PFA​/PFAE Family Support Specialist

Family Support Specialist

Location:

Proegler Early Childhood Education Program.

Date Available:

08/03/2026.

Reports to:

Director of Early Childhood.

Duration: 10 Months.

Schedule:

8 Hour Day.

Salary: $37,719.28 with IMRF.

Job # 373.

• AA and/or a credential or certification in social work, human services related field;
  Bachelor's Degree Preferred.
• Data Entry Experience Preferred.
• Valid driver's license and insurance.

Full funded enrollment. Work collaboratively with families, education and community partners to ensure that the program meets the whole child and supports parents/guardians in addressing family needs and setting and achieving ambitious family goals. To support parents as they identify and meet their own goals and nurture the academic development of their children in the context of local (school readiness), state (Early Learning Standards), and federal standards.

Work cooperatively with all staff toward parent's achievement of self-sufficiency as well as taking responsibility for their family's primary health care.

This position is grant funded & is nonrenewable at any time.

• Provide Head Start families with information and referral for emergency assistance, crisis intervention, and social services for which they qualify.
• Become familiar with and encourage use of existing community resources.
• Provide direct services as needed (transportation, advocacy, etc.).
• Complete Family Partnership Agreements if needed with all families based on the outcomes of the School Readiness and Family Stability Scales. Document all follow-up and progress in meeting goals.
• If necessary, plan and implement monthly meetings under the direction of the Assistant Director for Health and Family Engagement and in concert with Parent Committee officers. Responsible for all parent contacts regarding planned activities. Submit, by established deadlines, supporting documentation for all parent meetings, e.g., sign‑in sheets, agendas, handouts, minutes, etc.
• Schedule and/or provide transportation as needed for meetings and trainings.
• Work cooperatively with teaching staff and other coordinators to promote parent involvement in all areas of Head Start.
• Solicit parents to volunteer and participate in all parent activities.
• Facilitate or assist in Parent Orientations and other parent training activities.
• Make continued contact with Head Start parents through home visits, telephone calls, Parent Committee meetings, etc. Document all contacts.
• Assist Policy Council representatives in preparing monthly reports.

• Recruit and enroll children in accordance with the Eligibility, Recruitment, Enrollment, and Attendance Policy and federal regulations to maintain full funded enrollment per regulation.
• Participate on screening days when necessary and filling any role that is needed on that day.
• Work collaboratively with local school districts and agencies during their enrollment and screening events.
• Understand all enrollment eligibility requirements including health. Recruit throughout the program year.
• Actively recruit during school‑sponsored registration. Make home visits as necessary for recruitment purposes.
• Submit complete intake information.
• Assist as needed in submitting accurate attendance figures. Act immediately on unexcused and irregular attendance.
• Contact parents of absent students to determine reasons for absence.
• Review attendance on a regular basis to identify patterns for absenteeism.
• Determine supports needed to support regular attendance. Educate parents about benefits and importance of regular attendance.

• Work as a team member to support academic and behavioral concerns, e.g., CICO – check in check out, SAIG groups, team/IEP meetings.
• Be a member of the classroom team, e.g., extra support during activities or substituting when needed.

• Maintain and update children's individual health records in files and Child Plus (computer data entry).
• Assist families in meeting health requirements: arrange transportation, set up appointments, etc.
• Assist in securing parental consents for diagnostic evaluations if necessary.
• Link families…