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United Way Miami, Inc. is hiring a Specialist, Family Engagement to join our Operations team. As Specialist, Family Engagement you will develop and maintain relationships with families and ensure that they receive comprehensive services through their participation in the program. Comprehensive services include health and social services, disabilities, early childhood education and care services, and a range of parent development training opportunities at the site. The Family Support Specialist is also responsible for conducting community outreach efforts to identify and develop relationships with community-based organizations that provide other needed services to families.
UWM is an equal opportunity employer and a drug-free workplace, please visit our Career site homepage to view our EEO statement and Drug-Free policy.
Principal Duties And Responsibilities
Reporting Relationships: The Family Support Specialist at the United Way Center for Excellence Demonstration School reports to the Family Support Supervisor.
Major Responsibilities And Key Tasks
Develop and maintain meaningful, productive relationships with families.
Recruit and enroll families into the program.
Conduct periodic home visits to assess family resources and needs.
Work in collaboration with other Family Support and Education staff and directly with parents to promote parental success in 3 primary areas: 1) building parent’s knowledge of child development, 2) supporting positive parent-child interactions, 3) promoting the parent’s role as first teacher and advocate for their child’s education.
Refer and link children and parents to needed services.
Maintain enrollment throughout the program year through various recruitment strategies. Maintain enrollment at full capacity at all times according to current contracts and NAEYC Accreditation Standards.
Work in collaboration with other CFEDS staff and consultants to monitor, track, and coordinate services for children and parents
Assist parents with understanding and implementing the Family Partnership Agreement to encourage and promote their overall development including achievement of self-sufficiency as well as positive developmental outcomes for their children.
In collaboration with the Director, Family Support staff, lead teacher, and teachers participate in the development and execution of the transition plan for children and families.
Collaborate with the Disabilities Coordinator to recruit infants and children with disabilities into the program.
Collaborate with the Family Support staff to assist in planning parent activities, encourage parent participation in program activities, and obtain feedback from parents regarding the level of satisfaction with the services they receive.
Collaborate with the Health Coordinator to ensure the health and nutrition needs of infants, children, and families are addressed.
Communicate with education and care staff regarding infants’ and children’s progress in the classroom
In collaboration with the Family Support staff, implement protocols to follow up on absenteeism.
In collaboration with accountant/Finance staff, encourage families to pay child care co-payments.
Administration
Maintain records and document services promptly.
Enter service data into the HSFIS management information system.
Participate in the evaluation of Head Start and Early Head Start services, and ensure compliance with Head Start Performance Standards.
Participate in staffing of all families on their caseload and case studies.
Attend family support team meetings, staff meetings, staff training, collaborations, and planning meetings.
Must identify and document in-kind to the program.
Must identify and document in-kind to the program.
Promote And Maintain Parent Involvement
Promote parents’ overall involvement and participation in program governance.
In coordination with the Family Support Supervisor and Site Administrators, facilitate parent committee meetings.
Facilitate group/family activities in coordination with the Family Support Supervisor.
Promote family involvement in center-based services, home-based services, and other program activities.
Parent Relationship
Coordinate and schedule appointments for intake interviews with parents.
Register eligible children according to funding source procedure.
Ensure that the child’s demographic and enrollment data is entered into the data management programs. Develop and implement a Parent Involvement Program by the first quarter of the school year and update it on an ongoing basis.
Coordinate parent meetings and all special activities.
Contact families at least once quarterly to document the progress of set goals.
In collaboration with the Family Support Supervisor assist parents in the selection process of governance (the Parents’ Committee Officers) and train them on their roles and responsibilities.
Staff orientation sessions and informational workshops to parents regarding the development and education of their children.
Participate in meetings, screening process sessions, and other related activities.
Submit minutes of parents’ meetings, “Approval for Fund-raising Activities and Events,” Parent Surveys, and other pertinent documents or reports on time to the Family Support Supervisor and Demonstration School Director.
Participate in children’s staffing and parent conferences with teachers or other parties as needed. Provide information, referral, and follow-up services to all the children and families being served at the center.
Demonstrates cultural sensitivity and respect towards persons of different cultural, ethnic, and socio-economic backgrounds.
In collaboration with classroom staff identify and reaffirm children with possible developmental disabilities for further assessment.
Community Involvement::
Develop relationships with other community-based service providers targeting pregnant and parenting teens.
Identify services currently available and those needed by families enrolled in Head Start and Early Head Start programs
Participate in recruiting volunteers from the community
Requirements
Education Requirements: Bachelor's degree in psychology; social work or related fields. Three years of experience working with families in a community-based Head Start or family support program is required.
Technology Requirements: Knowledge of modern web browsers , Intermediate Word, Beginning Excel, and Beginning Outlook.
Career growth: We encourage you to grow by providing formal and informal development programs, coaching, and on-the-job challenges. We want you to ask questions, take chances, and explore the possible.
Apply with confidence! Research indicates that individuals, especially people of color and women, may hesitate if they don't meet every requirement. At United Way Miami, we embrace diversity and inclusion. If you're enthusiastic about a role, apply, even if your experience or education isn't an exact match. You could be the perfect fit for this position or discover other exciting opportunities within our organization. Please note that while some roles may have specific requirements for funding eligibility, we STILL encourage you to explore our job opportunities
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