Job Description
Title:
ECEAP Family Support Specialist Employment Status:
Full Time FLSA Status:
Non-Exempt Reports to: Operations Center Director Supervises:
N/A SELF
Mission:
Support for Early Learning & Families envisions a Southwest Washington where every child thrives through equitable access to quality, affordable early care and education—powered by a united community of families, educators, leaders, and advocates. Qualifications and Skills:
An associate or higher degree with the equivalent of thirty college quarter credits of adult education, human development, human services, family support, social work, or related field. Thirty credits may be included in the degree or in addition to the degree. Experience working with children and families from diverse cultures and lifestyles. Willingness to maintain a flexible work schedule to meet the needs of enrolled families, including occasional nights and weekends.? Knowledge of community resources and services available to children and families. Experience working in an ECEAP and/or Head Start, Early Head Start. Recent successful experience working with children and families in Infant, Toddler or Preschool settings. Excellent working knowledge of Microsoft Office suite, including Calendar, SharePoint, and TEAMs. Ability to be very detailed oriented and able to meet projected deadlines for data entry. Experience providing comprehensive services to children who are birth to five years in one or more of the following content areas: health, early childhood education, nutrition, mental health, and/or children with disabilities. Bilingual in Spanish/English a plus. Essential Functions:
Resource s and Service s Navigation:
Provide comprehensive child and family services utilizing relationship-based family support principles in alignment with ECEAP and ESD112 program performance standards. Collaborate with other staff, as appropriate, to develop and support individualized family goals that focus on strengths, responsibilities, timetables, and strategies for achieving these goals. Complete the Mobility Mentoring Pre-Assessment and Post Assessment (1 time/yr). These are used as guides to help families evaluate their strengths and needs, and plan individualized goals. Conduct home visits and monthly contacts aligned with program service outcomes and goals situated within the family's committed goals and/or needs. Maintain relevant knowledge of community programs and resources. Support families with referrals, access, and utilization of appropriate community resources, including medical, dental, social, educational, and occupational. Supporting families in scheduling appointments, as needed. Encourage and promote parent/guardian and family involvement in Center program activities through home visits, Community Connects, parent/guardian meetings, family events, Policy Council, wrap around meetings, etcetera. Participate in meetings, programs, and activities for families and staff. This may include occasional nights and weekends. Fulfill program deliverables in accordance with performance standards and timelines. Actively engage in Center program through classroom participation a minimum of 30-mintues bi-monthly. Support program continuation by occasionally substituting into classroom ratio in order to maintain Center operations. This includes supporting other Centers and varying age groups throughout SW Washington. Integrated Services and Supports:
Develop and maintain effective communication and working relationships with families, children, staff, community agencies and partners. Participate and/or conduct outreach, recruitment, enrollment, and orientation activities for families participating in Early Care and Education programs. Provide enrolled families with information about preventative health related services as required by program standards. Maintain knowledge of relevant resources and programs to provide information, make referrals, and deliver integrated services. Provide coordinated support during times of transitions involving the family and/or child through anticipation, communication, and collaboration with necessary stakeholders. Monitor attendance of enrolled children, contact family when child has been absent for extended periods of time without Center contact. Maintain consistent communication with families, Center staff, and interagency personnel utilizing direct, in person communication, phone calls, emails, and varying software platforms, such as ProCare. Actively participate in monthly case conferencing throughout the program year. Participate in Family/Teacher Conferences, as deemed necessary. Provide families with information and access knowledge for required child health screenings and exams within stated timeframe. Document refusals within defined timeframe, upon occurrence. Documentation:
Establish and maintain complete and accurate records on all required program databases and software, as applicable (ELMS, ChildPlus, ProCare, etc.), meeting timeliness standards and deadlines. Document and track follow up needs such as Family Partnership Goals, health, dental, nutrition, growth assessments, hearing, and vision concerns. Send referrals to the Health Services Coordinator and/or Family Services Manager, as necessary and in a timely manner. Health information to be entered into databases and updated for medical, dental, mental, and nutrition. Maintain an accurate calendar to ensure program needs are met. Maintain confidentiality and professional boundaries regarding the exchange of pertinent information. Be aware of all Policies and Procedures. Maintain all required records and child files in an accurate and timely manner. General timeline of documentation responsibilities (subject to change): Initial family contact MUST occur within 14 days from program enrollment. Conduct Mobility Mentoring Pre-Assessment, Mid-Year checkpoint, Post assessment correlate to the Mobility Mentoring checkpoint. Family home visits 1,2,3 MUST occur within Mobility Mentoring Checkpoints. Family contact documentation MUST occur within 7 calendar days from contact event. Document all relevant and necessary family contacts and home visits. Update information into the necessary databases and child files. Participate in the developmental screenings process as requested, with timely entry of results/event into database. Other Duties:
Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a complete 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.? Successful completion of a portable background check (PBC) and clearance through the Department of Children Youth and Families prior to working in program. Valid driver's license or a reliable transportation plan and be able to work outside traditional working hours to occasionally meet the needs of our families. Participation in Washington's State Training and Registry System (STARS) program required. Valid CPR certification including child/infant prior to working in program. Valid Food Handler's Card required prior to working in program. Negative TB test completed within the previous twelve months prior to working in program. Documentation showing immunity to Measles, Mumps, & Rubella (MMR), either vaccination records or results of a Titer test prior to working in program. Completion of HIV/Blood Borne Pathogens training prior to working in program. Work Environment:
This job operates within a childcare center, family homes, and community environments. This job presents possible exposure to blood and bodily fluids or tissues and possible exposure to communicable diseases. Requires the ability to move or traverse about inside and outside of the child care, family dwellings, and varying environments to access and meet the needs of children and families. Moderate or frequent exposure to loud noises, outside weather elements, and temperature changes. Workspace is at an early childcare Centers, as well as meetings and trainings at ESD 112 and other locations, as necessary. Physical and Mental Demands :
The physical and mental demands listed here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. The candidate must be able to observe center and interpersonal activities with accuracy in order to interact and respond effectively to children, families, and personnel. Candidate must be able to effectively communicate verbally with coworkers, children, and families. This position requires the candidate to engage physically and mentally in activities with staff, children, and families. Must possess the ability to lift and/or move materials necessary to meet requirements of Essential Functions of position, which include exerting up to 50 pounds of force occasionally, 20 pounds of force frequently, and up to 10 pounds constantly to move objects including the human body. Must be able to assist in physical behavioral interventions and/or facility evacuations in the event of an emergency. Working with young children and families requires sound judgment, self-control, emotional competence, and the ability to adjust cognitive patterns to meet the needs of children with diverse backgrounds, varying social-emotional skills, and behavioral challenges.
Job involves sitting, standing, walking, lifting, carrying, reaching, grasping, bending, stooping, crouching, pushing, and/or pulling. Position involves physical mobility with or without reasonable accommodation to perform essential functions of the job. Role of Family Support Specialist:
Family Support Specialists explore, provide, and coordinate services and resource access with enrolled families. They coordinate family and Center community activities that support the mission of familial strength, healthy living, and overall well-being. Family Support Specialists are to bring support in a case management style and act as a liaison between families, staff, the community, and other family-related services. Utilizing a strengths focused approach, Family Support Specialists work to encourage and support families to build self-efficacy strategies for their children and their family system. Building Relationships with Families:
Demonstrate unconditional positive regard for families with diverse and varying values, culture, socioeconomic status, and lifestyle circumstances. Work collaboratively with each family to recognize and identify the family's strengths and needs. Establish and maintain professional roles and boundaries in the working relationship with families. Encourage families to take part in the child(ren)'s program. ECEAP and ESD112 Program Performance Standards:
The Family Support Specialist is responsible for meeting program service goals and outcomes through case management within the Center and home visits environments, as well as phone and email contacts. The Family Support Specialist maintains all documentation and data collection in accordance with program and agency requirements. The Family Support Specialist participates in ongoing in-service training and educational classes for professional development as assigned and to meet ongoing Federal, State, and organizational training requirements. SELF is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, veteran status, marital status or any other protected characteristic. Our organization is also committed to compliance with all fair employment practices regarding citizenship and immigration status.
