What are the responsibilities and job description for the Early Childhood Education (ECE) Specialist, Building Early Links for Learning position at HopePHL?
Early Childhood Education (ECE) Specialist, Building Early Links for Learning
Classification: Full-Time/Exempt
Reports to: BELL Supervisor
JOB DESCRIPTION
About HopePHL™
People’s Emergency Center (PEC) and Youth Service, Inc. (YSI) are merging to achieve greater impact. Together we will be known as HopePHL™ starting in January 2023. HopePHL inspires Philadelphia's children, youth, families and communities to thrive by providing housing, advocacy, and trauma-responsive social services designed to promote equity, resilience, autonomy, and well-being. We are looking for vibrant and compassionate people to join our team! Learn more at www.hopephl.org.
Summary:
The ECE Specialist will be responsible for collaborating with housing staff to support their efforts to increase the enrollment of young children staying in emergency housing (EH) into high quality early learning programs including STARS childcare, Head Start, Early Head Start, and state and locally funded PreK. Other activities include delivering trainings and information sessions for parents and staff and other activities aimed at increasing the developmental appropriateness of shelter for young children. The ECE Specialist is responsible for the implementation of the program, working in collaboration with the BELL Supervisor, other ECE Specialists and consultants, and ensuring data collection and compliance with the funding grant.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities:
In general, ECE Specialists will:
- Support existing EH staff to help families apply for ECE subsidies and identifying and enrolling in quality ECE programs.
- Train EH staff on child development facts and principles.
- Connect and coordinate efforts across housing, ECE and other systems.
- Utilize data to monitor progress and evaluate innovation.
- In collaboration with the BELL Supervisor, develop and implement outreach and engagement activities to increase enrollment in quality ECE by young children who experience homelessness
- Actively cultivate and maintain relationships with homeless family service providers and other stakeholders to encourage eligible families to access high quality ECE programs.
- Work collaboratively with BELL Supervisor, Data Consultants, and other Partners.
- Organize workshops and enrollment drives for families.
- Connect EH staff to ECE providers; Support ECE staff in discharge planning.
- Organize activities to teach and train shelter staff, including semi-annual workshops
- Organize activities to promote relationships between EH and ECE providers.
- Work with EH staff to collect details of child attendance and parent wishes with respect to ECE participation, updated monthly. The ECE Specialist will collect and review these forms to help monitor family need, provide support to EH staff, when necessary, and ensure that all families are aware of supports for ECE enrollment.
- Participate in all designated ECE related committees, meetings, and focus groups.
- Collect and enter data. Ensure all data meets contractual requirements.
- Submit monthly and quarterly reports.
Competencies:
- Mission driven and self-directed with ability to work collaboratively with many diverse constituencies
- Knowledge of child development and Philadelphia’s Early Childhood Education system
- Excellent time management, organizational, and team building skills
- Strong interpersonal, communication, and presentation skills
- Is in a supportive and coaching role to both the case managers and the families.
Required Education and Experience:
- Bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Education; Community Engagement, or Social Work required.
- Two-plus years of progressively responsible experience.
- Advanced knowledge in child development
- Demonstrated experience working with at-risk young children and their families
Preferred Education:
Advanced degree preferred.
Work Environment:
This position is a hybrid (three days in the office, two remote), with flexible schedule options. Occasionally travel to the offices of foundation officials or off-site locations will be required. The incumbent in this position will routinely use computers, photocopiers, filing cabinets and other standard office equipment. The position also requires you assist with large gift in-kind drives, and occasional event set up and breakdown.
Physical Demands:
While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to sit, talk and hear. The employee is occasionally required to walk, use hands and fingers to feel, handle, or operate objects or controls; and reach with hands and arms. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 30 pounds.
Other Duties:
This job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice.
HopePHL is an equal opportunity employer. All applicants will be considered for employment without attention to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, and veteran or disability status.
Benefits:
- Dental insurance
- Employee assistance program
- Health insurance
- Life insurance
- Paid time off
- Vision insurance
Work Location: Hybrid remote in Philadelphia, PA 19104