Identify, recruit, and enroll children and their families for the Head Start program. Conduct home visits as determined by family needs and team member input. Work with the area Head Start team to provide services to Head Start/GSRP families and their communities. Assess families’ strengths and needs as part of a family partnership plan, and monitor their progress in meeting the plan’s objectives and goals. Provide family intervention strategies that support the family in achieving identified goals. Safety of children is the top priority for all Early Childhood staff.
Family Engagement:
- Provide family support by conducting home visits as determined by family needs and team member input. Provide services and follow-up in cooperation with other team members as needed;
- Foster partnerships with families by using conversational interviewing strategies, minimizing the use of interview checklists respecting and encouraging the decision-making role of families, and engaging them in goal setting and discussions about their concerns;
- Encourage family involvement in program decision making and family events by informing them about various groups (Policy Council, Advisory Committees), extending personal invitations to meetings, work to eliminate barriers to attendance (childcare, transportation) and debriefing with families after meetings;
- Facilitate planning and follow-up by documenting discussions with families (decisions made, referrals needed) and taking steps that support their continued progress;
- Engage families as full partners by helping families develop realistic long and short term goals and supporting them in taking actions to reach their goals;
- Demonstrate respect for others by sharing information objectively and non-judgmentally and adjusting verbal and written communication strategies for different audiences;
- Ensure family confidentiality by limiting conversations about families and access to their records to those directly involved in providing services to them.
Program Planning:
- Assist in the attainment of non-federal share target for area;
- Plan, organize, schedule, facilitate, and present information and trainings at local area activities;
- Train and provide support to officers to ensure the parent meetings run smoothly;
- Plan and offer family education activities in collaboration with other staff by determining family interests and needs, identifying presenters and resources in the program and community, and evaluating effectiveness;
- Ensure families’ interest and attendance by involving them in determining the focus and design of education activities and offering them at times convenient for families;
- Support program improvement efforts by contributing information to the program’s planning, evaluation, self-assessment, and other program development efforts.
Outreach & Recruitment:
- Work with Area Manager and other program staff to analyze patterns of child absences and initiate appropriate family support procedures when necessary;
- Recruit children by coordinating with and accessing a wide range of community contacts and resources, including parents, and engaging them in the recruitment process;
- Supports outreach and enrollment efforts by communicating the program’s eligibility, selections, and enrollment policies and practices to families, other service providers and the general public;
- Ensure full enrollment at all times and maintain a waiting list.
Resource Linkage:
- Support families in addressing challenges (mental illness, substance abuse, disabilities, family violence) that affect their well-being, by discussing issues and/or linking them to community resources;
- Help families advocate for themselves and their children with schools, community agencies, and systems by providing them with current and accurate lists of available resources and services and building their ability to articulate their needs;
- Coordinate with other program staff and community agencies to assist families in meeting program health requirements;
- Assist parents in finding a medical home, removing barriers (setting appointments, transportation, etc.) and follow up.
Community Advocacy/Partnerships:
- Identify community services and gaps by participating with others to assess community resources needed to support families and advance their well-being;
- Advocates for and secures community services and resources by maintaining constructive communication with a range of organizations and community service professionals;
- Work with other community professionals serving the family by involving them and the family, in developing a meaningful plan for advancing family goals. Share family information with written consent. Identify resources to support the plan and evaluate the effectiveness of services/resources;
- Attend committee and/or collaborative meetings and assist in acquiring community partnership agreements.
Data Entry and Tracking:
- Meet federal, state, and program documentation requirements by maintaining accurate, objective, complete, timely, and well-organized child and family records;
- Contribute to program’s reports to local, state, and federal officials and funders by providing accurate data related to role and responsibilities;
- Facilitate communication with others by using available technologies (fax, voice-mail, computers-email, file sharing);
- Maintain skills to allow for proficient entry into current database systems.
Family Dynamics:
- Support families in fostering safe, healthy, and nurturing home environments by demonstrating and applying knowledge of the issues they face (housing, employment, access to services);
- Build families’ and children’s self esteem by drawing on their cultural strengths (family-child bond, extended family, health and nutrition practices) to influence child-rearing skills and to foster positive family interactions;
- Employ a diverse approach when working with family cultures and lifestyles by acknowledging, accepting and accommodating differences;
- Develop and sustain relationships with families by maintaining frequent contact (home visits, phone calls, informal contacts) with them.
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed are representative of the knowledge, skill and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
