PROGRAM ASSISTANT - PARENT ENGAGEMENT

Neighborhood House Association; San Diego (CA); On-site; USD 42,000 - 62,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Tuition reimbursement up to $2,500

Paid holidays and leave

Life and disability insurance

Flexible Spending Account

Job summary

Neighborhood House Association is seeking a Program Assistant- Parent Engagement to lead family engagement initiatives within Head Start and Early Head Start programs. You will coordinate services, plan trainings for staff and parents, and promote active parent involvement across program activities.

The role requires an Associate’s Degree in Child Development or equivalent experience, strong communication skills, and the ability to work with diverse families in a community-based setting.

Qualifications

• Associate’s Degree in Child Development or 3+ years experience in a related role.
• Ability to understand and apply Head Start Performance Standards and regulations.
• Ability to organize, plan and train staff and volunteers effectively.
• Experience working with diverse families and community-based groups.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate family engagement services for Head Start and Early Head Start.
• Plan and deliver Family Engagement trainings for staff and parents.
• Organize and support parent meetings, conferences and workshops.
• Prepare materials for parent engagement activities and reports.
• Assist in developing SOPs and updating resource materials.

Skills

Head Start standards knowledge

Effective communication

Staff training ability

Program coordination

Multitasking

Education

Associate’s Degree in Child Development

Tools

Computer software

Job description

Career Opportunities with Neighborhood House Association

About NHA:

The Neighborhood House Association is a non-profit organization. Head Start positions are funded in whole or in part by money provided through the State and Federal Government. Additionally, some Social Service Program positions may be funded in whole or in part through grant funds. Because positions and salaries may be funded through grants, and State and Federal funds ongoing employment will be contingent upon the continued receipt of these funds.

Our EEO Policy:

Neighborhood House Association is an equal opportunity employer (Minorities/Females/Disabled/Veterans). We recruit, employ, train, compensate, and promote without regard to race, religion, creed, color, national origin, age, gender, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, veteran status, or any other basis protected by applicable federal, state or local law. To read more about this, view the EEO is the Law poster and this EEO is the Law Poster Supplement.

Eligible employees receive the following benefits:

• 15 Holidays Days
• Paid Vacation and Sick Leave
• Tuition Reimbursement up $2,500
• 2 Personal Days
• Group Medical, Dental and Vision Insurance Agency-Paid Life Insurance and Long-Term Disability Insurance
• Live Well Program
• 4 Paid Days Annual Bereavement (Note Total of 5 days of bereavement leave per loss)
• Health and Dependent Care Flexible Spending Account (FSAs)
• Voluntary Benefits: Life and AD&D Accident, Short-Term Disability, and Critical Illness Insurance
• Free Employee Assistance Program (EAP)

**Medical and dental benefits are provided to regular employees who work a minimum of 30 hours per week.**

POSITION PURPOSE:

Under the direction of the Area D irector, the Program Assistant- Parent Engagement position manages a wide range of projects and activities designed to implement an integrated, multi-faceted parent engagement service delivery system.

EXAMPLES OF ESSENTIAL DUTIES:

The duties listed below are intended only as illustrations of the various types of work that may be performed. The omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related, or a logical assignment to this position.

• Work with program staff to implement the policies/procedures and practices designed to ensure compliance with the HS Performance Standards and Head Start Act and meet the goals, objectives, and outcomes of the Family and Community Engagement Framework by integrating family engagement strategies into all systems and program services;
• Responsible for coordinating family engagement services to children and families enrolled in the Head Start and Early Head Start program options;
• Plan, develop, and deliver Family Engagement training for staff and parents;
• Collaborate with staff to promote parent engagement by helping to plan and implement parent meetings, workshops, parent conferences, training, and other activities that meet the needs and interests of families
• Plans and organizes family engagement outreach, programs, and activities;
• Evaluates and develops trainings/workshops to help parents/families participate more effectively in school readiness activities;
• Confers effectively with appropriate site personnel, parents and community agencies to increase parent engagement;
• Prepares materials for parent engagement activities;
• Attends and assists with Area Parent Advisory Committees;
• Participates in professional development opportunities;
• Keeps abreast of development and research in the professional area of Parent Engagement;
• Facilitates or leads parent engagement activities;
• Coordinates, monitors, and reports all program data related to Parent Engagement;
• Develop and implement annual leadership training for Head Start/Early Head Start parents; track and monitor parent training requests;
• Encourage and partner with Head Start parents as they become and/or remain actively engaged in Head Start activities;
• Orients parents in the philosophy, policies, and practices of parent engagement in the Head Start Program;
• Promotes and supports engagement of parents/guardians in Parent Committees and Policy Council;
• Coordinates with grantee Specialists in arranging for experts in diverse subject matter to provide workshops and training sessions;
• Provides staff assistance to help plan, implement, evaluate and report on program activities;
• Assists in the development and updating of Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs);
• Update resource materials when needed;
• Assists in pre-service and in-service trainings;
• Designs family engagement activities to help families participate more effectively in improving their children’s learning;
• Helps staff and families develop strong partnerships and enhance communications;
• Maintain records of work activity and the family engagement resource office;
• Other duties as assigned by supervisor.

DESIRED MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

Knowledge of:

• Federal, state and local laws and regulations applicable to the Head Start program and the assigned areas of responsibility and expertise;
• Head Start Program Performance Standards and Head Start Act;
• NHA goals, objectives, policies and procedures;
• Child development theories/strategies, community resources and adult learning concepts;
• Computer and related software programs;

Ability to:

• Organize, set priorities and exercise sound independent judgment; interpret, apply, explain and reach sound decisions in accordance with program regulations, policies and procedures;
• Instruct and train individuals in a group setting and one-on-one;
• Communicate effectively orally and in writing; prepare clear, concise and accurate reports, correspondence and other written materials;
• Exercise tact, objectivity, sensitivity, strategy and judgment in dealing with volunteers, parents and staff;
• Develop and implement program plans, organize work activities around multiple assignments and follow up on assigned tasks;

Experience and Training:

A typical way of obtaining the knowledge, skills, and abilities is through attaining an Associate’s Degree in Child Development or a closely related field or a minimum of three (3) years of increasingly responsible experience providing direct services to low-income children and families of diverse cultural backgrounds, and experience in the design, planning, and implementation of parent engagement activities is required. A minimum of three (3) years’ experience in a program that emphasizes the parent’s role in the child’s development; capability to communicate with persons from diverse backgrounds; prior experience with community-based groups and/or parent groups are preferred. Experience as a trainer preferred.

Language Skills:

Ability to effectively present information and respond to questions from groups of managers, clients, customers, and the general public primarily in English; d emonstrated skills in written and oral communication.

Mathematical Skills:

Ability to add, subtract, multiply, and divide in all units of measure, using whole numbers, common fractions, and decimals.

Reasoning Ability:

Ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions; ability to interpret an extensive variety of technical instructions in mathematical or diagram form and deal with several abstract and concrete variables.

PHYSICAL AND MENTAL DEMANDS:

The physical and mental demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this class. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Physical Demands:

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit or stand for long periods; talk or hear, both in person and by telephone; use hands to finger, handle, feel, or operate standard office equipment; reach with hands and arms; and lift or move up to fifty (50) pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision and the ability to adjust focus.

Mental Demands:

Required to use written and oral communication skills; read and interpret data; information and documents; analyze and solve problems; use math and mathematical reasoning; observe and interpret situations; learn and apply new information or skills; perform work on multiple, concurrent tasks and interact with program management, staff, volunteers, representatives of public agencies and community organizations and others encountered in the course of work.

WORK ENVIRONMENT:

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this class. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

The employee regularly works in an office environment for planning purposes and is expected to travel to conduct site visits to provide staff support at the center level. The noise level will vary by location.