any discrepancies pertaining to ERSEA.
• Achieve full enrollment the first day of school and maintain full enrollment throughout the school year.
• Maintain a health waitlist.
• Participate in year-round recruitment.
• Monitor children attendance and document in database system.
  
  

Family Engagement (Head Start Performance Standard 1302.50)

• Integrate a family engagement approach to engage parents and family in the child’s learning and development, support parent-child relationships with specific strategies for father engagement at the center and home-based programs and related activities.
• Work in partnership with other program staff to coordinate activities in the delivery of social services.
• Work with Program Governance Specialist to develop a strong volunteer program at the center.
• Adhere to case management model and procedure including, timely and accurate documentation, confidentiality at all times, identification of family strengths and needs and individualized family partnership agreements.
• Ensure individualized family partnership agreements, follow up and referrals are entered in database system completely, accurately, and timely.
  
  

Community Partnerships (Head Start Performance Standard 1302.53)

• Assist and collaborate in establishing partnerships with community organizations that may include Health providers, agencies that provide services to children with disabilities, child protective services, educational and cultural institutions, housing assistance agencies, domestic violence prevention and support providers, and other organizations or business that may provide support and resources to families.
• Be knowledgeable of community resources within the service area and how to access the services to ensure that all families are linked to all needed services.
  
  

Policy Council And Policy Committee (Head Start Performance Standard 1301.3 – 1301.4) In-Kind (Head Start Performance Standard (Head Start Performance Standard 1303.4) Transitions (Head Start Performance Standard 1302.70 – 1302.72)

• Provide support to Policy Council and Policy Council Committees and ensure that the representative and alternate from the center attend meetings regularly.
• Establish a parent committee comprised exclusively of parents of currently enrolled children as early in the program year as possible.
• Ensure that in-kind is generated from the center.
• Provide a seamless transition in, transition out and transition between programs.
  
  

Key Knowledge, Skills And Competencies Needed

• Have exceptional people skills and customer service. Must have the ability to read and comprehend intermediate to complex instructions. Excellent oral and written communication skills are necessary to interact with all levels of management, colleagues, and staff to ensure consistency and proper procedure implementation.
• Have advanced technological skills and knowledge of Microsoft Office 365 Application Suite, and client-tracking software.
• Have effective leadership and organizational skills.
• Problem-solve effectively and make data-driven decisions.
• Have familiarity with the Head Start/Early Head Start Act, Head Start Performance Standards, Texas Department of Family and Protective Services Childcare Licensing Standards.
• Promote a harassment-free environment.
• Be able to work independently or on teams in a challenging work atmosphere.
• Be able to prioritize and balance multiple projects and deadlines in a fast-paced, deadline driven environment.
• Plan and complete tasks and assignments on-schedule with minimal supervision using appropriate judgment.
• Exercise appropriate judgment, discretion and maintain the confidentiality of all GCCSA’s stakeholders.
• Avoid any interest or activity that conflicts with GCCSA’s Standards of Conduct.
• Be experienced in conflict resolution; and
• Work with intentionality and integrity to ethically uphold GCCSA’s mission, values, and goals.
  

Description Of Work Environment

GCCSA’s work locations vary based on the duties and responsibilities of the GCCSA team members (e.g., office, workstation, classroom, food pantry, warehouse, training and/or counseling rooms). In general, the noise level is usually quiet to moderately noisy.

VITAL TRAITS

• People-person
• Adaptable
• Self-starter
• Energetic
• Results-oriented
• Respectful
  
  

Qualifications And Requirements

The following educational/experiential, licensing/certifications, communication, and physical demands outlined below must be evident and met satisfactorily:

• Education/Experience
  
  

High School Diploma or General Education Degree (GED), Associate Degree preferred. At least one year experience in a similar or comparable position. Knowledge of problems of low-income families and minority groups; experience in Head Start/Early Head Start preferred.

• Communication
  
  

Communicates and comprehends information and ideas in English.

Physical Demands

• move about various locations to access office equipment.
• observe details at close range.
• move items weighing up to 50 pounds.
• travel to and from assigned work locations.
• lift items from the floor up to 50 pounds.
• reach overhead and to the floor; and
• wear personal protective equipment, when necessary.
• Travel Requirements
• Attend job related activities such as meetings, training, workshops, etc., both in and out of the service areas;
• Have reliable transportation.
  
  

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER STATEMENT

GCCSA is an equal opportunity employer that is committed to diversity and inclusion in the workplace. We prohibit discrimination and harassment of any kind based on race, color, sex, religion, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, genetic information, pregnancy, or any other protected characteristic as outlined by federal, state, or local laws.

This policy applies to all employment practices within our organization, including hiring, recruiting, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, leave of absence, compensation, benefits, training, and apprenticeship. GCCSA makes hiring decisions based solely on qualifications, merit, and business needs at the time.

In addition, GCCSA retains the right to change or assign other duties to this position, as needed.

Americans With Disabilities Act Statement

If requested, GCCSA will attempt to provide reasonable accommodations to enable employees with disabilities to perform essential functions of their job, absent undue hardship.