General Role and Responsibilities:

The Family Services Coordinator (FSC) is responsible for the overall coordination of family services for Head Start children and their families. The Family Services Coordinator supervises Family Services staff and oversees program operations related to parent, family and community engagement, early childhood health, Eligibility, Recruitment, Selection, Enrollment and Attendance (ERSEA) and program governance. The Family Services Coordinator maintains a caseload and works with the teaching team in the assigned classroom(s) to coordinate the provision of and/or linkage to timely services and interventions. This position requires ongoing interaction with the members of the teaching teams, various Head Start staff, SCH staff and parents. The Family Services Coordinator is expected to present a positive and professional image of the School City of Hammond (SCH), SCH Head Start and Geminus Head Start.

General Skills and Qualifications:

Possess the skills necessary to: supervise Family Services staff, coordinate and provide high quality case management services, coordinate activities across program content areas and maintain engagement of families in various aspects of the program in both in-person and virtual learning and working environments.

Specific Responsibilities in This Position:

• Establish positive and productive working relationships with Head Start families and staff
• Provide ongoing supervision of Family Services Specialists
• Provide orientation, training and support to new Family Services staff
• Monitor provision of case management services and associated activities
• Oversee planning, training and oversight of FSS interns
• Monitor, track, and review submission of reporting data
• Coordinate and facilitate Family Services staff meetings
• Conduct and complete yearly evaluations and goal setting will Family Services staff
• Utilize Head Start data management systems to monitor programmatic and family data
• Assist in the analysis and utilization of programmatic and family data to support program planning and development of program goals and objectives
• Participate in the development and updating of programmatic procedural guides in conjunction with Head Start Director and Assistant Director
• Utilize a systems theory approach to assess, identify and address family strengths, interests and challenges
• Work with families to develop a functional Individualized Family Partnership Agreement (IFPA) with a specific goal(s) based on identified strengths, interests and challenges
• Provide case management services including: making of referrals to appropriate community agencies, organizations and businesses and follow-up regarding IFPA goals and community referrals
• Ensure health-related screenings (e.g. hearing, vision, heights/weights, blood pressure, etc.) are completed within programmatic timelines
• Maintain required child, family, volunteer and programmatic documentation via computer data entry and physical files
• Support programming for students and their families in bilingual and inclusion classrooms
• Coordinate team meetings with assigned classroom teaching staff (monthly for children with disabilities; at minimum two per year for children without disabilities)
• Ensure required team meeting documentation is completed, including signatures and dates
• Coordinate referral and follow-through processes for children with suspected health or developmental concerns
• Conduct Family Service Worker visits as outlined in program plans
• Maintain a working knowledge of the Head Start program to assist in explaining the program to parents, families and community members in order to strengthen understanding of child development, early childhood education and program policies and procedures
• Work in conjunction with Behavioral Health Specialists to coordinate behavioral health services for children and families
• Implement active supervision strategies whenever students are present
• Coordinate and facilitate Parent Site Committee meetings including: election processes, activities and parent trainings
• Coordinate the activities of the Policy Committee
• Assist in the coordination of programmatic activities
• Conduct and oversee recruitment activities to assist in the identification of children eligible for Head Start
• Assist families in the completion of the application process
• Utilize Enrollment Selection Criteria Point System to determine program eligibility
• Monitor child attendance and address attendance concerns
• Maintain current class lists and waiting lists
• Recruit program volunteers (parent and community volunteers)
• Develop, coordinate and implement opportunities for parent involvement at the classroom level, which includes a minimum of one male involvement activity per assigned classroom each program year
• Serve as a liaison between Head Start staff, Head Start families and community organizations, agencies, and businesses
• Serve as liaison between Family Services staff and other program departments
• Represent program at designated Grantee meetings and trainings
• Participate in the evaluation of programmatic services through the Self-Assessment Process
• Participate actively and effectively on committees and work teams
• Cooperate and collaborate with other SCH Head Start, Geminus Head Start and School City of Hammond staff members
• Participate in required trainings and other professional development opportunities
• Other duties may be assigned

Specific Skills and Knowledge for this position:

• Microsoft Word, Excel, Power Point, Outlook, etc.
• Google Suite (Google Drive, Docs, Sheets, Slides, Forms, Meet, Classroom, etc.)
• Knowledge of Head Start data management systems (i.e. MyHeadStart)
• Knowledge of Head Start Performance Standards/Head Start Act, SCH and SCH Head Start policies and procedures
• Knowledge and use of C.P.R., First Aid and Heimlich maneuver
• Excellent verbal and written communication, computer, and interpersonal skills
• Ability to foster the building of community
• Ability to compose letters and documents with clarity and accuracy
• Ability to perform general mathematical computations with accuracy
• Ability to solve practical problems with a variety of variables
• Ability to apply knowledge of current research and theory to instructional programming

Qualifications and Education Requirements:

• BA/BS degree in Human Services, Psychology, Sociology, Social Work, Family Services or Counseling
• Leadership/supervisory experience – one year minimum
• Case management or social service experience – three years minimum, additional year(s) preferred
• Bilingual abilities considered an asset
• Head Start experience, preferred
• SCH Head Start Family Services Specialist experience, a plus

Personal Attributes Desired:

• Dependability
• Confidentiality
• Professionalism
• Ability to work independently
• Ability to work collaboratively
• Ability to serve a diverse population of students, parents, staff, and community
• Ability to organize and prioritize

Physical Requirements:

Candidate should be physically capable of successfully performing the essential functions of the position While performing the duties of this position, the employee is regularly required to sit, stand, walk, and talk or hear. The employee is occasionally required to run; stoop, kneel, crouch and crawl. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds. The employee must occasionally push items of 50 lbs. Such as pushing children on a bike or moving/rearranging furniture.

It is the policy of the School City of Hammond not to discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, or disability in its programs or employment policies as required by the Indiana Civil Rights Act (I.C. 22-9.1), Title VI and VII (Civil Rights Act of 1964), the Equal Pay Act of 1973, Title IX (Educational Amendments), and Section 504 (Rehabilitation Act of 1973).