Family and Community Support Specialist, Head Start / Early Head Start - Syracuse

LOCATION: SUMNER HEAD START, 215 BASSETT STREET, SYRACUSE

STARTING PAY RANGE: $21.00 - $24.00 PER HOUR

SCHEDULE: FULL-TIME, 52 WEEKS PER YEAR

QUALIFICATIONS:

- Family Development Credential or college degree in fields such as social work, human services, psychology, or adult education, or other comparable formal education in related fields.

- Two to five years of experience working with low-income or at-risk families, including experience with either program development, coordination of volunteer services, adult education, and/or parental involvement.

- Strong knowledge of community resources, and demonstrated ability to develop collaborations that meet the needs of the Head Start / Early Head Start population.

- Ability to understand and apply best practices to transition processes for HS/EHS children.

- Demonstrated ability to interact with other program staff to facilitate an efficient approach to meets the comprehensive needs of enrolled families.

- Strong written and verbal communication skills.

- Valid NYS driver license and reliable transportation.

SPECIFIC RESPONSIBILITIES:

1. Assist with coordination, planning, and implementation of a comprehensive protocol for family and community support services within the Head Start / Early Head Start program.

2. Provide technical assistance and direct training to staff related to school readiness and transition services, crisis intervention and emergency assistance, counseling and providing referrals, documentation of case notes, and parent engagement, education, and goal-setting.

3. Assist Family & Community Services Manager with updating the annual Social Services plan, resource information for parents, and listings of parent education opportunities.

4. Maintain and develop cooperative working relationships with community agencies and services that will enhance the mission of Head Start / Early Head Start.

5. Observe home visits, review database reports, and monitor records of all children served by family workers, to ensure quality services to families and compliance with federal performance standards.

6. Monitor parent involvement activities to ensure that appropriate record keeping and documentation at classroom sites. Review parent education activities to ensure that they are meeting the needs and requests of parents.

7. Conduct monthly meetings with family workers, attend annual family worker performance reviews with site supervisors, and assist in determining training needs for family workers.

8. Support ongoing development of an onboarding and training protocol for new family workers.

9. Visit with district principals and superintendents to exchange information about student school readiness and achievement. Develop and formalize written agreements or transition Memorandums of Understanding with school districts and other community organizations.

10. Develop and monitor a procedure for the transfer of relevant records between the program and school districts for transitioning children. Assist classroom sites with planning and implementation of transition activities, including training of staff and families on Head Start transition requirements and expectations in accordance with federal performance standards.

11. Provide technical assistance to staff in the development of individual transition plans for children and families using best practices. Develop transition kits, resources, and packets so that a process is consistently followed at all sites. Assist families in registering their children for kindergarten by providing information about school districts.