Family Support Specialist

Job Summary: Under the direction of the Early Head Start Supervisor, this position conducts home visits to enrolled families. Responsibilities include developing and maintaining relationships, conducting strengths-based family and child assessments,(including the observation, documentation and assessment of the child’s progress), the integration of curriculum through the development of individualized lesson plans and child goals, screening and working with the children on developmental skills, identifying and connecting families to additional resources and nurturing the development of a strong parent/child relationship to achieve identified goals.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Conducts application/enrollment visits and completes enrollment paperwork, including the enrollment agreement. Monitors and provides follow-up regarding participation and attendance issues.
• Actively participates in Practice Based Coaching Collaborative, including; completing self-assessment and Home Visit Rating Scales - Adapted & Extended: HOVRS A+ (HOVRS-3) (completed by lead FSS), setting of goals, implementing practices within the home visit, reflecting with a Lead FSS and attending Community of Practice training sessions on a regular basis.
• Creates and implements detailed and comprehensive lesson plans using Partners for a Healthy Baby and have demonstrated opportunities for children to make progress towards achieving individual child goals.
• Fosters prenatal care, positive parenting and family dynamics, health and wellness, child and home safety, child development, self-sufficiency, and other goals during ongoing home visits with assigned Early Head Start participants.
• Re-orients families to the Early Head Start Family Partnership Enrollment Agreement as needed. Coaches participants in the process of developing and implementing family goals, recognizes accomplishments and assists in identification of barriers to achieving goals and strategies to overcome these barriers.
• Supports Early Head Start families in accessing community resources and provides advocacy and service coordination as needed.
• Develops and facilitates group socializations with parents and children. Plans and implements other group events as required.
• Plans, demonstrates, and coaches parents in developmentally appropriate activities and practices and provides information and resources that support the development of healthy parent-child attachment and interaction, infant and toddler development, and healthy family functioning.
• Presents results of the program’s assessment tool to parents in a manner that is easy to understand. Assists parents with developing individualized strategies in order to continue curriculum learning in the home. Communicates with parents regarding their child’s successes and areas of improvement throughout the school year. Provides suggestions parents can work on at home to assist their child with identified areas of improvement.

Requirements

Education & Experience: Home-based CDA credential or comparable credential, or equivalent coursework as part of an Associate’s or Bachelor’s degree and 2 years of experience working with children and/or families in diverse communities, or an equivalent combination of education and experience to successfully perform the essential functions of the job. Bachelor’s Degree in related field preferred. Experience working with parents and children ages birth – 3 preferred. Experience working in a home visiting setting highly desirable. Experience with Head Start beneficial.

Abilities and Skills: In order to be successful in this position, the person will at minimum need to possess the following abilities and skills:

• Ability to relate to and communicate effectively with a variety of multi-ethnic and socio-economic groups and/or individuals, including non-English speaking families.
• Ability to work with families with multiple complex needs.
• Ability to plan and implement home-based learning experiences that ensure effective implementation of the home visiting curriculum and promote children’s progress across the standards, including for children with disabilities and dual language learners, as appropriate, and to build respectful, culturally responsive, and trusting relationships with families.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Must be proficient with Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Outlook, Excel) and entering information in a complex database.
• Comfortable with utilizing mobile technology (Tablets, Mobile Applications, Texting).
• Strong organizational skills, self-motivated and ability to work independently.
• Ability to work occasional evening hours.
• Strong problem solving and crisis intervention skills.
• Knowledge/experience in case management and client advocacy.
• Knowledge of community resources.
• Familiar with principles and practices of maternal and child health, safety and nutrition, adult learning principles, family dynamics and positive parenting skills.
• Knowledge of developmentally appropriate infant and early child development and early childhood education.

Certifications: Must obtain CPR/First Aid Certification within 90 days of hire; must maintain certifications.

Driver’s License: Due to home visits, a valid driver’s license and have reliable transportation on a daily basis is required.

Physical Requirements:

• Normal office physical exertion
• Ability to participate with children during home visits, group socializations and field trips, ability to drive, climb stairs, and perform home visits out in the community.
• Must be able to lift 40 pounds and physically capable of reacting to the demands of developing infants and toddlers and older children.

Benefits

Department: Head Start

Salary: $22.21/hr or $22.78/hr Bilingual

Languages: Spanish, Karen, Somali, Hmong, or Omormo

Schedule: 40 hours/week, M-F

Background Checks: Community Action conducts criminal background checks at the time of hire. Some positions require additional fingerprint and photo verification. Not all backgrounds are a barrier to employment.

COVID Vaccination: As a condition of employment Community Action requires all employees to be fully vaccinated or have an accepted exemption form completed upon hire.

Posting Dates: 3/3/2023- Until Filled

Community Action is an Equal Opportunity Employer and will not discriminate against or harass any employee or applicant for employment because of race, color, creed, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, disability, age, marital status, familial status, membership or activity in a local human rights commission, or status with regard to public assistance.