Family Support Specialist, New Directions Early Head Start

University of Delaware

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

The University of Delaware is an Equal Opportunity Employer which encourages applications from Minority Group Members, Women, Individuals with Disabilities and Veterans. The University's Notice of Non-Discrimination can be found at http://www.udel.edu/aboutus/legalnotices.html


Job No: 498583
Work Type: Staff
Location: Newark
Categories: Health Services, Full Time, Trainers & Educators


PAY GRADE: 27E

CONTEXT OF THE JOB:

New Directions Early Head Start provides pregnant women, infants, toddlers, and their families with quality care and family services that support families in providing the best for themselves and their very young children, in order to promote children's success and families' self-sufficiency, through community collaboration and partnerships.

The Family Support Specialist will work with families providing weekly home visits, assisting them in understanding their child's development and being their child's first teacher. In addition, the Family Support Specialist will assist in identifying family resources and needs and providing case management.

Under general direction of the Program Coordinator or Family Support Supervisor, the Family Support Specialist will act as itinerate teacher and case manager for families by providing support, ensuring the connection to health services, community resources, other services and referrals as needed, and assisting with parent engagement activities.

MAJOR RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Work to ensure that the program meets or exceeds the Head Start Program Performance Standards.
• Support parents in developing and fostering a healthy self-concept in themselves and their children.
• Promote the philosophy of empowering parents.
• Act as a liaison and advocate between community resources and Early Head Start families.
• Coordinate, facilitate and plan parent meetings, socializations and parent workshops in conjunction with parents and Program Coordinators.
• Participate in the process to recruit and enroll program eligible pregnant women and families with young children to maintain maximum enrollment.
• Visit Family Child Care Partners as assigned.
• Act as a liaison and advocate between providers and families as necessary and appropriate.
• Assist parent in being involved in their child's early care and education.
• Schedule and conduct required weekly 1.5-hour home visits with families and pregnant women to include activity plans and development of Family Partnership Agreements based on each family's strengths and each child's needs and record progress.
• Encourage parents to attend parent meetings, workshops, etc.
• Maintain confidential records on child and family progress, including using computer software.
• Prepare reports and maintain accurate and timely records as necessary to meet all requirements of funding source.
• Assist in developing a Family Partnership Agreement (FPA) or an IFSP for children with disabilities.
• Assist families in assessing their ongoing progress as it related to the FPA or IFSP.
• Participate and support families with accessing needed community services and resources.
• 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.
• Make referrals as necessary to community service offices.
• Help parents use activities and materials which naturally occur in the home as learning opportunities.
• Foster the view and practice that parents are their child's first teacher and reinforce with practical suggestions for development.
• Model developmentally appropriate practice.
• Plan and support a smooth transition for the children & families into and out of Early Head Start.
• Support families in arranging and keeping medical and dental appointments as required by Early Head Start and submitting all necessary documentation.
• Work to ensure consistent quality prenatal care and to support the mother in meeting all of the recommendations for a healthy pregnancy.
• Ensure program screenings and/or assessments for pregnant women are completed, with the appropriate follow up and/or referral takes place.
• Help expectant families prepare a welcoming and safe home for the baby. Coordinate and schedule appointments for health staff to visit the newborn within two weeks of the birth, ensuring the well-being of the mother and child as is required by the Program Performance Standards.
• Maintain supplies and materials for home visiting, socialization etc.
• Make suggestions for new materials and submit order requests for supplies that need replacing.
• Assist with long range program planning and development of NDEHS program.
• Attend training, staff development workshops and meetings as appropriate or requested by the Program Coordinator.
• Positively represent New Directions Early Head Start (NDEHS), Delaware Institute for Excellence in Early Childhood (DIEEC), HDFS and the University s in the community at large.
• Provide parent transportation as necessary using NDEHS vehicle.
• Perform other job-related duties as assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelor's degree in early childhood education or other related discipline, and one-year job-related experience with young children, families or community programs, or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Progressively responsible job-related experience beyond a high school diploma/GED may be substituted for required education.
• Knowledge of early childhood development, adult learning styles and community resources, strong written and verbal communication skills and the ability to interact with a diverse population.
• Ability to work as part of a program team and utilize word processing, assessment software and data systems.
• Demonstrates an understanding and consideration of the differing needs and concerns of individuals with varying identities, cultures and backgrounds.
• Committed to fostering a workplace culture of belonging, where diversity is celebrated and equity is a core value.
• Bilingual in Spanish preferred.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS:

• Position requires travel within New Castle County and some evening and Weekend hours. Must have a valid driver's license and a private reliable means of transportation.
• Requires successful completion of criminal background check, child protection and adult abuse and sex offender registry checks, health examination and TB test and COVID -19 vaccination.
• Must maintain Parents as Teachers Certification and Promoting First Relations Certification once employed.
• Must maintain current First Aid and CPR certification as well as updated Health Appraisal and PPD.

Notice of Non-Discrimination, Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action
The University of Delaware does not discriminate against any person on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, genetic information, marital status, disability, religion, age, veteran status or any other characteristic protected by applicable law in its employment, educational programs and activities, admissions policies, and scholarship and loan programs as required by Title IX of the Educational Amendments of 1972, the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, and other applicable statutes and University policies. The University of Delaware also prohibits unlawful harassment including sexual harassment and sexual violence.

Applications close:

PI185994727