Family Engagement Specialist

ORGANIZATIONAL OVERVIEW

Educare DC is growing to serve over 424 children from birth to five years – and their families – through our state-of-the-art center and through community partnerships. Building on the program foundations of Early Head Start and Head Start and accredited by NAEYC, Educare DC promotes school readiness by providing high-quality, comprehensive early learning programming for children who are historically underserved, eliminating the opportunity gap often experienced by low-income communities. Educare DC is part of the 25-school Educare Learning Network that serves as a platform for broader change, inspiring high-quality programs in communities, improving public policies nationally and within each state, and demonstrating a comprehensive, research-based approach to the first five years of life and learning. Educare draws on a blend of private and public dollars, including federal child care funding, Early Head Start, Pre-K, and other state and federal funding streams.

POSITION OVERVIEW

The Family Engagement Specialist will develop and maintain relationships with families and ensure that they receive comprehensive services through their participation in the program. Comprehensive services include health and social services, disabilities, early childhood education and care services, and a range of parent development training opportunities at the site. The Family Engagement Specialist is also responsible for conducting community outreach efforts to identify and develop relationships with community-based organizations that provide other needed services to families.

Responsibilities

Functions

• Develop and maintain meaningful, productive relationships with families
• Recruit and enroll families into the program
• Secure informed consent for family participation in program evaluation/Educare Learning Network research activities
• Conduct periodic home visits to assess family resources and needs
• Refer and link children and parents to needed services
• Maintain enrollment throughout the program year through various recruitment strategies
• Work in collaboration with other program staff and consultants to monitor, track and coordinate services for children and parents
• Assist parents with understanding and implementing the Family Partnership Agreement in order to encourage and promote their overall development, including achievement of self-sufficiency, as well as positive developmental outcomes for their children
• Collaborate with Education Staff to facilitate children’s transitions
• Assist with outreach to families and recruitment of infants and children with disabilities into the program
• Assist in planning parent activities, encourage parent participation in program activities, and obtain feedback from parents regarding the level of satisfaction with the services they receive
• Collaborate with Health Coordinator to ensure the health and nutrition needs of infants, children, and families are addressed
• Communicate with education and care staff regarding infant/child’s progress in the classroom
• In collaboration with the Family Engagement Supervisor, implement protocols to follow up on absenteeism
• In collaboration with fiscal clerk, encourage families to pay childcare co-payments

Administration

• Maintain records and document services in a timely manner
• Enter service data into management information system
• Participate in the evaluation of Head Start and Early Head Start services, and ensure compliance with Head Start Performance Standards
• Participate in staffing of all families on their caseload and case studies
• Attend family support team meetings, staff meetings, staff trainings, collaborations and planning meetings
• Must identify and document in-kind to the program

• Promote parents’ overall involvement and participation in program governance
• In collaboration with the Family Engagement Supervisor and Site Administrators, facilitate parent committee meetings
• Promote family involvement in center-based services, home-based services, and other program activities

• Develop relationships with other community-based service providers targeting pregnant and parenting teens
• Identify services currently available and those needed by families enrolled in the Head Start or Early Head Start programs
• Participate in recruiting volunteers from the community
  
  

• 3-5 years of relevant experience.

• Ability to establish supportive relationships with children and families from diverse backgrounds
• Ability to utilize reflective supervision
• Ability to work within an interdisciplinary team as a cooperative and supportive team member
• Ability to manage work in an environment that can be interrupted by violence
• Knowledge of community resources and capacity to develop community cooperation to ensure that families receive comprehensive services
• Knowledge of Head Start Performance Standards

• Provide administrative support to the department while maintain a high level of confidentiality
• Execute special projects for the department

Bachelors Degree in Social Work or related field.

ADDITIONAL JOB REQUIREMENTS

• Clearance of background checks as required by local, state and federal regulations.
• Physical examination and diagnostic tests as required by local, state and federal regulations.
• A bi-annual physical exam, drug screen, covid-19 vaccinations and TB test are required as a condition of continual employment.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS

• Advanced command of the English language and grammar, both verbal and written.

• Visual and auditory acuity within professionally determined normal ranges, with correction if needed.
• Manual dexterity sufficient to operate a computer and office equipment, including, but not limited to, the telephone, fax machine, copier, and tape recorder.
• Must be able to lift 40 pounds.
• Must be able to travel.
• Must be able to enter and exit a vehicle without assistance and withstand exposure to adverse weather conditions.
• Experience working successfully with a culturally diverse staff and clients.
• Regular attendance is a necessary and essential function.
• This position may work 40 or more hours per week.