Afghan Family Liaison - Francis C. Hammond Middle School

The Afghan Family Liaison promotes the successful integration of students and parents into the school community and will focus on family engagement efforts specific to Afghan families at our ACPS Elementary Schools. They create a welcoming school environment for families; conduct outreach through a variety of communications to empower parents/guardians to be actively engaged in their children's education; organize family involvement events/activities;

manage school-based volunteer opportunities, and work with the principal to address parent/guardian issues and concerns at the school. The Parent Liaison is supervised and evaluated by the School Principal/Administration with feedback provided by the Family and Community Engagement (FACE) Manager.

• Creating welcoming school environments for all families, with a focus on Afghan families who speak Dari or Pashto.
• Conducting outreach through a variety of communications to empower all families to be actively engaged in their child's education
• Responding to Afghan families' concerns via Parent Square and telephone
• Connecting Afghan families to information, resources and services available to their student/family across the school division (i.e. Parent Square, Student Services, Special Ed, Advanced Academic Services, etc.)
• Working with administrators to address issues and concerns presented by Afghan families
• Reviewing and translating flyers and documents as needed.
• Supporting family engagement in schools and the community (Including out of school time family engagement programs as needed (up to 2-3 nights a week).
• Serving as a cultural broker and facilitator in schools and community as needed.

• Education:
  
  High School diploma or equivalent.
• Certificates & Licenses:
  Valid Driver's License preferred

• Professional experience working with families, community-based outreach programs, schools, and/or non-profits with increasing levels of responsibility is required.
• Experience working with culturally diverse communities.

• Highly proficient in Dari or Pashto required.
• Must have reliable transportation to travel to schools and community sites.
• Ability to work both independently and collaboratively with other team members.
• Understanding and sensitivity for diverse cultural, ethnic, and socio-economic backgrounds of students.
• Ability to determine and assess confidential material, and maintain confidentiality.
• Excellent time management, customer service skills, and people skills.
• Ability to work a flexible schedule, including up to three evenings a week when necessary and weekend availability.
• Ability to work in a high-paced work environment and use good judgment.
• Passionate and committed to the mission of FACE Center and ACPS.
• Ability to use Microsoft products, smartphones, and social media.
  
  Monthly data collection and entry

• Establish trusting relationships and serve as a point of contact for families.
• Serve as a contact person to facilitate "Welcome to ACPS" orientations to new families
• Assist families in efforts to navigate the school system.
• Advocate for families, as appropriate.
• Work closely with other school staff to coordinate services for students and families, including:
  Student Support Team members, English Learner (EL) department staff, special education staff, teachers and administrators.
• Provide information on services available to eligible students and families and encourage participation, as appropriate.
• Provide community referrals to families as needed.
• Provide families with information about ACPS volunteer process, opportunities and assist them with on-line application as needed.
• Work with bilingual parents/guardians and staff to ensure use of Language Line as needed and ensure necessary interpreter services are available at parent-teacher conferences, school meetings/activities and as requested.
• Ensure multilingual signs, bulletin boards and other displays visible at school entrance and/or lobby to welcome families and provide information.
• Attend appropriate FACE training and meetings.