Family Support Specialist

University of Delaware•Newark, NJ

21d

About The Position

The Early Learning Center (ELC) supports approximately 220 children (between 6 weeks old and second grade) and their families by providing a high quality, nationally accredited program of early care education and school age programming. ELC is a community of learners where equitable learning experiences instill confidence, resiliency, compassion and creativity. As leaders of exceptional practices in early childhood education, the ELC celebrates and honors each child and their family to promote optimal development for all. The ELC designs engaging environments with children where learning is fostered through play, conversations, and discovery. Engagement and collaboration with the academic and research programs of the University of Delaware and the broader community promotes innovative and reflective practices. The ELC maintains multiple partnerships, including New Directions Early Head Start and the Delaware Department of Education through the State-Funded Early Care and Education Programs (SFECEPs). The Family Support Specialist (FSS) will work specifically with ELC families enrolled through the State Funded Early Care and Education program and all ELC families as needed. Under limited supervision of the Co-Director, the Family Support Specialist will act as Case Manager for families, ensuring the connection to health services, community resources, and other services and referrals as needed and providing periodic home visits. FSS works with teachers and leadership team in identifying systems for family support, facilitating the development and implementation of quality enhancement plans in family support and community partnerships and being on site. FSS will also encourage and support family engagement across the entire program.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in early childhood education, Human Services, Social work or other related discipline and two years of job-related experience with young children, families or community programs or equivalent combination of education and experience.
Knowledge of child development, adult learning styles and community resources.
Strong written and verbal communication skills. Ability to interact with a diverse population.
Ability to work as part of a program team, mentor families, connect families to community resources as well as assess children’s development, plan and implement "lesson plans" and assess family’s strengths and needs.
Ability to utilize word processing (Microsoft Suite, Google), assessment and data software
Requires a valid driver’s license and a private reliable means of transportation.
Requires travel within New Castle County and some evening and weekend hours.
Requires successful completion of criminal state and federal fingerprint background check, child protection, sex offender and adult abuse registry checks, health examination and TB test.
Must maintain current First Aid and CPR certification and updated Health Appraisal
May require completion of Parents as Teachers and Promoting First Relationship certification or human services/family services credentials.
Must have the ability to lift a minimum of 30lbs to move supplies, assist with, and pick up children.
Requires frequent crouching, kneeling, sitting on the ground, and climbing stairs.

Responsibilities

Assist the program and partnering agency, in meeting or exceeding the SFECEPs policies and procedures.
Provide coordination and oversight of the provision of the Family Services of SFECEPs including recruitment, enrollment, and retention.
Act as Case Manager for families, providing support, services and referrals as needed. This includes connecting families to community resources and services offices such as family planning, food stamps, employment, health services, vocational rehabilitation, and psychological services.
Assist families with transportation coordination to encourage consistent child attendance at ELC
Managing and maintaining supplies and resources for children in need. This includes distribution of weekly bags from Food Bank of Delaware, pull-ups for classroom use, weather gear for outdoor exploration during school day, coat/swimsuit distributions, and other items as needed.
Responsible for providing monthly family connections and the development of family partnership plans based on each family’s strengths and each child’s needs.
Assist parents in developing and fostering healthy self-concepts for themselves and assist parents in fostering healthy self-concepts in their children.
Foster the view and practice in parents that they are their child’s first teacher and reinforce this concept with practical suggestions for their child’s development.
Assist families in developing activities and fostering behaviors that will enhance their children’s development.
Ensure that the necessary developmental, social, emotional and health screenings are completed within the 45 and 90-day deadlines.
Maintain follow-up screenings as required.
Coordinate and attend bi-annual home visits with educators.
Ensure a smooth transition in the SFECEP’s program for currently enrolled children in collaboration with NDEHS
Ensure a smooth transition for the children and families into ELC and out of ELC into another program/elementary school
Maintain confidential records on child and family progress
Prepare reports and maintain accurate and timely records as necessary to meet all requirements of funding source.
Coordinate, facilitate and plan parent meetings and parent workshops with other program activities and in conjunction with parents.
Encourages parents to attend family meetings, workshops, etc. and provide access to transportation resources as necessary.
Coordinate Family Committee meetings for the ELC. Plan quarterly meetings based on the schedules of the committee members, work with ELC leadership team to set agenda items, maintain meeting minutes and support family participation and collaboration
Work collaboratively with all ELC educators to support family partnerships and child successes. Assist families and ELC team members in maintaining ongoing positive working relationships
Act as a liaison and advocate between community resources and SFECEP families.
Assist parents in finding and using appropriate community resources.
Help families to arrange and keep medical and dental appointments as required by the Delaware Office of Child Care Licensing and SFECEP- including designated follow-ups.
Assist with long range program planning and development of ELC SFECEP program.
Communicate consistently with ELC lead team, program coaches, and educators
Attend staff meetings, consortium meetings, advisory meetings, workshops, conferences and other meetings as requested by the Co-Directors
Positively represent UD Early Learning Center, CEHD and the University in the community at large.
Perform other job-related duties as assigned.