Family Services Assistant (5290)

YMCA of Metropolitan Los Angeles•Los Angeles, CA

About The Position

The Family Services Assistant recruits and enrolls families and supports them in meeting requirements for CCL, CSPP, Head Start, and Early Head Start before and throughout enrollment. The role provides support tailored to family needs and collaborates with health, nutrition, education, mental health, and disability service areas. Through goal setting and family engagement, the assistant helps families work toward self-sufficiency. The position works under the direction of the Family Services Engagement Coordinator and is supported by the Operations Executive. The assistant manages a caseload of Head Start and Early Head Start families at assigned sites, supports enrollment and recruitment, maintains family and child records, and enters information into systems including LACOE’s ChildPlus database. The role also connects families with community resources, supports health and nutrition documentation and screening, facilitates parent activities, and participates in multidisciplinary service coordination. The position requires travel to different worksites across Los Angeles County and to home visits.

Requirements

Associate’s degree in social work, human services, family services, counseling, or a related field; or a Family Development Credential and a high school diploma or GED.
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 working with children ages 0 to 5, parent education services, and family support and referral services, or similar experience.
Bilingual English/Spanish ability, including the ability to present information effectively and respond to questions from groups and the public in both languages.
Valid Class C California driver’s license and proof of auto liability insurance.
TB test clearance, renewed every two years.
Current Adult, Child, and Infant CPR and AED First Aid certification, or willingness to obtain it within 60 days of hire.
Verification of immunizations required by the California Department of Health, including Pertussis, Measles, and Influenza.
DOJ clearance and all other required background checks.
Ability to pass a comprehensive health exam, including a TB test.
Ability to perform essential job functions with or without reasonable accommodation, including required physical, visual, and auditory activities.

Nice To Haves

Working knowledge of Head Start and California Department of Education requirements.

Responsibilities

Manage a caseload of Head Start and Early Head Start families at assigned sites.
Carry out Head Start Performance Standards, the Head Start Act, LACOE contract requirements, and California Department of Education requirements, including program reporting and data entry.
Attend Coordinator meetings in the absence of the Family Services Engagement Coordinator and attend LACOE meetings as needed.
Conduct ongoing outreach and recruitment to maintain enrollment at assigned Head Start and State Preschool sites.
Complete enrollment and family assessments for Head Start, Early Head Start, CSPP, and CCTR families.
Report enrollment vacancies and classroom attendance information in a timely manner.
Participate in, coordinate, and keep records of recruiting and tabling events.
Establish and maintain current individual files for each child and family.
Complete strengths and needs assessments for assigned families and support family goal setting and progress toward self-sufficiency.
Facilitate parent activities, workshops, and training to promote parent advocacy, involvement, literacy, and parental engagement.
Collaborate with Site Directors and Teachers to plan and implement monthly parent meetings and communicate effectively with families.
Provide resources and referrals, maintain partnerships with community-based organizations, and invite community programs to parent meetings in response to identified needs and interests.
Collaborate with the Operations Executive of Early Education on Family and Community Engagement service areas and family resources.
Conduct hearing and vision screenings and growth assessments, ensuring they are completed within required timelines.
Help families obtain, review, and document required medical and dental information and provide health-related forms and information about medications, allergies, and other health needs.
Work with the Health and Nutrition Coordinator to keep the site allergy-alert list current and posted as required.
Ensure child health records are complete, current, accurately entered into ChildPlus, and submitted by required deadlines.
Communicate children’s health and nutrition needs to Site Directors and teachers.
Follow up with assigned cases and families based on ERSEA, FCE, and Health/Nutrition reports; maintain files, case notes, and other records; and prepare periodic reports.
Monitor attendance and absences and document family follow-up.
Submit referrals for services such as disability and mental health support in collaboration with the Family Services Engagement Coordinator.
Participate in multidisciplinary team meetings and facilitate information exchange between families and content-area specialists.
Attend staff meetings and training as required, uphold YMCA safety, supervision, mandated-reporting, and risk-management policies, and perform other duties assigned by the supervisor.
Demonstrate YMCA values and develop competencies in mission advancement, collaboration, operational effectiveness, and personal growth.