Family Support Specialist

Family Support Specialist

Catholic Charities Community Services is currently seeking a professional, passionate individual who has experience developing partnerships and engaging with families to work in our Head Start program providing support to our staff, families and children.

Under the guidance and supervision of a Family Support Specialist Supervisor or designee, the Family Support Specialist is responsible for providing quality family services as described in the Head Start Parent, Family and Community Engagement Framework. The Family Support Specialist is required to demonstrate competencies needed to effectively build strong rapport with families and coordinate and implement effective practices that facilitate a comprehensive service program for children and families.

The Family Support Specialist is also required to form strong partnerships with instructional and other staff, and provide a secure and engaging environment in which families can identify, set, and achieve goals in support their child's participation in program services and activities for the purpose of school readiness and later school success.

Family Services

• Coordinates a system for on-going recruitment and enrollment into the Westside Head Start and Early Head Start program
• Responsible for determining family's eligibility for services using internal data management system; documenting income eligibility and ensuring accuracy on all intake forms
• Monitors internal data management system and audits records for compliance and accuracy
• Translates and interprets information and events to the family's home language and/or uses additional strategies and resources when lacking proficiency in the family's home language to ensure conceptual understanding and support
• Creates and maintains a welcoming, inclusive, safe, and supportive environment to facilitate and encourage parent engagement and participation in program services, activities, and events
• Monitors the delivery of Family and Community Partnerships to ensure compliance with Westside Head Start policies and procedures, the program's grant plan, Federal Head Start Performance Standards and Head Start Act.
• Meets the individual needs of each family by completing a strength-based needs assessment with each family assigned
• Develops family partnership agreements with clients; identifying and agreeing upon measurable goals and providing needed support and assistance to ensure families are successful in accomplishing their established goals
• Ensures completion of all health assessments and screenings within 45 days of enrollment
• Ensures the completion of all immunizations, physical/dental examinations, and follow up within 90 days of enrollment
• Initiates and facilitates local community partnership agreements
• Participates and collaborates with local service agencies and advisory committees and maintains current information on available resources, issues, and trends
• Collaborates with local agencies and programs to locate services and other resources for families
• Identifies and coordinates training needs for families

Family Engagement

• Builds positive relationships with parents/guardians and encourages family involvement in program activities
• Supports the implementation of the Strong Fathers Strong Families (SFSF) curriculum and engages fathers and other male guardians to contribute to the education of their children through their participation in program activities
• Conducts individualized social service home visits as needed on family needs throughout the program year, to build a strong home-to-school connection and support child/family growth and development.
• Maintains awareness of and contact with community based organizations and service agencies to utilize when coordinating parent meetings, training sessions, and social service home visits
• Provides advocacy for participant families and links them to needed community services and resources
• Provides families with information about community organizations and events and encourages their participation and further involvement in community groups and activities to promote parent advocacy and leadership
• Includes and involves parents in planning Parent Center Committee meetings and facilitates committee meetings with instructional and other staff
• Evaluates the needs and identifies the interests of participant families and coordinates parent education activities in support of these needs and interests

Teamwork, Communication, and Professional Standards

• Maintains appropriate…