Early Head Start Family and Community Engagement Specialist (Spanish Speaking Required)

Under the direction of the Early Head Start (EHS) Program Director the Family Services and Community Engagement Specialist is responsible to apply professional expertise and over-sight in the ERSEA (Enrollment, Recruitment, Selection, Eligibility and Attendance) Department, ensuring that the agency complies with all regulations per applicable Performance Standards. Analyze, plan, implement and provide training on enrollment systems for the department. Maintain on-going contact with families and work with all other components of Head Start such as (health, nutrition, mental health, special services, parent engagement and resource/referral) to integrate services into the family setting. 

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Managing Eligibility, Recruitment, Selection, Enrollment, and Attendance.
• Provide input and solutions to develop and or revise the agency’s ERSEA systems, policy and procedures.
• Process Head Start applications and screen for qualifications under Head Start program guidelines.
• Conduct orientations for all families that will be entering the EHS program.
• Ensure sites maintain funded enrollment level and waiting list, as well as fill vacancies as needed.
• Monitor attendance of children in assigned classes and follow up on absences as necessary.
• Analyze causes of absenteeism when average daily attendance falls below 85%.
• Analyzing community assessment information and facilitate planning efforts to determine design options, recruitment efforts and enrollment guidelines for Head Start.
• Maintain and monitor comprehensive and eligibility files on an ongoing basis.
• Maintain, monitor and submit required reports by established deadlines.
• Complete a Family Needs Assessment as well as Family Partnership Agreements with assigned families and make appropriate referrals to community resources.  Maintain regular contact with families to keep abreast of needs and interest using various forms of communication including home visits if needed.
• Provide information to parents for health screenings and follow up appointments as indicated for Head Start children and ensure required follow up is completed. Maintain health records for assigned children.  
• Provide quality health and social services to Head Start children and families, according to Head Start guidelines
• Provide support needed to encourage and assist families in their own efforts to improve the condition and quality of their family life.
• Conduct transition meetings with families that have children age 30 months, to provide a smooth transition process from Early Head Start to Head Start.
• Monitor and update our Head Start Management System (ChildPlus) on a weekly and monthly basis.
• Conduct recruitment activities which include agency and community outreach/events, and distribution of materials as assigned.
• Participate in staff and parent meetings. Attend other meetings and workshops as assigned.
• Recruit parents for parent committee as well as policy committee
• With support from operations, program director and administration director, plans and leads policy committee meetings in which long and short-term goals for improvement are established.
• Maintain, monitor and submit required reports by established deadlines; reviews and analyzes monthly reports including attendance. Reports to operations and program director any data discrepancies or concerns.
• Create and submit weekly and monthly enrollment reports for Grantee Family and Community Engagement Manager
• Assisting Administration Director in the planning and coordination of special events (health and program events, e.g. dental bus, lead, winter wonderland etc.), ensuring all logistics are in place and timelines are met.
• Assist Administration Director when needed inputting Health Documents into the Head Start Management System (ChildPlus).
• Create and conduct monthly parent meetings.  
• Perform other duties as assigned.