Family Engagement Specialist

YMCA of Greater Springfield•Springfield, MA

6d•Onsite

About The Position

Under the direction of the Associate Executive Director, the Family Engagement Specialist is responsible for ensuring that families receive the services they need to support their children’s health development, school readiness, and early school success. This role involves case management, crisis intervention, community outreach services, and providing resource and referral information to enrolled families.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in early education, social work or related field.
3-5 years’ experience in working with families with young children.
Comply with health requirements for staff according to EEC regulation 7.09(11).
Ability to work with a diverse population and exhibit core YMCA values of caring, honesty, respect and responsibility.
Bilingual skills in both English & Spanish are required.
Excellent relationship building skills.
Must have, or be willing to earn, and maintain First Aid and CPR training.

Nice To Haves

Training in trauma-informed care is preferred but not required.
Training in child and family engagement is preferred but not required.

Responsibilities

Plan, direct, and manage the family engagement activities of the Learning Center program.
Coordinate efforts to increase the quality, quantity, and access of family resource services.
Build relationships with families and professionals specializing in Family Involvement/Engagement.
Assist with enrollment duties, conducting family appointments, and ensuring completion of required paperwork.
Facilitate orientation meetings with parents to inform them of their responsibilities, opportunities, and rights, encouraging their participation.
Assist parents in identifying family strengths and needs, setting family goals, and encouraging them to meet these needs.
Act as an advocate for parents, providing appropriate referrals for services through partnerships with providers for counseling, health and dental care, and emergency assistance or intervention.
Coordinate and encourage parent participation in leadership groups, parent meetings, as program volunteers, and opportunities to be involved in the CPPI (Foundations For Success) Steering Committee.
Participate as an active team member in interdisciplinary planning for children and families, and other cross-component coordination.
Identify family strengths and plan/advocate around family goals.
Attend mandatory meetings and trainings, including career building trainings.
Ensure that all admission/enrollment requirements are met for each student.
Relate effectively with children, families, community members, and staff from diverse backgrounds.
Schedule family conferences as appropriate or requested by the family.
Build relationships and collaborate with other community agencies.
Advocate with and on behalf of low-income, diverse families.
Maintain accurate written and computerized reports in a confidential manner.
Allow flexibility in the position to ensure quality care.
Actively participate in all data collection processes.
Ensure that all grants' guidelines and scope of work are met.
This list of responsibilities is not meant to be all-inclusive and may be adjusted to meet the operational needs of the agency and the Learning Center program.