Family Engagement Specialist

Oregon Head Start Association; Coos Bay (OR); On-site; USD 45,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

The Oregon Head Start Association is seeking a Family Engagement Specialist to promote family engagement and provide family support services in accordance with Head Start standards and program goals. You will coordinate with families, site teams, and community partners to develop individualized plans and ensure timely enrollment and ongoing communication.

Duties include two annual home visits, culturally responsive outreach in families’ languages, and supporting parenting education and events.

Qualifications

• Four years paid experience and/or training plus an Associate Degree or Certificate in a related field is required; OR Bachelor’s degree plus two years’ experience in a field directly related to the position description is required AND Previous experience with non-profit fundraising and/or community action experience is a plus
• Excellent oral and written communication skills.
• Strong organization and time management skills.

Responsibilities

• Promote family engagement and provide family support services per Head Start standards.
• Complete child enrollment with each assigned family within required timeframe.
• Coordinate with parents, site team, program staff, and partners to develop, document, and communicate individual plans.
• Conduct two home visits per year with assigned families in the family’s home environment and provide additional home visits or contacts as needed.
• Maintain regular communication with all assigned families and classroom teams.
• Provide culturally responsive services and materials in the family’s primary language and for individuals with low literacy.
• Promote parent leadership and volunteerism; engage parents in site committees and support Policy Council representatives.
• Support parenting education classes and activities.

Skills

Time management

Diversity communication

Professional presentation

Education

Associate degree or certificate

Bachelor's degree

Job description

Job Description

PRIMARY PURPOSE: To promote family engagement in all aspects of the program and provide family support services according to Head Start Performance Stands, program goals, and other funding source rules and regulations.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS (Reason position exists is to perform these functions):

• Parent and Family Engagement Complete child enrollment with each assigned family within required timeframe.
• Identify individual health and education needs, (i.e. - asthma, diabetes, behavioral) that require individualized service plans.
• Coordinate with parents, site team, program staff, and community partners, as appropriate, to develop, document, and communicate individual plans.
• Update as needed.
• Conduct two home visits per year with assigned families in the family’s home environment to support safety, health, financial stability, life goals and aspirations.
• Provide additional home visits or contacts as needed.
• Maintain regular communication with all assigned families and classroom teams to provide information based on family’s individual needs.
• Provide culturally responsive services.
• Provide information to families in understandable formats, including information for individuals with low literacy.
• Provide communication and materials in the family’s primary language.
• Use translated materials and qualified bilingual staff or consultants, as needed.
• Promote parent leadership and volunteerism.
• Engage parents in site parent committees and recruit and support Policy Council representatives.
• Facilitate planning and implementation of parent meetings and activity days with site teams and parent leaders.
• Support site-based and program-wide parenting education classes and activities.

REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES:

• Ability to meet deadlines.
• Ability to present and relate to diverse client populations.
• Professional appearance, presentation and demeanor always.

EXPERIENCE AND EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS:

• Four years paid experience and/or training plus an Associate Degree or Certificate in a related field is required; OR Bachelor’s degree plus two years’ experience in a field directly related to the position description is required AND Previous experience with non-profit fundraising and/or community action experience is a plus
• Excellent oral and written communication skills.
• Strong organization and time management skills.