P POSITION SUMMARY

The Family Support Manager leads the NCCs School Family Support staff and the interdisciplinary team in the engagement and involvement of families through activities, practices, and services that support parents as the primary nurturers, experts, and teachers of their child to promote and sustain their child’s learning, development and academic and life success. The primary focus for the work of the Family Support staff is the parent/child relationship, engaging around that relationship at every opportunity with parents, and with other members of the NCC interdisciplinary team.

Full-Time, Exempt, Salaried

REPORTING RELATIONSHIPS

The Family Engagement Manager reports to the Executive Director.

MAJOR RESPONSIBILITIES AND KEY TASKS

• Supporting the development of the parent-child relationship as children grow and develop from infants to age five.

• Developing strategies with families that help them appreciate and contribute to the educational activities of NCC and successfully use their own voices to advocate on behalf of their children and themselves.

• Promoting parents’ overall participation in program governance

• Leading the internal planning and subsequent involvement of parents in all of their children’s program transitions, i.e., into the program

• Supporting Family Support Specialists in the use of child screening, assessment and progress data to inform the development of goals in the Family Partnership Agreement

  Interdisciplinary Work and Collaboration

• Participating in Program Partnerships and processes of continuous quality improvement and, in conjunction with the Local Evaluation Partner, ensuring completion of family questionnaires and coordination of timely feedback to Family Support staff

• Leading efforts to engage and involve parents with the program, especially child development and learning, in collaboration with Teachers, Instructional Coaches, and Director and/or Assistant Director of ELC

• Participating in Family/Child Reviews (FCRs) and, in conjunction with the Teachers, ensuring FCR action plans are followed and progress monitored.

• Collaborating with the Director and/or Assistant Director of ELC, Health Coordinator, Family and Community Engagement Coordinator to facilitate completion of Case Consultations and Special Education eligibility, planning and implementation processes when warranted.

• Collaboration with the program/school nurse in support of families remaining current with childcare licensing and Head Start health requirements including (but not limited to) well baby examination.

• Partnering with educators and education leadership, Family Support and other support staff (i.e., mental health, disabilities) to plan and implement targeted and intensive interventions for children displaying challenging behaviors.

• Developing working relationships with local schools to help coordinate the successful transition of children and families from NCC to their next quality school of choice.

  Administrative Support

• Ensures all Head Start performance standards, NCCs core features, state and local licensing requirements, and other funder requirements related to education are met.

• Monitors and ensures Family Partnership Agreements and other required documentation for children and families are completed.

• Participates in the development of program policies, service delivery plans, and ongoing monitoring of program quality.

• Ensures all assigned program area reports are completed and submitted on a timely basis.

• Ensure all confidential information is protected.

• Leads family support team in developing plans and implementation of all recruitment efforts of program participants and maintains full program enrollment.

• Responsible for entering and monitoring data into database systems (e.g., ChildPlus, waitlist enrollment spreadsheet)

• Participates with Human Resources to recruit and hire Family Support staff and facilitates hiring approval

• Establishes Family Support staff schedules, including approval of time off requests.

  Professional Development

• Reflective Supervision - Providing Family Support Specialists with a predictable schedule of reflective supervision to support, develop, and evaluate their performance through a process of inquiry that encourages their understanding and articulation of the rationale for their own practices

• Reflective Practice Groups/Communities of Practice – Facilitating or coordinating reflective practice groups comprised of staff sharing the same role to improve professional practice through shared inquiry, reflection and learning, including solving practical implementation dilemmas related to engagement with families

• Child Development – Ensuring that Family Support Specialists and related staff are provided with opportunities to increase their knowledge of child development, including training in proactive, positive approaches to discipline and intervention with children and families with challenging behaviors

  Other

• Attends all required meetings and trainings, including supervisory trainings

• Performs other duties as assigned within the scope of the job description

  Educational Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree or higher Master’s degree in Social Work, Family Studies, Human Development or a related field.

• Five (5) years of directly related experience working with families in a community-based Head Start or family support program

• At least one year of experience in an Early Childhood setting

  ADDITIONAL JOB REQUIREMENTS

• Clearance of background check as required by local, state, and federal regulations

• Physical examination and diagnostic tests as required by local, state, and federal

  Regulations

• A bi-annual physical exam, drug screen, and TB test are required as a condition of continual employment

  Required Skills and Abilities

• Knowledge of and ability to implement parent education strategies and activities

• Ability to remain abreast of developments in the fields of family studies and child development.

• Demonstrated leadership abilities and ability to utilize reflective supervision.

• Knowledge of and ability to assess, analyze, and interpret Head Start Standards, state and local licensing requirements and the organization’s philosophy.

• Ability to work as a cooperative and supportive member of an interdisciplinary team.

• Ability to communicate and cooperate with diverse families, various professionals and community groups.

• Ability and willingness to work in a program located in a high-risk, low-income community.

• Ability to exercise discretion in handling confidential information and materials.

• Intermediate knowledge of computer applications and the ability to learn and master computer technology/software programs as needed.

• Ability to communicate and respond in a manner that consistently demonstrates respect and concern.

  Essential Job Functions

• Must have good written, verbal, communication, and organizational skills.

• Must become knowledgeable about current Head Start and OSSE Childcare and OSSE pre-kindergarten guidelines, including the rules and regulations affecting the families served.

• Must be able to manually operate a computer and other office equipment.

• Must be able to travel within the community (i.e., parents’ homes, community agencies, etc.), may require climbing stairs.

  COVID-19 Vaccination Information :

  You are required to be FULLY vaccinated for COVID-19 prior to your first day of employment.

  NCC is an Equal Opportunity Employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration without regard to race, color, creed, religion, national origin, ethnicity, gender, age, marital status, sexual orientation, disability, veteran status, or any other legally protected status.