Title: Specialist of Family and Community Partnerships

Location: Early Childhood Centers

Pay Grade: Administrator and Professional Salary Grade A07

Work Calendar: Service 200 Day Staff

FLSA Status: Exempt
GENERAL PURPOSE

Under the supervision of the Director of Early Childhood, the Family and Community Partnerships Coordinator serves as the coordinator of services between home, school, and community in order to facilitate student education and family success and the students' appropriate personal/social adjustment, directs and coordinates all phases of the family and community partnership programs, providing leadership in establishing a complete and effective Head Start program of comprehensive services for children and families, provides liaison with the community's public and private social service agencies, and functions as an advocate for the students and their families, fully implementing federal requirements

MAIN JOB TASKS AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Serve as a support to Family Service staff who serve as the liaison between the school and the family

• Participates in training required or needed for program implementation and supervision.
• Supervise the 8 Family Service Workers and Parent Involvement Assistant, providing leadership and monitoring of family and community partnership activities to fully implement federal regulations and provide an effective program of comprehensive services and provide general knowledge regarding community services.
• Attend Pre-service, In-Service and all staff meetings as well as community meetings pertaining to the needs of Head Start children and their families. Establish community partnership agreements with community agencies that can assist Head Start families and support the Family Engagement Specialist in facilitating monthly meetings of the Policy Council and Parent Center Committee.
• Provide for an effective working relationship with students, parents, school personnel and others concerned with student welfare that allows the Family Service Workers to bring information relating to the home which may be helpful in working with a student, assess the needs of students, assist in the process of referring students and families to appropriate community resources, and support staff in consulting with school personnel, parents, and other appropriate individuals to help increase the understanding of students and to help provide an atmosphere conducive to the student's growth and development.
• Provide support to Family Service Staff who consult with families who have students with attendance problems, poor health, emotional/behavioral concerns, and those who are socioeconomically disadvantaged and provide daily follow-up on absentees in the classroom.
• Conduct outreach, recruitment, and enrollment of children for Head Start and Virginia Preschool Initiative.
• Establish and monitor a system of tracking of referrals and follow-up services provided, for effectiveness and timeliness of services received while maintaining appropriate case records and documentation.
• Prepare and submit accurate monthly reports to the Policy Council and Director of Early Childhood. Prepare and submit accurate annual data for the Program Information Report.
• Assist Family Services staff in encouraging and supporting parents and others to volunteer in the program, provide a system of tracking and rewarding parent involvement.
• Assist the Family Engagement Specialist in organizing and executing special events in the evening and on weekends, including the Family Thanksgiving Dinner, the Parents as Educational Partners Auction, the Family Picnic, evening Parent Center Committee meetings and the monthly Men's Events.
• Coordinate with the Health Coordinator and Disabilities Coordinator concerning health, dental, nutritional, mental health, disability and safety needs of children and all other facets of operation that should be handled jointly.

Serve as a support to parents to assess and provide services

• Provide in-services to parents and staff. Plan and implement programs and activities for the program, including required in-services and activities that promote parent training or family involvement, including male involvement.
• Conduct family needs assessment: identifying family strengths and needs, identifying family concerns and problems, goal setting with strategies and timelines, assessment of the process, and provide documented follow-up.
• Provide documented services and referrals to individuals and families, problem-solving, follow-up and ensuring collaboration.
• Ensure that family service staff make home visits to determine needs of families, establish rapport, and follow-up with services. Assist with home visits as needed
• Provide transportation or arrange transportation for families to attend agency or health services appointments as needed.
• Assist parents, as appropriate, with financial literacy training and referrals for income tax filing assistance.

Support and demonstrate core values of Stafford County Public Schools

• Engage in ongoing professional development relevant to position.
• Respond to written and oral requests for information promptly and thoroughly.
• Maintain a clean, neat appearance, appropriate to position.
• Maintain a record of appropriate attendance and punctuality.
• Serve as a role model for students, colleagues, and the general public.
• Work in close harmony with colleagues, supervisors, and co-workers.
• Comply with all District and School policies and regulations, including but not limited to guidelines for confidentiality.
• Perform other related duties as required/assigned.

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE

• Hold at least a Bachelor's Degree; Family Services Credential required within 18 months of hire
• Experience in supporting persons living in poverty, and forming partnerships with community agencies are preferred
• Ongoing evidence of mental and physical competence to perform assigned responsibilities may be required from a qualified physician
• Special consideration for employment will be given to persons who are fluent in English and Spanish or another language

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES

• Knowledge
  • Understanding of a variety of assessment instruments and techniques for diverse populations
  • Understanding of the community, who the low socio-economic families are, interviewing skills, conducting home visits and the enrollment process.
  • Community agencies/resources
  • Child development and growth stages
  • Curriculum and instructional programs
  • Current special education regulations, issues, and related laws
• Skills
  • Demonstrate multicultural awareness, partnerships with parents, communicating effectively, record keeping and confidentiality.
  • Demonstrate an understanding of community resources, establish and maintain community services linkages, advocacy, referral, and follow-up.
  • Interpret, adhere to and fully implement Head Start Federal Performance Standards, local policies and other federal and state regulations required by the Head Start and Virginia Preschool Initiative programs.
  • Written and verbal communication
  • Time management and organizational skills
• Abilities
  • Facilitate an effective working relationship with students, parents, principals, teachers, and others who are concerned with the student's welfare.
  • Organize and perform work independently
  • Meet deadlines for all work even when working on multiple projects
  • Show sustained effort and enthusiasm in quality and quantity of work

WORKING CONDITIONS and PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

• Work environment is primarily inside at times with moderate noise levels, temperatures that are controlled but may require some exposure to weather, and some exposure to chemicals or other negative air quality elements in which appropriate safety equipment will be provided.
• The work is medium work, requiring exertion of up to 50 pounds of force to move or lift objects.
• The following physical and mental abilities are representative of those expected to complete the essential functions of the job: standing for prolonged periods; sitting for prolonged periods; operating motor vehicles or heavy equipment; moving the hands, wrists, or fingers repetitively; moving with force on the back or lower body repetitively; feeling, grasping, or holding objections by hand; identifying colors visually; identifying objects in low light or distant conditions; communicating via spoken language; communicating via written language; perceiving sounds; making decisions using logic and rational thinking.

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform the essential job functions satisfactorily. Reasonable accommodations shall be made, as required by law, to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the primary job functions herein described.

Since every duty associated with this position may not be described herein, employees may be required to perform duties not specifically spelled out in the job description, but which may be reasonably considered to be incidental in the performing of their duties, just as though they were actually written out in this job description.