What are the responsibilities and job description for the Family and Community Engagement Specialist position at Educare of Omaha Inc.?
GENERAL DESCRIPTION
Educare of Omaha, Inc. is a collaborative partnership between the Early Head Start/Head Start, Omaha Public Schools and the Buffett Early Childhood Fund. Comprised of the two Educare Omaha Schools (Kellom and Indian Hill) and the three Early Learning Centers (Skinner, Gateway and Kennedy), the mission of Educare of Omaha, Inc. is to promote school readiness by enhancing the social and cognitive development of children ages 0 to 5 through the provision of evidence-based education, health, nutritional, social, family engagement and other services to enrolled children and their families.
The Family and Community Engagement Specialist will assist in the recruitment, enrollment, and monitoring of attendance of Educare students. He/she will team with teaching and administrative staff to develop and implement family engagement opportunities to enhance family well-being, promote positive parent-child relationships, support family members as lifelong educators, engage family members as learners, inform families during the transition of their children from one developmental program to another, connect family members to peers and their community and promote family members’ abilities to advocate and serve as leaders in their community. The Family and Community Engagement Specialist will also assist families as needed to address crisis events that may impact a child’s regular participation in the program and/or relate to basic family needs.
Schedule: This position is full-time hourly, 40 hours per week and based at our Educare Omaha at Indian Hill (3110 W St.) location. The schedule will be Monday-Friday 8:00am-4:30pm with flexibility on evenings and weekends as needed.
Classification: Non-Exempt/Hourly
Reports to: FACE Manager
Supervises: The FACE Specialist is a non-supervisory position.
DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
Family and Community Engagement Opportunities
- Engages with peers, family members and children in a manner sensitive to the experiences, needs, and strengths of low-income and diverse populations and individuals with disabilities.
- Identify family strengths and areas of need by completing a Family Assessment, conduct home visits based on the results of the assessment, and conduct post assessments as needed.
- Assist family members in identifying and creating goals in the areas of family–child relationships, knowledge of child development, advocacy, and involvement during the Family Partnership Agreement Process and document progress towards goal attainment in the timeframe allotted.
- Support families of children with disabilities and/or behavioral concerns through building relationships, making community referrals, and communicating/advocating with families, teachers, and administrative staff within the educational system and during the transition process.
- Plan and facilitate regularly scheduled family activities and family engagement events for responding to families’ interests and/or needs. Activities may include individual, small group and/or large group sharing of information regarding child development and self-sufficiency issues as identified by families.
- Present and participant in community events and organization to share the program and agency with external stakeholders.
Interdisciplinary Tasks Responsibilities
- Participate in interdisciplinary work with the Health team and/or Teaching Staff to support the children and families assigned on your caseload.
- Conduct classroom visits for children on your caseload for purposes of identifying classroom instructional goals, gathering and documenting observation data, sharing data with families and developing and facilitating related family activities to enhance the families’ partnership in their child’s educational journey.
- Follow up on the health care needs of children and families and ensure all health requirement deadlines are met.
- Coordinate the delivery of services to the family and/or child in response to the needs identified by the family.
- Provide information and guidance to assist the child and family as the child transitions from The Infant and Toddler program to the Preschool Program and from the Preschool Program to Kindergarten.
- Meet with parents at least monthly or more frequently based on assessment findings about their goal progress.
Case Management
- Refer and link children and families to needed community services as identified during the Family Needs Assessment, Family Partnership Agreement process and as needed.
- Support and assist families in times of crisis.
- Act as an advocate on behalf of families with community agencies.
- Assist families in initiating and maintaining eligibility for childcare subsidy and/or a private pay agreement.
- Document services provided to children and families to include follow up on referrals made and resulting outcome to ensure families’ needs are met.
- Maintain manual and electronic files and records in an organized fashion for providing required information and/or documentation as needed.
ERSEA (Eligibility, Recruitment, Selection, Enrollment, Attendance)
- Collaborate with ERSEA Manager to recruit and enroll eligible children and families for providing comprehensive services while maintaining full enrollment and serving families most in need of services according to federal guidelines and program timelines.
- Complete necessary paperwork (applications, enrollment forms, releases).
- Provide an interdisciplinary orientation for families regarding the program opportunities and expectations.
- Follow up on attendance issues including excessive tardiness to identify and address barriers.
- Disseminate and assist families in completing the annual parent surveys.
- Obtain necessary consents to support families in meetings with other providers.
Other
- Plan and facilitate a regular informational/activity meeting specifically for teen parents for responding to their identified interests and/or needs.
- Plan and facilitate a regular informational/activity meeting specifically for grandparents for responding to their identified interests and/or needs.
- Represent Educare at community events which may require evenings and weekend engagements.
- Perform other duties as assigned within scope of the job description.
EDUCATION/QUALIFICATIONS
- Bachelor’s Degree in Human Services or Social Work (preferred) or related field required.
- Two years’ experience working with families in a community-based, culturally and/or social economically diverse, family-centered program.
- Previous Head Start or Early Childhood Experience preferred.
- Must be able to pass a background check that meets compliance standards.
- Must have a maintained a NE driver’s license and automobile insurance.
- Bilingual in English and Spanish preferred.
Benefits:
Competitive Benefits Package:
- Medical, Dental, and Life Insurance: We've got your health and well-being covered.
- Tuition Reimbursement: Invest in your education and professional growth with our support.
- 403(b): Educare matches up to 3%. Secure your financial future with our retirement savings plan.
Work-Life Balance:
- Rolling Vacation and Sick Time Accruals: Enjoy the flexibility to take time off when you need it.
- Ten Paid Holidays: Celebrate and recharge with paid time off for important occasions.
Holiday Break Bonus:
- 2 Weeks Paid Time Off for Holiday Break: Take a well-deserved break and spend quality time with loved ones during the festive season.
Educare of Omaha, Inc. is committed to ensuring equal opportunity and non-discrimination in all hiring and employment practices. We are committed to equal treatment for all applicants and employees and will not discriminate based on age, race, color, ancestry, national origin, disability, sex/gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, pregnancy, genetic information, veteran status, or any other basis protected by law.
Equal Opportunity Employer
