Preschool Family Services Assistant (Van Nuys) (4311)

YMCA of Metropolitan Los Angeles; California (MO); Hybrid; USD 28,000 - 33,000; Full time

Job summary

YMCA of Metropolitan Los Angeles is seeking a Family Services Assistant to recruit and enroll families in Head Start and state preschool programs. The role supports health, nutrition, and family services, ensuring health requirements are met and enrollment data is accurately maintained.

You will collaborate with site directors and teachers to promote parent engagement and literacy, attend meetings, and help families navigate program requirements.

Qualifications

• Bilingual English/Spanish preferred; strong communication skills.
• Experience supporting families with enrollment and service planning.
• Understanding of Head Start/Early Head Start and CSPP requirements is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Recruit and enroll families into Head Start/State Preschool programs.
• Support health, nutrition, education, and family services throughout enrollment.
• Maintain accurate family files and data in program databases.
• Coordinate with site staff to ensure compliance with program standards.

Skills

Bilingual English/Spanish

Family engagement

Education

Associate degree or higher in social work or related field

Tools

ChildPlus

Job description

Job Details: Job Location: YMCA of Metro LA - LOS ANGELES, CA 90020, Position Type: Full Time, Salary Range: $20.00 - $24.00 Hourly, Travel Percentage: Up to 50% , Job Shift: Day, Job Category: Preschool - Youth Development, YMCA OF METROPOLITAN LOS ANGELES

The LA Y is the Center for Community Well-Being in Los Angeles, committed to building stronger communities by providing equitable programs and services to empower all. We are focused on fighting food insecurity, providing equity in education, making sure every child has the opportunity to experience the joy of sports, ensuring kids and teens have a safe place to grow, learn and live a healthy lifestyle. The LA Y’s health and wellness initiatives offer medical and mental health resources to ensure everyone has access to basic health needs. Our mission is to provide services and resources that contribute to the well‑being of our community. The LA Y operates 29 Centers and over 200 program sites across LA County.

POSITION SUMMARY

Under the direction of the Family Services Engagement Coordinator the Family Services Assistant will recruit and enroll families; support families to meet all the requirements of CCL, CSPP, Head Start and Early Head Start prior to and throughout enrollment (e.g., health requirements, nutrition requirements, immunizations, etc.); provides support to families in accordance with their specific needs; support families with other service areas as needed, such as health, nutrition, education, mental health, and disabilities.

The Family Services Assistant helps families to attain self-sufficiency through goal setting and family engagement activities. This role is more of a support and collaborative partner with the health and nutrition coordinator and other service areas plus they will be supported by the Operations Executive.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Manage caseload of HS and EHS families in assigned sites.
• Carries out Head Start Performance Standards, requirements of the Head Start Act, the requirements of the LACOE contract and the requirements of the California Department of Education (CDE). and including program information reporting and data entry.
• Attend Coordinator meetings in the absence of the Family Services Engagement Coordinator, at LACOE and any other LACOE meetings as needed
• Responsible for Data entry, such as inputting information into LACOE's ChildPlus database and maintaining information.

Essential Function: Enrollment & Recruitment

• Conducts ongoing outreach and recruitment to ensure site enrollment for assigned Head Start/State Preschool (CDE) programs.
• Completes enrollment (Head Start, Early Head Start, CSPP, CCTR) and family assessments with families assigned to their caseload and other families as needed
• Reports enrollment vacancy and classroom attendance information in a timely manner to maintain full enrollment at always assigned sites for both LACOE and CDE contracts.
• Participates in recruiting events, tabling events, coordinating recruitment events, recordkeeping of recruitment.
• Establishes and maintains current individual files for each child and family.

Essential Function: Family Support

• Completes strengths and needs assessment for assigned families.
• Provides families goal-setting opportunities and assists with attaining milestones that result in self-sufficiency.
• Facilitate parent activities and workshops/training to promote parent advocacy and involvement in partnership with Site Directors and Teachers.
• Enhances parent’s skills and understanding regarding parental engagement and activities that promote literacy.
• Collaborate with the Site Directors to plan and implement monthly parent meetings.
• Ensure effective communication with families.

Essential Function: Community Connections

• Provides resources and referrals for families.
• Establishes and maintains partnerships with community-based organizations to ensure families have access to comprehensive support services.
• Collaborate with the Operations Executive of Early Education on Family and Community Engagement service areas to maintain resources for families.
• Invite community-based programs to monthly parent meetings in response to parent-identified needs/interest.

Essential Function: Health and Nutrition

• Provides health-related services to children, including hearing and vision screenings and growth assessments, ensuring all screenings are completed within required timelines.
• Works with families to obtain, review, and document required medical and dental information at enrollment and throughout the program year to ensure all Head Start health requirements are met
• Provides families with all required health-related forms and information regarding medications, allergies, and other health needs
• Works with Health and Nutrition Coordinator to ensure the site allergy-alert list is up to date and posted as required.
• Ensures all child health (medical and dental) records are complete, current, and accurately entered into ChildPlus in a timely manner, ensuring required deadlines are met.
• Communicate with Site Director and teachers regarding health/nutrition needs of enrolled children.

Essential Functions: Record Keeping, Monitoring, and Data Analysis

• Completes follow-up with assigned cases/families based on reports for ERSEA, FCE, and Health/Nutrition.
• Maintains up-to-date child/family files and disseminates information, as needed.
• Develops and maintains appropriate case notes and other records and prepares periodic reports as required.
• Monitors and completes reporting related to attendance, absences and follow-up case notes with families.
• Entry of data and program information reporting in various databases.

Essential Function: Integrated Service Delivery

• In collaboration with the Family Services Engagement Coordinator, submits referrals for support services such as disability and mental health
• Participates in Multidisciplinary Team meetings
• Facilitates the exchange of information between assigned families and content area specialists; through the referral process and participates in MDT meetings.

Other Essential Function

• Attend staff meetings and training as required.
• Uphold YMCA policies for safety, supervision, mandated reporting and risk management.
• Demonstrate the Six Pillars of Character (Trustworthiness, Citizenship, Respect, Responsibility, Caring and Fairness) as well as the YMCA Core Values of Caring, Respect, Honesty and Responsibility, in all dealings with members, guests, volunteers and fellow staff.
• Demonstrate competencies in and willingness to develop in the Cause Driven Leadership areas of mission advancement, collaboration, operational effectiveness and personal growth.
• All other duties as assigned by your supervisor.

YMCA LEADERSHIP COMPETENCIES

The Y’s Leadership Competency Model is comprised of multiple leadership competencies (leadership knowledge, skills, and behaviors required for success in the Y), organized by the four disciplines of cause driven leadership:

Advancing Our Mission & Cause:

• Change Leadership
• Engaging Community
• Philanthropy
• Volunteerism

Building Relationships:

• Collaboration
• Communication & Influence
• Inclusion

Leading Operations:

• Critical Thinking & Decision Making
• Fiscal Management
• Functional Expertise
• Innovation
• Program/Project Management

Developing & Inspiring Others:

• Developing Self & Others
• Emotional Maturity

While all competencies are significant the following are critical to success in this position:

• Engaging Community
• Collaboration
• Critical Thinking & Decision Making
• Emotional Maturity

Qualifications: MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

EDUCATION

• Associate’s degree in, social work, human services, family services, counseling or related field or a Family Development Credential and high school diploma or GED.

RELATED EXPERIENCE

• One year of experience in a social service or educational setting involving Head Start and other educational and community service programs that promote family and student engagement.
• Direct experience in working with children ages 0 to 5, parent education services, and family support and referral services or similar required.

SPECIALIZED SKILLS

• Bilingual (English/Spanish)
• Ability to effectively present information and respond to questions from groups of managers, clients, customers, and the public in English and Spanish.
• Working knowledge of Head Start and CDE requirements preferred.

CERTIFICATIONS & REQUIREMENTS

• Valid Class C California driver’s license and proof of auto liability insurance
• TB test clearance to be renewed every two years.
• Current certification in Adult, Child & Infant CPR & AED First Aid or willingness to obtain within 60 days of hire.
• Verification of Immunizations required by the California Department of Health (Pertussis, Measles, and Influenza)
• DOJ clearance and all other required background checks

WORK ENVIRONMENT/MINIMUM PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

• Child Development employees must be able to perform the following physical activities: Approximately 50% of the time is spent sitting, while frequently required to walk, stand, and bend.
• Must be able to pass a comprehensive health exam, including TB test.
• Ability to frequently lift, push, or pull weights ranging from 25 to 50 pounds.
• High degree of fine finger dexterity and visual acuity for operating computers, reviewing forms, and completing paperwork.
• Specific vision abilities (close, distance, color, and peripheral vision) and the ability to clearly speak and hear.
• Position requires traveling to different work sites across LA county, when needed.
• Position requires traveling to home visits.
• You must have the physical, visual, and auditory ability to perform the essential functions of the job with or without reasonable accommodation.