Children & Families Services Specialist

JOB DESCRIPTION

POSITION: Children & Families Services Specialist

LOCATION: Allen Family Center (AFC) in South Seattle

Salary Range: $56,309 to $63,000

FLSA Status: Non-Exempt

REPORTS TO: Department Manager; Family, Friend & Neighbor

AGENCY SUMMARY:

BrightSpark Early Learning Services has been at the forefront of the early learning landscape for over 30 years ensuring that all children have equitable access to safe, engaging, and positive early learning experiences that promote school readiness and lifetime success. With a staff of over 140 and a budget of $30 million (99% publicly funded), BrightSpark Early Learning Services provides a broad array of services for families and childcare providers so that they in turn can support the development and well-being of our children.

OPPORTUNITY:

The Children & Families Services Specialist based at the Allen Family Center in South Seattle, will assume a central role in facilitating and helping families access high-quality early learning opportunities for Gardner House residents, families visiting the Allen Family Center, and community members. This position entails offering comprehensive support to families in finding and accessing early learning and other programs that support high-quality early learning experiences, children’s school-readiness, and overall family well-being. In addition to providing resource and referral navigation, this position will provide direct support to primary caregivers with a focus on empowering caregivers with knowledge about child development, fostering healthy practices, and establishing robust social/emotional support networks, all aimed at elevating children's school readiness and overall well-being.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

Culturally Responsive and Relationship-BasedNavigation, Resource & Referral (approximately 45% of time)

• Perform searches for licensed childcare & support and navigating eligibility for, and applying for subsidies.
• Perform searches and warm referrals for other early learning programs, such as preschools (Seattle Preschool Program included), early intervention, ECEAP, Early Head Start, Head Start
• Make referrals to other early learning services in the Seattle area, such as Kaleidoscope Play and Learn groups, public library Story Times, home visiting programs, and other community-led programs.
• Make warm referrals to other programs and services available at Allen Family Center, such as the Resource Room (stocked with food, clothing, diapers, and personal care supplies), housing and homeless prevention, and child and adult mental health supports.
• Facilitate access to other AFC services and other resources available in the Seattle area, such as Imagination Library, back to school supply drives, support with clothing, diaper, and supply orders through organizations such as WestSide Baby, etc.
• Provide information to families to learn more about school transition and about school-readiness (what is expected of children starting Kindergarten) and in navigating the school enrollment process.
• Perform developmental screenings with children to identify delays or areas of concerns and supporting family through further assessments with children’s health care provider, early intervention, and school district.

Parent & Caregiver Programs (approximately 20% of time)

• Provide 1 weekly Kaleidoscope Play & Learn group for young children and their caregivers and parents, bringing in new strategies to attract new families and to promote regular and more frequent attendance.
  • Coordinate resources and events with the AFC Outreach Manager to draw families to the group and provide a value-add for parents and caregivers.
  • Collaborate with other AFC partners to increase access to group-based mental health supports that happen within the KPL group time as well as outside of group time.
• Provide 1 cohort of Brothers & Sisters, a 10-session program for middle- and high-school youth caring for young family members,
  • Build relationships with youth-focused organizations, including area middle and high schools to attract and identify participants.
  • Collaborate with other AFC partners to coordinate mental health supports for participating youth and the young children they care for
  • Facilitate the group sessions.

Outreach (approximately 15% of time)

• Build cross-referral relationships with services, such as WIC clinics, DSHS Community Service Office, employment support programs, libraries, community-based organizations (particularly those run by and for communities of color), affordable housing, schools, Kaleidoscope Play & Learn groups.
• Provide training and consultation with Mary’s Place staff at AFC and at other Mary’s Place locations on assisting families to find and pay for licensed childcare and other formal learning programs.
• Coordinate with other AFC partner organizations to represent AFC at community events.

AFC Partners Collaboration (approximately 15% of time)

• Work in partnership with other AFC partner organizations and staff to establish the AFC as a supportive, welcoming, vibrant, and joyful place that families rely on to find services, support, friendship, and community.
• Participate in partnership-building activities, such as regular on-site AFC staff meetings, to:
  • Coordinate services and referrals
  • Coordinate outreach
  • Share information.
  • Build strong working relationships.
• Participate in planning and hosting AFC-wide community events (eg, open houses, community baby showers, resource fairs, etc.)
• Communicate regularly and coordinate programs/services with other AFC partner staff.

Other (approximately 5% of time)

• Ensure accurate and timely collection of project data, maintain record-keeping, and fulfill reporting responsibilities as required by contract.
• Participate in evaluation and continuous improvement activities.
• Provide culturally relevant, inclusive services in person, over the phone, and by email.
• Identify and pursue opportunities to work across departments at BrightSpark to support families.
• Prepare reports and other written materials related to the program as required.
• Participate in all training, meetings, and office hours.
• Other duties as assigned.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES:

• Minimum Qualifications
  • Associate of Arts degree in Early Childhood Education, Social Work, or a related field and 4 years of related work experience; or a Bachelor of Arts degree in Early Childhood Education, Social Work, or a related field and 2 years related work experience; or a master’s degree in early childhood education or social work, and 1-year related job experience.
  • Demonstrated 2 years’ experience in strengths-based family and community engagement, and in working with people from BIPOC communities, as well as people with low incomes, those experiencing houselessness, and immigrant communities.
  • Knowledge of early childhood, child development best practices, curricula, and assessment tools; knowledge of family engagement principles
  • Knowledge of childcare system, including subsidy resources, and early learning opportunities
  • Knowledge of King County community resources and programs for families

• Additional Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities Qualifications
  • A rich understanding of and a commitment to continued learning about equity and social justice issues systems-based inequities experienced by young children and their families in BIPOC communities.
  • Experience in creating and presenting in-person and virtual trainings, providing formal presentations, and facilitating meetings.
  • Ability to work in a team environment, communicate, and actively participate in BrightSpark team meetings, committees, and community groups.
  • An advocate for structural change, grounded in principles of racial equity and social justice.
  • Approach work with a sense of possibility, see challenges as opportunities for creative problem-solving and work to find creative solutions.
  • Experience collaborating with individuals from diverse backgrounds, and a demonstrated commitment to diversity, cultural relevancy, and inclusion.
  • Ability to approach all work with a racial an anti-racist lens.
  • Understanding the effects of poverty, racism, and classism on families from communities and populations furthest from access to systems of formal support
  • Experience with case management and/or family advocacy
  • Effective people skills including demonstrated ability to constructively manage conflict.
  • Ability to work under deadlines, work on several tasks simultaneously, organize and prioritize work quickly in response to changing needs.
  • Critical thinking and analytical skills
  • Washington State Driver’s License, auto insurance, and access to a reliable automobile; and

DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Previous experience with facilitated play groups (Kaleidoscope Play & Learn in particular) or other family support programs involving children and their parents and FFN caregivers.
• Bilingual in English and Amharic, Chinese, Somali, Spanish, Vietnamese or another language spoken by communities of color in Seattle.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite, and data entry experience

COMPETENCIES:

• Core Competencies - 
  • Mission-driven: Demonstrates commitment to the mission and values of the mission.
  • Equity mindset: Demonstrates the values of anti-racist; fosters an inclusive environment that facilitates diversity.
  • Communication: Uses skillful written and oral communication with internal staff, teams, and community served; demonstrates empathy and listening.
  • Adaptability: Adapts and responds to change; proactively seeks opportunities to be supportive of change that serves our mission
  • Ownership and quality of work: Manages own work, and work of teams when relevant, ensuring delivery of successful outcomes.

COMPENSATION:

• Salary Range: $56,309 to $63,000
• FLSA Status: Non-Exempt
  • This is a full-time position requiring work during BrightSpark Early Learning Services Business hours, Monday through Friday from 8:30 am-5pm and requiring a willingness to work some evenings and weekends.

HOW TO APPLY:

1. A resume
2. A cover letter, describing as specifically as you can, how your experience, skills, and values fit with BrightSpark Early Learning Services’ goals and mission as described in this announcement.
3. A brief personal equity statement, describing your skills and experience engaging with issues involving diversity, racial equity, and inclusion, and/or in advancing racial equity in organizations. This statement should not exceed 300 words.
4. Must provide documentation that you are fully vaccinated with at least one booster shot completed. Exemptions are not accepted.

BENEFITS:

BrightSpark Early Learning Services’ benefit package includes employer-paid top tier medical, dental and vision insurance plans for employees, 21 days of PTO per year in addition to 11 paid holidays, 3 paid floating holidays, birthday holiday, and one week-long office closure at year-end, Refresh Fridays in July (BrightSpark Early Learning Services Closure Days), flexible work environment, employer-paid life insurance, short-term disability/illness leave accrual, and 401k with 3% employer match.

WORK LOCATION:

• This position is an on-site position with most of the work time being done in-person at the Allen Family Center in South Seattle.
• BrightSpark Early Learning Services employees in all types of work positions (hybrid, community, etc.) must attend trainings, meetings, events, or other work commitments at various BrightSpark Early Learning Services office locations or off-site locations in Washington State including New Employee Orientation in Kent or Renton, Washington.

EQUAL EQUITY EMPLOYER:

BrightSpark Early Learning Services is an equal opportunity employer, and we value diversity among our staff. We strongly encourage people of color, immigrants and refugees, people from the LGBTQ community, people with disabilities, and people from other historically marginalized groups to apply.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION & QUESTIONS

• To learn more about BrightSpark Early Learning Services, please visit BrightSpark.org
• BrightSpark Early Learning Services is a grant funded nonprofit organization. This and all positions are contingent on grant funding being in place and can end based on the expiration of funding.