General Role and Responsibilities:

The Family Services Specialist (FSS) is responsible for the overall coordination of enrollment and social service provision for Head Start children and their families. The FSS provides case management services for a caseload of families, including provision or assistance in linkage and referral to appropriate community resources. The Family Services Specialist coordinates services for children and their families in the areas of Parent, Family, and Community Engagement, Early Childhood Development and Health (i.e. Health, Disabilities, Mental Health, Dental and Nutrition), Eligibility, Recruitment, Selection, Enrollment and Attendance (ERSEA), and Program Governance. The Family Services Specialist works with the teaching team in assigned classrooms to coordinate the provision of and/or linkage to timely services and interventions. This position requires active participation with other Family Services Specialists, members of the teaching teams, various Head Start staff, SCH staff and parents. The Family Services Specialist is expected to present a positive and professional image of the School City of Hammond (SCH), SCH Head Start and Geminus Head Start.

General Skills and Qualifications:

Possess the skills necessary to provide high quality case management services, coordinate activities across program content areas and maintain engagement of families in various aspects of the program in both in-person and virtual learning and working environments.

Specific Responsibilities in This Position:

• Establish positive and productive working relationships with Head Start families
• Utilize a systems theory approach to assess, identify and address family strengths, interests and challenges
• Work with families to develop a functional Individual Family Partnership Agreement (IFPA) with goal(s) based on identified strengths, interests and challenges that have been identified through observations, conversations, and family screenings.
• Provide case management services which include: making of referrals to appropriate community agencies, organizations and businesses and follow-up regarding IFPA goals and community referrals
• Ensure health-related screenings (e.g. hearing, vision, heights/weights, etc.) are completed within programmatic timelines
• Maintain required child, family, volunteer and programmatic documentation via computer data entry and physical files
• Coordinate team meetings with assigned classroom teaching staff. Ensure required team meeting documentation is completed, including signatures and dates
• Coordinate referral and follow-through processes for children with suspected health, behavioral health, or developmental concerns
• Meet with parents/guardians as outlined in program plans
• Maintain a working knowledge of the Head Start program to assist in explaining the program to parents, families and community members in order to strengthen understanding of child development, early childhood education and program policies and procedures
• Work in conjunction with Behavioral Health Specialists to coordinate behavioral health services for children and families
• Implement active supervision strategies whenever students are present
• Assist in the coordination of programmatic activities
• Serve as a liaison between Head Start staff, Head Start families and community organizations, agencies, and businesses
• Coordinate and facilitate monthly Parent Committee meetings for assigned classroom(s) which includes election processes and meeting preparations; meetings may be in-person or virtual as conditions allow
• Conduct recruitment activities to assist in the identification of children eligible for Head Start
• Assist families in the completion of the application process both in-person and virtually
• Utilize Enrollment Selection Criteria Point System to determine program eligibility
• Monitor child attendance daily and address attendance concerns
• Maintain current class rosters and waiting lists
• Recruit program volunteers (parent and community volunteers) as conditions allow for in-person participation
• Develop, coordinate, and implement opportunities for parent involvement at the classroom level
• Develop, coordinate, and implement a minimum of one male involvement activity per assigned classroom per year
• Attend and participate in program-wide activities
• Participate in the evaluation of programmatic services through the Self-Assessment Process
• Cooperate and collaborate with other SCH Head Start, Geminus Head Start and School City of Hammond staff members
• Participate in required trainings and other professional development opportunities
• Other duties may be assigned

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Specific Skills and Knowledge for this position:

• Microsoft Word, Excel, Power Point, Outlook, etc.
• Google Suite (Google Drive, Docs, Sheets, Slides, Forms, Meet, Classroom, etc.)
• Knowledge of Head Start data management systems (i.e. MyHeadStart)
• Knowledge of Head Start Performance Standards/Head Start Act, SCH and SCH Head Start policies and procedures
• Knowledge and use of C.P.R., First Aid and Heimlich maneuver
• Good communication, computer, and interpersonal skills
• Ability to foster the building of community
• Ability to comprehend instructions and correspondence
• Ability to perform general mathematical computations with accuracy
• Ability to solve practical problems with a variety of variables

Qualifications and Education Requirements:

• BA/BS degree in Human Services, Psychology, Sociology/Social Work, Family Services or Counseling
• Bilingual – Fluent in Spanish (speaking, reading and writing) preferred
• Head Start experience a plus
• Case management experience preferred

Personal Attributes Desired:

• Dependability
• Confidentiality
• Professionalism
• Ability to work independently
• Ability to work collaboratively
• Ability to serve a diverse population of students, parents, staff, and community
• Ability to organize and prioritize

Physical Requirements:

Candidate should be physically capable of successfully performing the essential functions of the position While performing the duties of this position, the employee is regularly required to sit, stand, walk, and talk or hear. The employee is occasionally required to run; stoop, kneel, crouch and crawl. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds. The employee must occasionally push items of 50 lbs. Such as pushing children on a bike or moving/rearranging furniture.

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Itis the policy of the School City of Hammond not to discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, or disability in its programs or employment policies as required by the Indiana Civil Rights Act (I.C. 22-9.1), Title VI and VII (Civil Rights Act of 1964),the Equal Pay Act of 1973, Title IX (Educational Amendments), and Section 504 (Rehabilitation Act of 1973).