Parent Family Comm Eng. & Gov Spec. ECD TX

Location: Crystal City or Laredo, TX

PRIMARY FUNCTIONS

The Parent Family Community Engagement and Governance Specialist is responsible for guiding and implementing program governance, parent, family and community engagement strategies and outcomes for CPLCs Early Childhood Development programs by implementing a systematic and integrated parent and family engagement approach. Under the guidance of the Family and Community Engagement Services Coordinator, works closely with counterpart, other Content Area Coordinators and Specialists, Managers, Family Services Staff, and other site staff to support ongoing partnership between staff and families while meeting Head Start Program Performance Standards. Promotes school readiness by preparing children and families for school and life success as it relates to this position. Actively supervise children by sight and sound at all times and in all environments. Maintain all health and safety regulations to create an optimum learning environment. Facilitate health practices to keep children safe in the school bus, outdoor and indoor environments.

SPECIALIZATIONS

Initial employment physical, TB test or Chest X-ray, Tdap vaccination, valid Texas Driver's License and vehicle insurance are required. Must pass a criminal background check to include a Child Abuse and Neglect register check and obtain a level one Fingerprint Clearance card. Must be First Aid and CPR certified or obtain certification within the first 6 months of employment.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

A baccalaureate degree in social work, human services, family services, counseling, or a related field and 2 years experience work with children and families in an early childhood or in a school environment is required. Experience working with low-income and culturally diverse children, families and communities required. Must demonstrate experience in family services, community based collaboration, partnership development, and cross system service planning and development. Individual must possess strong capacity building, oral and written communication, and organizational skills. Use of computer, computer software programs (e.g. Microsoft Office, Adobe) and web based systems are required. Bilingual in English/Spanish Preferred.

JOB RESPONSIBILITIES AND COMPETENCIES

Coordinates, guides and implements governance, parent, family and community engagement in ECD programs by working directly with Family Service Engagement Workers, Family Child Care Specialists, Center Service Managers, staff, providers and parents.

Collaborate with coordinators, specialists, managers and sites using the Parent, Family and Community Engagement Framework to implement revised Head Start Program Performance Standards related to governance, parents and community.

Commitment toward goal-directed, positive, culturally responsive and respectful relationships with families and a system-wide, integrated, and comprehensive parent, family and community engagement approach. Helps site staff develop meaningful goals that draw on families aspirations for themselves and their children.

Has knowledge of effective relationship-building practices, is knowledgeable about reflective supervision and how to support site staffs relationships with families; coaches site staff in reflective listening as well as verbal and nonverbal messaging in order to contribute to their professional identity. Is able to utilize active listening skills and demonstrates receptivity to feedback from site staff.

Recognizes and builds on site staff strengths and encourages site staff to take responsibility for their own growth and demonstrates the ability to support and model ethical practice when interacting with families. Helps staff develop strong, positive, and effective relationships with families.

Is available to assist staff when they address concerns or situations outside of their current capability and can train and communicate with site staff about keeping supportive and appropriate boundaries when working with families.

Respects and responds appropriately to the culture, language, values, and family structures served in the community.

Demonstrates the ability to be objective, accessible, flexible, and to engender trust and engages in culturally responsive relationships with program staff. Helps site staff gain knowledge about current research-based practices and integrate those practices into their work as appropriate.

Is able to conduct educational opportunities and train site staff and parents.

Is able to provide individual and group opportunities for staff to engage in critical reflections on personal values, experiences, ethics, and biases when working within a supportive role with families.

Maintains knowledge of research-based interventions that support family well-being; facilitates and/or coordinates evidenced based parenting education opportunities.

Supports site staff in building skills around promoting positive parent-child interactions, including the provision of training on transitions for both site staff and families.

Supports ongoing site staff knowledge around community resources so that they are able to connect families with the most appropriate supports.

Enhances the parent-child relationship, and supports parents role as the first and lifelong educators oft heir children through implementing family engagement and governance approaches with site staff.

Communicates with supervisor and management teams to promote regular dialogue with families about child progress and program matters in ways that deepen trust and relationships with families

Works with program management on development of school readiness goals with parent and community input.

Facilitates networks and group activities that support families strengths, interests, and needs; is knowledgeable and supports site staff in gaining skills around group formation, processing, and facilitation.

Understands and promotes Head Start as a part of the broader community (geographically, within early childhood, etc.).

Is knowledgeable and ensures that site staff are familiar with resources and opportunities available in the community for both staff and families in order to enhance family well-being and childrens learning and development.

Participates in the development of systems of communication which ensure site staff are aware of community groups, learning, and volunteer opportunities for families.

Monitors and guides the volunteer opportunities and the in-kind process system wide.

Demonstrates leadership and advocacy, as it relates to ensuring that community resources are aligned and available to meet the needs of families. Uses the community assessment data along with families feedback to develop relevant relationships with community agencies and resources, including the development and maintenance of internal and external professional relationships with community, state, or national groups that will support site staff work with families.

Participate in community and self assessment processes; Content Area Plan and Procedure updating processes relating to governance, parent, family and community engagement.

Has the ability to develop systems to ensure family services staff are aware of and connected to community partners (e.g. presentations, briefings, participation in community events, directories, list serves, and online resources).

Provides opportunities for representatives of trusted community organizations to meet and present their offerings to families (e.g. libraries).

Acts as a member of a comprehensive services team so that family service activities are coordinated and integrated throughout the program.

Is knowledgeable about how to support family engagement strategies in a systemic and integrated manner (see Parent, Family, and Community Engagement Framework).

Collects and analyzes information to find new solutions to challenges as part of ongoing monitoring in order to continuously improve services.

Understands how the Head Start Program Performance Standards, the Head Start Act, and Office of Head Start family engagement and family services technical assistance resources relate to daily work, has a working knowledge of the Head Start management systems and applies this knowledge to develop plans for parent, family, community engagement, and governance.

Utilizes ongoing monitoring to collect and analyze meaningful data around family services and family engagement to improve program services and systems.

Helps site staff gain knowledge about current research-based practices and integrate those practices into their work as appropriate.

Ensures that data collected about families and program quality is meaningful and promotes camaraderie and success among family services staff.

Reviews and analyzes program data related to family engagement and is able to communicate about data and sources in order to develop ideas for program improvement where applicable.

By consulting with parents and program management, shares information about program data sources with stakeholders (e.g. family services staff, parents, Policy Council, community partners).

Coordinates policy council, guides parent committees, and consults with parents and program management on the effectiveness of policy councils and parent committees.

Attends training, Pre-Service, In-service, and conferences as appropriate to the position.

Performs other duties as requested by immediate supervisor necessary to carry out the administrative/programmatic activities necessary to fulfill the goals and objectives of CPLC ECD.

Promotes CPLC ECD in the community through the development of strengthening the formal/informal partnerships, collaborations and engagement in the community events to bring awareness of CPLCECD services.

JOB DEMANDS

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of the job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. The employee frequently is required to sit and use hands along with fingers, to handle or feel. The employee is occasionally required to stand, walk, reach with hands and arms, climb or balance, and stoop, kneel, bending at the waist crouch or crawl. The employee must frequently lift and/or move up to 50 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision. Must have dependable transportation and able to travel (in state/out of state). Must have strong analytical and problem solving skills. Ability to work with a team and communicate clearly and effectively both verbally and in writing. Able to present operational information to personnel at all levels. Must be well organized and able to handle multiple tasks.

CONTINUOUS EDUCATION

Employee will be expected to participate in continuous learning, competency building and maintenance of competency skills. Ongoing professional development as identified in TX Child Care Licensing, Head Start Act (12/7/07) and Head Start Performance Standards (issued 9/1/16) is required annually.

TYPICAL WORKING CONDITIONS

Work is performed in structured environments. The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those encountered while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.

ACCOUNTABILITY

Reports to and is supervised directly by the Family and Community Engagement Services Coordinator in ECD. Employee is also accountable for understanding and complying with CPLC policies and procedures.