What are the responsibilities and job description for the Family Service Worker (Head Start) position at Project NOW, Inc.?
SUMMARY: The Family Service Worker provides culturally competent case management, crisis intervention, vocational development, information, and referral services to families. The Family Service Worker is responsible for the integration of services for families in the classroom, home, center, and community.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
- Function as a member of the Parent, Family, and Community Engagement (PFCE) team to plan and implement a cohesive and comprehensive family engagement program that includes Parent Committees, Policy Council, Family Engagement, Fatherhood Initiatives, Open House, and special events at assigned facilities and within the community. As well as being a member of the Eligibility, Recruitment, Selection, Enrollment, and Attendance (ERSEA) team to plan and implement comprehensive services to future and current program participants IAW Head Start Program Performance Standards (HSPPS).
- Provide culturally competent home-based case management, crisis intervention, vocational development, information, and referral services to families.
- Provide home-based parent-child activities to promote positive, nurturing interaction between parents and their children.
- Interact effectively and respectfully with others, particularly with individuals whose backgrounds and life experiences are different from one’s own.
- Ensure program services are in compliance with Head Start/Early Head Start performance standards.
- Responsible for integration of services for families in the classroom, home, center, and community.
- Promote parent involvement in both home and center-based activities. This includes encouraging meaningful parent volunteer opportunities.
- Seek family strengths and competencies, identifying ways to develop those strengths in building the Family Partnership Agreement.
- Conduct face-to-face client, collateral, and provider conversations to make appropriate referrals and linkages to other community resources as needed.
- Maintain client records and complete all necessary documentation within established program time frames.
- Participate in the enrollment of all children and families.
- Meet established productivity standards for the program.
- Participates in case conferences and collaborates with other service providers working with families.
- Develop and maintain ongoing outreach strategies to inform families and the community of services and activities at the center.
- Other duties as assigned.
KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, and ABILITIES:
- Strong empathetic relationship skills are required.
- Assist in organizing and participating in Parent Orientation for the assigned center(s).
- Ability to see the families the agency serves through a lens of empowerment.
- Proven ability to interact with members of the community representing diverse backgrounds and interests is required.
- Travel area-wide, and access classroom sites and family homes requiring a valid driver’s license, reliable transportation, and proof of insurance.
- Ability to pass a medical examination, certifying freedom from communicable disease upon employment offer.
EDUCATION and EXPERIENCE:
- Requires minimum age of twenty-one (21) years to comply with regulations.
- Requires a Child Development Associate (CDA) certification or ability to complete CDA within 2 years of hire and full-time experience in Early Childhood, Family Services, or related field.
- An associate degree in social work or early childhood education is highly preferred.
- Employees will obtain certification in First Aid/CPR.
- Experience with at-risk families preferred.
- Bilingual skills required.
- Successful candidates will be required to meet our pre-employment background screening requirements.
PHYSICAL DEMANDS AND WORK ENVIRONMENT:
While performing the duties of this job, the employee is occasionally required to stand; walk; sit; use hands to finger, handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms; climb or balance; stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl; talk or hear; and taste or smell. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds, as when dealing with pre-school-age children. Work environment as associated with the normal office environment and pre-school environment.
Project NOW is an equal-opportunity employer and is committed to providing a workplace free from harassment and discrimination. We celebrate the unique differences of our employees because that is what drives our mission. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, marital status, veteran status, disability status, pregnancy, parental status, genetic information, political affiliation, or any other status protected by the laws or regulations in the locations where we operate. Accommodation is available for applicants with disabilities.
Positions within Project NOW are primarily grant-funded and funding decreases can affect our staffing needs.
