Smart Start of Mecklenburg County – Guiding Parents to Services Manager Position Available In Mecklenburg, North Carolina

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Smart Start of Mecklenburg County – Guiding Parents to Services Manager
Charlotte, NC, USA
60000-65000 per year
Salary
Full Time
General Information
Organization Overview
Smart Start of Mecklenburg County (Smart Start or SSMC) is a Charlotte-based non-profit that funds local
programs for children ages birth to five and their families. Theanization is a catalyst for improving the
lives of the 85,000+ young children in ourmunity, with a focus on health, family, early education, and
literacy. We mobilize resources and e partnerships to support evidence-based policies, practices, and
programs to ensure all children enter kindergarten healthy and ready to succeed.
Smart Start has a budget of over $35 millionprised of funding from the state of North Carolina,
Mecklenburg County, and private donations and grants. SSMC funds approximately 25 programs annually
serving over 25,000 young children and their families and administers Mecklenburg County’s MECK Pre-K
program, which provides free Pre-K to children in themunity. SSMC also operates programs and
campaigns internally, including Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, Guiding Parents to Services, and The
Basics Mecklenburg and Parent Powered . Theanization is also the leader in research, data, convening
and collaborating on issues related to children Prenatal-to-five in the Greater Charlotte area.
Position Summary
The GPS Coordinator is responsible for acting as a parent liaison, parent educator and coach for families with
children that have been diagnosed with special needs, as defined by Maternal Bureau of Health in
Mecklenburg County. The position directly supports families through their transition from Part C to Part B
services, as defined by the IDEA, with a focus on families who are currently receiving care coordination
through the CDSA, but who will not achieve transition within the time frame required by law. S/he will also
serve the largermunity, as a subject matter expert and resource, so that long term change in
understanding and attitudes benefits this population.
Due to the highly collaborative nature of this role, this position is provided access to office space, staff teams
and information sharing at CDSA offices, to allow for professional collaboration, and is expected to spend a
significant amount of time co-located.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities
Family Support

• Provide families with case management, information and education on the rights, processes and
  available services to their child, as s/he transitions to school focused services.

Support and empower
families in their journey with the special health care needs services system, through skills development and
training, to impart the protective factors that strengthen the parent/child relationship, including the role of
parent as advocate for child.

• Implement Circle of Parents weekly parent discussion/support group to model fidelity, allowing families
  to connect with each other inmunity on a weekly basis.
• Generate and maintain up-to-date resource list for federal, state, and local agencies that support child
  and family needs.
• Stay abreast of the latest research, programs and policies as they relate to supporting children and
  families with early intervention.
  Community Collaboration
• Coordinate with early education and special needs relatedanizations in Mecklenburg County to
  ensure that families are supported, and serve onmittees and collaborations related to this work (LICC,
  etc.); serve as a liaison between other SSMC programs and thismunity.
• Work in close collaboration with CDSA staff, fostering strong relationships and integrating into assigned
  CDSA Units, to ensure a smooth transition to GPS for families.
• Foster a collaborative relationship with CMS.
• Develop and present trainings for variousmunity groups who interact with young children to
  understand the importance of early intervention, increase the destigmatization of diagnosis, and assist
  professionals with skills development in difficult conversations.
• Advocate on behalf of children and families when required, to ensure children receive needed services
  in a timely manner.
  Funding and Data Management
• Participate in the annual Request for Application (RFA) process to ensure program viability, aligning to
  NCPC criteria.
• Determine annual output and oue goals, in collaboration with the Program Director.
• Formulate annual budget, in collaboration with the Program Director.
• Track data, using CRM system defined by SSMC to be submitted to NCPC on a quarterly basis.
  Education, Experience, and Other Job Functions
  Education and Experience Required for Position
• Bachelor’s Degree required in early childhood, special education or related field; Master’s preferred.
• Valid US driver’s license
• 5 years special health care need related service experience
• 5 years’ experience in a non-profit human services agency or equivalent
• Knowledge of the child care industry preferred
  Smart Start of Mecklenburg County ensures that employment activities are conducted without discrimination against any
  person on the basis of sex, race, color, religion, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, or disability.

Physical Demands
The physical demands described are representative of those that must be met by an employee to
successfully perform the essential functions of this job. While performing the duties of this job, the
employee is regularly required to talk or hear. The employee frequently is required to stand; walk; use
hands to finger, handle or feel; and reach with hands and arms. Specific vision abilities required job include
close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and ability to adjust focus.
Position Type/Expected Hours of Work
This is a full-time exempt position, with a high degree of flexibility, including remote work opportunities.
Occasional evening and weekend work may be required as job duties demand.
Location & Travel
This position is based in Charlotte, NC with a minor amount of travel. Travel is primarily local during the
business day, although some out-of-the-area and overnight travel may be expected.
Other Duties
Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain aprehensive listing of activities,
duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities and
activities may change at any time with or without notice