Staff, Programs – Family Assistant

Northside Center; New York (NY); On-site; USD 35,000 - 42,000; Full time

Job summary

Northside Center seeks a Staff, Programs – Family Assistant to support its Headstart program for children aged birth to five years. The role involves strengthening family engagement, ensuring compliance with health standards, and connecting families to resources. Qualifications include an Associate’s degree in Human Services and Family Development Credentials. The position offers a salary range of $35,000 - $42,000, commensurate with experience, along with a competitive benefits package.

Qualifications

• Associate’s degree in Human Services or related field required.
• Family Development Credentials required or ability to obtain within timeframe.

Responsibilities

• Strengthen family engagement through meetings and ongoing communication.
• Ensure compliance with Head Start health and performance standards.
• Partner with families to connect them to resources.
• Conduct home visits to address educational and social service needs.
• Maintain program quality and compliance through documentation.

Skills

Knowledge of government regulations

Strong written communication skills

Effective verbal communication skills

Problem-solving skills

Education

Associate’s degree in Human Services

Bachelor’s degree in Social Services (preferred)

Job description

OBJECTIVES

Reporting to the Manager, Programs – Education/Site Supervisor, the Staff, Programs – Family Assistant will support the Headstart program by serving children from birth through five years of age. The Family Assistant will work collaboratively with Northside staff to ensure that children and families receive comprehensive, high-quality services in accordance with Head Start performance standards. This role is essential in strengthening family engagement, supporting child health and development, and connecting families to vital resources. The Family Assistant supports Northside’s mission by empowering families and promoting the overall well-being and development of all designated family members.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Strengthen family engagement and advocacy through parent meetings, community collaborations, and ongoing communication.
• Ensure compliance with Head Start health and performance standards, including monitoring physicals, immunizations, and screenings.
• Partner with assigned families to identify needs, establish family goals, and connect them to appropriate Northside and community resources.
• Support positive family outcomes through regular communication, referrals, and completion of Family Partnership Agreements with quarterly updates.
• Conduct collaborative home visits to address educational and social service needs and strengthen home–school connections.
• Maintain high program quality and compliance through accurate, timely, and confidential documentation and mandated reporting.
• Contribute to program accountability and improvement by participating in trainings, self-assessments, and federal reviews.
• Promote child well-being by observing and interacting with enrolled children and supporting their overall development.
• Maintain full enrollment by recruiting, enrolling, and accurately maintaining records and waitlists for eligible children and families.

SPECIFIC SKILLS

• Working knowledge of government regulations, including Head Start performance standards.
• Ability to read, analyze, and interpret professional journals, general periodicals, technical procedures, and program regulations.
• Strong written communication skills, including correct grammar, spelling, punctuation, and the ability to organize documentation accurately.
• Effective verbal communication skills to engage families, community members, managers, regulatory agencies, and groups in both individual and group settings.
• Strong problem‑solving skills with the ability to address practical challenges in environments with limited standardization and multiple variables.

CORE COMPETENCIES

• Commitment to working in a mission-driven organization
• Demonstrated personal ethics and values
• Cross-team collaboration and cooperation
• Team player who works well with a diverse group of people

QUALIFICATIONS

• Associate’s degree (AA) in Human Services or a related field required; Bachelor’s (BA) degree in Social Services, Child Development, or a related field preferred.
• Family Development Credentials (FDC) required or ability to obtain within a specified timeframe.

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS

• Salary commensurate with experience.
• Salary Range $35,000 - $42,000.
• Northside offers a competitive salary and benefits package.