Family Support Specialist

Family Support Specialist JobID: 10921

Position Type:

ECEAP Head Start / Preschool/Family Support Specialist

Date Posted:

6/5/2024

Location:

To be determined

Date Available:

09/03/2024

Closing Date:

Until Filled

Hours per Day:

8 hrs a day; $27.34 - $37.84 DOE/education

Days of the Week:

Monday,Tuesday,Wednesday,Thursday,Friday

Shift Times:

7:30-3:30

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POSITION SUMMARY: The family support specialist (FSS) for ECEAP maintains an outreach recruitment and enrollment process throughout the school year.

The FSS works in partnership with the site team to encourage and plan for parent participation in their child's education. The FSS works together with families in an effort to support them in recognizing and building upon their family strengths and improving the conditions and quality of their family's life. The FSS' work will adhere to ECEAP program standards, service plans and the principles of best practice in the field of family support.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES include the following. This list is meant to be representative, not exhaustive.

Some incumbents may not perform all the duties listed while in other cases related duties may also be assigned. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Team Player: Contributes to the development of positive communication, mutual respect, mutual support, competence and creativity among all members of the ECEAP staff.

• Recruitment: Organizes and conducts ongoing recruitment to ensure full enrollment in the ECEAP center. In collaboration with other site staff, participates in ongoing recruitment.

• Enrollment: Organizes and conducts enrollment activities, interviews parents to determine program eligibility, verifies income and obtains necessary parent permission for ECEAP activities.

• Orientation: In collaboration with site staff, organizes and conducts parent orientations to ECEAP, including orienting parents to their rights and responsibilities in ECEAP and explaining relevant ECEAP policies and curriculum approaches.

• Family Support: Assists families in recognizing their strengths and supports them in setting goals and planning how to meet the goals through the development of a Family Partnership Plan.
  
  Works in partnership with families to overcome barriers, meet their stated goals and achieve economic success and prosperity. Provides family support services through at least three hours contact with each family during program year. Accesses ESD ECEAP Counseling Fund as needed when referring an ECEAP child/family to counseling services.
  
  Works collaboratively with center mental health professional in addressing mental health issues of the enrolled children and their families. Works with diverse populations and accesses interpreters and the Language Line as needed through ESD ECEAP Interpreter Fund.

• Crisis Intervention: Provides support to families experiencing a crisis and refers them to emergency assistance and crisis intervention providers, as appropriate.

• Parent Partnerships: Promotes parent, staff and community partnerships in the ECEAP program through various methods (e.g., parent meetings, parent leadership, Employment and Training opportunities, newsletters, parent trainings, home visits, Policy Council, volunteer opportunities, Empowerment Projects and other strategies). Encourages parents to participate in the decisions concerning the education of their children and supports families involved in site leadership activities.

• Transitions: Works with families and site team to ensure smooth transitions for children and families to before- and after-school care and between ECEAP and Kindergarten.

• Family Events: In collaboration with site staff and families, plans and facilitates family events that respond to specific training interests and information requests as indicated on a Parent Interest Survey or through other parent input throughout the year. Works with the site team and parents to schedule family events at times that are convenient for families.

• Record-keeping: Maintains accurate records including enrollment information, family resource checklist, documentation of referrals made and follow-up and adult contact hours according to ECEAP program standards, tracks and submits EPSDT documentation, compiles and submits monthly activity report information and other required records.

• Interdisciplinary Staffing: Participates with site staff in quarterly staffing of children and families.

• Professional Development: Participates in PSESD in-service staff trainings, staff meetings, and other education opportunities to gain knowledge and skills throughout the year.

• Community Collaboration and Communication: Collaborates with Employment and Training staff at Puget Sound Educational Service District and at local agencies, establishes linkages with community members and agencies in order to promote and enhance services for ECEAP families, and maintains linkages through attending pertinent community-based meetings.

• Site Budget Accountability: Responsible for keeping a record of parent activity fund and other job-related expenses. Regularly shares information with parents about the site parent activity fund and supports parents in planning use of parent activity fund.

• Responsible for keeping informed of ongoing program changes and updates.

• Participate in the EPSDT/School Administration match program as assigned.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:

Education and Experience

High school diploma or equivalent

Associate Degree or higher in the field with 30 job-related credits OR

Family/Social Service Credential:

• Family Development Certificate from the Washington State Community Action Partnership

• Social Services Competency Based Training (SSCBT) Certificate of Completion from Portland State University

• Family Service Credential from the Portage Project

• Family Support Core or Studies Certificate from Edmonds Community College

• Credential from a comprehensive and competency-based Family/Social Service program not mentioned above that increases knowledge and skills in providing direct services to families (subject to DCYF approval) OR

Current Home Visitor Child Development Associate (CDA) credential from Council of Professional Recognition

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

One year experience working with families

Current and former E-Start parents receive preference for employment vacancies for which they are equally qualified

CONDITION OF EMPLOYMENT:

Criminal background clearance

Possess and maintain a valid and current food handler's permit

Possess and maintain a current district-approved American Heart Association or American Red Cross pediatric CPR and first aid training within 90 days of employment. District approved courses must include hands-on exam.

Have reliable transportation

Submit a Puget Sound Educational Service District (PSESD) health clearance form from a medical provider

Provide current negative tuberculosis (TB) test results or negative chest X-ray

Cannot smell of smoke, perfume, or other chemicals

Possess and maintain district-paid Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports (PBIS) certificated course

Successfully complete the FWPS district-approved Right Response training at the advanced level at the next available time; maintain current certification at the advanced level through an annual recertification class

Pass and maintain a Portable Back Check (PBC) on Merit through DCYF. This must be cleared prior to staff's employment start date.

Work scheduled hours on a consistent basis

KNOWLEDGE OF:

School board policies and procedures

Community resources for families and appropriate referral procedures

ABILITY TO:

Organize and perform job responsibilities efficiently and independently without close supervision and able to pay strict attention to detail

Speak, read and follow written or verbal communications

Practice effective safety and security within individual work routines

Develop and maintain positive customer relations with staff and service providers

Work collaboratively with District staff and promote teamwork with co-workers

Practice ethical and professional standards of conduct including the requirements of confidentiality

Relate effectively with parents, staff, students and the public in a multicultural and multiracial community

Participate as a positive, productive team member of the site's multi-disciplinary team

Effectively communicate with preschool age children, family members, outside agencies, co-workers and other district staff

Work effectively with diverse populations and people with limited income

Perform job responsibilities with or without reasonable accommodations

REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES RELATED TO CULTURAL COMPETENCE AND EQUITY:

Knowledge/awareness of own cultural identity and how this influences behavior, and desire to learn about the cultural identity of others.

Ability to establish and nurture an environment that promotes cultural competence and equitable treatment of staff, students, and patrons of the District.

Ability to understand and hold self and others accountable for promoting the Federal Way Public Schools' commitment to "Each Scholar: A Voice.

A Dream. A Bright Future."

Ability to recognize that each person is a unique individual even as we celebrate their group cultural heritage.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS: The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit. The employee frequently is required to use hands to finger, handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms; and talk or hear.

The employee is occasionally required to stand and walk. The employee must regularly lift and/or move up to 10 pounds and occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, and ability to adjust focus.

WORK ENVIRONMENT: The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee regularly works in indoor conditions and regularly works near video display. The employee is occasionally exposed to outside weather conditions and uses personal vehicle and occasionally works in evenings or on weekends. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.

WORK SCHEDULE

This position typically works Monday through Friday during the school year. Hours may vary.

REPORTING RELATIONSHIP

This position reports to ECEAP Coordinator and/or designee.

REPRESENTATION

Public School Employees (ECEAP)

LEVEL OF COMPENSATION

ECEAP Family Support Specialist position on the ECEAP salary schedule.

This position includes the following benefits prorated based on FTE - Medical, dental, vision; sick, life insurance and retirement

CLASSIFICATION HISTORY

Updated Min Quals 6/2023

Update 07/2015

Updated Right Response language 072/2017

Updated 03/2023 - Portable Back Check

Disclaimer

The preceding list is not exhaustive and may be supplemented as necessary. The statements contained herein reflect general details as necessary to describe the principal functions of this job, the scope of responsibility and the level of knowledge and skills typically required, but should not be considered an all-inclusive listing of work requirements, skills or duties so classified. All personnel may be required to perform duties outside their normal responsibilities from time to time as needed.

All employment open positions are made available on a nondiscriminatory basis without regard to race, color, creed, religion, sexual orientation, national origin, gender, age, disability or veteran status.

Job descriptions are written as a representative list of the ADA essential duties performed by the entire classification. They cannot include, and are not intended to include, every possible activity and task performed by every specific employee.