Family Services Educator

40 Hours Per Week, 43 Weeks Per Year Position

Family Services Educators engage with families to promote wellness and involvement in the Head Start/Early Head Start Program; act as liaison between the classroom and the home setting in the areas of education, child development, health and mental health. Implement the family partnership process and promote community awareness by creating meaningful and supportive relationships to enhance a unique learning community.

ESSENTIAL JOB DUTIES

Under the direction of the Family Services Program Manager, Family Services Educators:

• Participate in recruitment efforts/activities for assigned sites and classrooms. Plan and facilitate family orientations/enrollments to the program.  Welcome and enroll families into the Head Start Program and ensure all registration steps are completed prior to the child’s first day of school.
• Assist families in the development of family partnership goals; provide timely and relevant referrals; monitor progress on the goals and other necessary follow up. Assess for unmet family needs at enrollment and throughout the school year. Provide assistance and educate families regarding availability and use of resources in the community. Maintain family information in each child’s electronic file.
• Coordinate family support services including implementing and providing direct case management services to program families. Maintain regular contacts with families, i.e. - phone calls, text messages, group activities, home visits, and classroom visits, to promote partnership and provide for regular communication.
• Provide information relative to Head Start health and nutrition requirements to families and offer transportation for families as needed.  Support families in completing immunizations for their child. Monitor attendance of enrolled children, making contact with a family when a child has been absent for two consecutive days with no contact. Assist families in making the transition into and out of the Head Start/Early Head Start program. Document all family contacts in the information system in a timely and objective fashion.
• Participate in family staffing’s with the teachers for each assigned site/classroom, as well as community agencies, therapists, DHS workers, family members, family support and/or resource people. Document any support consultation given to teachers regarding particular concerns with families at these staffing’s.
• Participate in referral and Special Education (individual family service plans/IFSP) processes as needed. 
• Attend all required program meetings and maintain on-going contact with teaching staff in order to receive and share relevant information regarding child and family. Participate in classroom routine for each assigned classroom each week, for a minimum of one hour.
• Coordinate monthly family meetings at each assigned site/classroom, assisting parents to take the leadership role. Actively encourage families to participate in the program i.e. parent meetings, field trips, policy council, parenting education, and volunteering. Inform and support families to establish and maintain regular attendance for their child.
• Develop and maintain a working knowledge of community resources. Advocate and collaborate with community agencies to support child, family and agency outcomes.
• Report and document incidents of suspected child abuse and neglect to DHS, and the family services manager within 24 hours of the incident.
• Regular and consistent attendance is required.