Description

Family Engagement Specialist

The Nebraska Early Childhood Collaborative is searching for experienced and enthusiastic individuals to fill the position of a Family Engagement Specialist for our Omaha Early Learning Centers . The Omaha Early Learning Centers are an early childhood education program providing services to at-risk children ages 0 to 3 and to their families.

Family Engagement Opportunities

• Engages with peers, family members and children in a manner sensitive to the experiences, needs, and strengths of low-income and diverse populations and individuals with disabilities.
• Identify family strengths and areas of need by completing a Family Assessment and updating as needed.
• Assist family members in identifying goals in the areas of family–child relationships, knowledge of child development, advocacy and involvement during the Family Partnership Agreement Process.
• Support families of children with disabilities and/or behavioral concerns through building relationships, and communicating/advocating with teachers and administrative staff within the educational system and during the transition process.
• Plan and facilitate regularly scheduled family activities and family involvement events for the purpose of responding to families’ interests and/or needs.  Activities may include individual, small group and/or large group sharing of information regarding child development and self sufficiency issues as identified by families.

Interdisciplinary Tasks Responsibilities

• Participate in interdisciplinary work with the Health Services Coordinator and/or Teaching Staff to do the following:
• Plan for purposes of identifying classroom instructional goals, gathering and documenting observation data, sharing data with families and developing and facilitating related family activities.
• Follow up on the health care needs of children and families. 
• Identify expecting families and provide them health as well as social support information and referrals. 
• Coordinate the delivery of services to the family and/or child in response to the needs identified by the family.
• Provide information and guidance to assist the child and family as the child transitions from The Infant and Toddler program to the Preschool Program and from the Preschool Program to Kindergarten.
• Meet with parents regularly about their child’s progress, including at least two Family/Staff Conferences and two home visits per year.

Case Management

• Refer and link children and families to needed community services as identified during the Family Needs Assessment, Family Partnership Agreement process and as needed.
• Support and assist families in times of crisis.
• Act as an advocate on behalf of families with community agencies.
• Assist families in initiating and maintaining eligibility for childcare development block grants and/or a private pay agreement.
• Document services provided to children and families to include follow up on referrals made and resulting outcome to ensure families’ needs are met.
• Maintain manual and electronic files and records in a n organized fashion for the purpose of providing required information and/or documentation as needed.

ERSEA (Eligibility, Recruitment, Selection, Enrollment, Attendance)

• Collaborate with ERSEA Coordinator to recruit and enroll eligible children and families for the purpose of providing comprehensive services while maintaining full enrollment and serving families most in need of services according to federal guidelines.
• Complete necessary paperwork (applications, enrollment forms, releases)
• Provide an interdisciplinary orientation for families regarding the program opportunities and expectations
• Follow up on attendance issues including excessive tardiness in order to identify and address barriers.
• Disseminate and assist families in completing the annual parent surveys
Other

• Plan and facilitate a regular informational/activity meeting specifically for teen parents for the purpose of responding to their identified interests and/or needs
• Plan and facilitate a regular informational/activity meeting specifically for grandparents for the purpose of responding to their identified interests and/or needs
• Represent Educare at community events
•  Perform other duties as assigned within scope of the job description

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work or related field.
• Familiarity of community resources serving at risk families and children
• Two years’ experience working with families in a community-based family-centered program.
• Bilingual in English/Spanish preferred