Associate Executive Director, Child and Family Services - Baltimore City Head Start

YMCA Central Maryland•Baltimore, MD

About The Position

This position serves as the Associate Executive Director (AED), Child and Family Services (CFS), for Head Start. The AED, CFS, is responsible for the overall coordination and delivery of family services, resulting in improved child and family outcomes. Provides supervision to Family Services Advocates, Home Visitors, and the Early Intervention Specialist to ensure families have access to services and resources responsive to their needs.

Requirements

Must have experience in securing and individualizing needed services for children with disabilities/mental health concerns
Must obtain a criminal background check.
Must have a valid driver’s license.
Must have access to reliable transportation.
Must obtain a copy of your driving record annually and maintain a clean driving record to drive an agency vehicle.
Basic computer literacy in email, word processing, and internet navigation
Maintain certification in CPR and First Aid.
BS in Social Sciences/Human Services, Education, or a related field
Knowledge of community-based organizations
Obtain certification in CPR and First Aid
Medication Administration
Knowledge of Head Start Program Performance Standards and Office of Child Care (OCC)regulations

Nice To Haves

Early Head Start, Head Start experience preferred

Responsibilities

Complete an annual service plan for the area of responsibility.
Implement a system of continuous monitoring and evaluation of activities.
Ensure the overall eligibility, recruitment, selection, enrollment, and attendance process.
Coordinate recruiting and enrollment of ten percent (10%) of children with disabilities into the program with Part C community agencies and LEA.
Monitor and sustain funded enrollment and waiting lists and fill vacancies as needed.
Analyze causes of absenteeism continuously to prevent daily attendance from falling below 85%.
Develop a system to manage ERSEA (eligibility, recruitment, selection, enrollment, and attendance) that meets the needs of eligible families and responds to community assessment.
Establish policies and procedures to implement Head Start Disabilities/Mental Health services within the program, in collaboration with parents and associates.
Establish and utilize a referral process for any suspected disability/mental health concerns, including a tracking system for follow-up.
Ensure individualized services are effectively provided to children with diagnosed or suspected disabilities and/or mental health concerns.
Collaborate with the supervisors, service area coordinators, and teachers to modify activities, remove barriers, and support children with disabilities/mental health concerns in the full range of program activities.
Provide associates with the information, guidance, and resources needed to help children and families meet their individualized goals and objectives under IDEA and the ADA.
Upon parental approval, ensure attendance of designated Head Start associates at the SST/IEP/IFSP process.
Work closely with designated associates during the assessment process and follow up to ensure the special needs of children, including health, nutrition, mental health, and education, are met.
Ensure the program maintains fiscal support for children with special needs consistent with IDEA.
Compile current resources and information about disabilities/mental health services for families and associates.
Coordinates with the leadership team and other center staff to promote parent involvement in the program as a classroom visitor, volunteer, associate, and/or participant in family events.
Tracks disabilities, transition efforts, and outcomes individually and center-wide, analyzes data, and makes program development recommendations to the leadership team.
Ensures compliance with Head Start program standards for children with disabilities/mental health, health, and transition.
Monitors the budget for the Disabilities/Mental Health service area
Records, monitors, and follows up on referrals for support services for reporting requirements.
Submits reports as needed or requested, such as monthly summary tracking reports.
Understands, generates, and documents in-kind and other available costs applied toward the non-federal share requirements.
Attends parent committee and other meetings as requested.
Maintain filing, tracking, and documentation systems for the disabilities/mental health service area and ensure confidentiality of child and family records
Provides parents with information and assistance to understand and advocate for the services and supports needed to address their child’s special needs.
Provides “Transitional” services to Head Start families in cooperation with other agencies/providers, including providing referrals of parents and children to other agencies/providers as needed.
Work with the Administrative Assistant and Director of Family Services to ensure that goals related to the child’s disability and behavioral needs are developed by families.
Ensures the timely assessment of special education and/or related services needs of children with disabilities in coordination with the Part C agency and/or LEA.
Develop and implement a strategy that supports a successful transition for children into the Head Start Program or from Head Start into kindergarten or another community program.
Assists in locating community resources for children with special needs and initiates community partnership agreements.
Manage and coordinate mental health services provided by consultants.
Take an active role in community planning and advocacy to improve the delivery of services to children and families.
Develop community partnerships supported by interagency agreements.
Ensure that Family Services Advocates and Home Visitors work cooperatively with local agencies to respond to families' needs.
Ensure that Family Services Advocates and Home Visitors develop a working knowledge of community resources, including visits to major agencies for service-delivery updates.
Share pertinent information with appropriate Leadership Team members to ensure coordinated services meet the needs of individual children and families.
Coordinate program internship and community partnership/collaboration opportunities from outside agencies.
Monitor Family Services Managers, Advocates, and Home Visitors to ensure weekly contact with teaching associates to integrate family partnership goals with classroom efforts, ensure an integrated child and family curriculum, and to gain information regarding child performance in the classroom.
Communicate and plan with other service area Directors and Family Services Managers to ensure ongoing parent engagement activities and initiatives are implemented and executed effectively.
Assist in the development and implementation of program policies, procedures, and strategic plans.
Plan with the Family Services Manager to coordinate procedures to ensure the successful start-up and active retention of Parent Committees and Policy Council.
Collaborate with AEDs (Family & Education) across regions to develop and design programming necessary for an effective Head Start Program.
Act as a liaison to the Parent Policy Council, ensuring their active involvement in program planning, decision-making, and evaluation.
Facilitate training for council members to build their leadership capacity.
Develop plans and procedures to ensure Parent Engagement.
Understand, generate, and document in-kind and other allowable costs for the non-federal share requirement.
Develop plans and procedures to ensure Family Services Advocates maintain up-to-date information in the database. Ensure all received information is entered into the database within 24 hours.
Develop plans/procedures to ensure Family Services Advocates record, monitor, and follow up on referral.
Analyze parent engagement impact, parent participation, family partnership completion and progress, attendance, and outcomes on a center- and program-wide basis.
Analyze data and make program development recommendations to the leadership team.
Provide leadership, guidance, and supervision to Family Service Managers and Early Interventionists to ensure high-quality service delivery.
Conduct regular performance reviews, provide constructive feedback, and develop professional growth plans for team members.
Develop and implement training programs to enhance associate skills and ensure compliance with Head Start Performance Standards and organizational goals.
Develop an effective system and practice to provide comprehensive, ongoing supervision and leadership for Family Services Advocates and EHS Home Visitors.
Ensure EHS Home Visitors follow the scheduled home visits and socialization activities.
Develop procedures to ensure all program-scheduled parent activities are implemented effectively.
Develop procedures to ensure that family interactions are respectful and culturally sensitive.
Develop, revise, and update the service area plan for each area of responsibility, and administer and implement a continuous monitoring and evaluation system for activities.
Collaborate on strategies for ongoing monitoring and annual self-assessment for the health, safety, education, and security of children and families.
Oversee ongoing implementation of the Head Start Program Performance Standards and other local, state, and federal regulations.
Participate in staff meetings, conferences, training sessions, and workshops as assigned.
Serves as a resource person to provide supplemental services to children and families.
Works as part of the interdisciplinary team to discuss mental health referrals and the needs of children and families in the program.
Maintain confidentiality regarding associate and family information.
Fulfill the role of mandated reporter as stated in the Child Abuse and Neglect Policy.
Perform any other work-related duties as requested by your supervisor.
Be present at work to provide consistent service.
Be a contributory team member in a positive/productive manner.
Demonstrate commitment to mission, values, and policies when performing daily duties.