JOB STATEMENT: Assures that Head Start/Early Head Start family partnerships are effectively developed and documented by assuming direct responsibility for assigned families and assisting other staff in the two-county program to meet this standard.
Additional duties involve motivating and assisting parents to take advantage of opportunities to have a voice in the administrative decisions of Head Start/Early Head
Start and to participate in classes and workshops.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

As a FAMILY SERVICES SPECIALIST I provided counseling to with parents or guardians to assist them to identify family strengths and to set specific goals to meet family needs; makes referrals for resources needed to meet goals. As the program specialist for Camp Zama Japan, it was a job within a small community that required versatility and strong awareness individuals’ needs and customs of varied situations in each house. I identified preexisting family plans with other community agencies and assures that those plans are coordinated with the family goals established with Head
Start/Early Head Start. I provided follow-up with parents/guardians to determine when goals are met and when new goals need to be developed. I assisted and ensured in the processes of enrollment, transfer, and termination of Head Start/Early Head Start center children, to include obtaining all records for enrollment, sharing information with parents/guardians, recording information about enrollees, performed clerical work to establish and maintain children’s files, corresponded with parents and agencies, etc.
5. Familiarizes parents/guardians with the Head Start/Early Head Start program and encourages their involvement.
6. Establishes ongoing collaborative relationships with community organizations to promote the access of children and families to community services that are responsive to their needs.
7. Enters data regarding children and families in computer; retrieves and analyzes data; reports results.
8. Maintains dialogue or correspondence with parents/guardians to help assure that children attend centers on regular basis.
9. Keeps children’s files current in regard to home and parent information
(addresses, telephone nos., work places, etc.).
10. Participates in a plan to improve the quality of family partnerships and documentation in family records.
11. Participates in staffing conferences to provide information and input regarding individual family circumstances and approaches to working with families to assist them to resolve problems, become self-sufficient, learn and practice good parenting skills, etc.
12. Interacts and provides supports with center personnel and other component staff to share relevant information about families’ circumstances that may affect the child’s development.
13. Makes home visits to families for the purposes of establishing rapport, obtaining paperwork, setting and following through with goals, assuring that children’s records are obtained, and providing assistance with crisis intervention and other emergency needs for children and families.
14. Occasionally uses WCCA vehicles to transport family members to community services and Head Start/Early Head Start functions.
15. Participates in in-service training and staff meetings.
16. Performs other duties as assigned.
EDUCATION, EXPERIENCE, AND SKILLS REQUIRED:
1. Ability to work effectively with Head Start parents, other staff, and community agency representatives.
2. Ability to train and consult with parents and staff in groups and individually.
3. Good written and verbal communication skills.
4. Ability to speak Spanish and English with the ability to translate complex written materials.
5. Ability to motivate families to select realistic goals and make progress toward meeting their goals and to assist other staff in developing this skill.
6. Basic computer skills necessary for entering data, typing paragraphs, composing notices, etc.
7. Ability to read and understand (or seek clarification of) program and agency regulations, standards, and procedures.
8. Familiarity with community social services agencies; knowledge of
Henderson and Transylvania Counties is helpful but not absolutely required.
9. Must be at least 21 years of age.
10. Must possess a valid driver’s license and a safe driving record; must have vehicle to use in work. Must have proof of current liability insurance of
$100,000/$300,000 in order to drive personal car for work. Otherwise, an agency vehicle must be driven.
11. Must submit to agency drug pool requirements in order to drive agency vehicles. 12. Must not have criminal conviction of child abuse or neglect.
13. Must pass North Carolina’s criminal history checks.
14. Must have statement of good health from physician.