Family Service Specialist

Summary

The Family Services Specialist (FSS) is part of the Family Services Team that assists the Program Director(s) to provide needed services to all families in the Head Start Program in accordance with the Program's policies, procedures, and philosophy that puts children and families first as well as the Head Start Performance Standards and guidelines.

Duties

Building Family Partnerships

• Conducts home visits at the beginning of each school year to establish a Family Partnership Agreement with families
• Assists families to set goals based on their strengths and needs
• Monitors the Family Partnership Agreements on a monthly basis and follows up as needed
• Conducts follow-up home visits as needed
• Maintains Health, Family Support Services, and Mental Wellness records on each child assigned to his/her caseload
• Serves as a resource and referral contact for families
• Monitors families to ensure that the proper follow-up is conducted in a timely manner and resources and referrals are being utilized through weekly staff meetings and I.E.P. meetings
• Works collaboratively with other agencies to help meet the needs of families in the Head Start and Early Head Start programs and/or other assigned programs
• Distributes information on community resources to families and staff
• Projects a positive attitude at all times when interacting with children, families, and staff
• Represents Alexandria Head Start in a professional manner within the community at large
• Projects professional manner while working with families and attending community activities, training functions, seminars, and conferences.

 

Supporting Comprehensive Services

• Works in collaboration with other program staff and consultants to monitor and coordinate services for children and parents
• Reflects and links children and parents to needed services; ensures that referrals are being followed through on by families and documents their efforts to do so
• Coordinates with the Health and Nutrition Coordinator to ensure that chronic health forms are completed and necessary follow-ups are conducted for each child in their caseload with a chronic health condition
• Coordinates with the Health and Nutrition Coordinator to insure the nutrition assessments are conducted for each child, and that appropriate follow-up information is provided in families
• Assists families with attaining and maintaining a medical and dental home
• Distributes information on community resources to share with families
• Participates in referring families in the Mental Health Consultant.

 

Administrative

• Secures and maintains information on child health (physicals, dental screenings, immunizations, health history) and nutrition data, for each child assigned to their caseload
• Collaborates with Family Services Director to implement protocols on absenteeism
• Maintains records and documents services in a timely manner
• Enters service data into Child Plus
• Attends family support team meetings, staff meetings, staff trainings, collaborations and planning meetings
• Other duties as assigned.

Requirements

• BA/BS Degree, preferably, in Social Work
• Strong written, verbal communication and organizational skills
• Ability to effectively communicate with people of various cultural and social backgrounds
• Ability to remain calm and professional at all times
• Ability to utilize reflective supervision tracking system
• Familiarity with data entry systems (e.g. COPA, Child Plus)
• Ability to utilize basic office equipment
• Willingness to participate in cross-cultural training
• Ability to work with families in need of assistance
• Valid Driver's License
• Satisfactory initial driving record review and ongoing compliance.

Nice To Haves

       Experience in the Social Services field

       Foreign language proficiency.

Benefits

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, AD&D, STD, LTD, 403b, EAP, Wellness Programs.