Career Center

POSITION SUMMARY: Responsible for supporting ERSEA and Family Services in the Early Learning Programs.Works with ERSEA Manager, ERSEA Supervisors, Family Advocates, and Early Learning staff to ensure quality parent family and community engagement is provided.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS: 

• Ensures all aspects of the Parent, Family and Community Engagement Framework (PFCE) is planned and followed at a site and regional level including all Program-wide events, parent curriculum presentations, parent Connect meetings and Policy Council.
• Coordinates and leads the Parent, Family and Community Engagement Committee (PFCE) and Ensures thePFCE framework and plan is implemented and updated annually.
• Attends, presents and actively participates in training programs, staff meetings, and other meeting/trainings on Family Services.
• Collaborates with the PFCE Committee and ERSEA Manager to develop, implement and operate the Parent, Family and Community Engagement Framework/Plan within Head Start / Early Head Start.
• Ensures all centers meet the requirements of selecting the parent committee officers and Policy Council Provides necessary training to Parent Committee Officers, enabling them to fulfill the functions of the positions.
• Assists with recruiting and training Policy Council Parent and Community Representatives
• Assists Family Advocates in developing and implementing parent training consistent with performance Ensures parent training needs, identified through the Family Needs Assessment, are coordinated and facilitated.
• Assists Family Advocates and Community Outreach Coordinator with overall recruitment activities within the community.

• Actively participates in center/classroom and home base activities, parent meetings and annual parent activities as requested.
• Coordinates with Family Advocates and supports parents in implementing monthly family-focused, center-based parent engagement events.
• Recruits, trains, and assists with scheduling of parent/community volunteers.
• Recruits parents, fathers, and other significant males to participate in Policy Council, center Parent Connect meetings, male advisory group, other parent/male activities and center/classroom activities.
• Develops and implements plans/activities for parents, fathers and other significant males to participate in on-site and community literacy activities.
• Develops, plans, coordinates and implements techniques and training on exemplifying positive leadership skills that will encourage parent and male participants to be actively involved in leadership roles within the community.
• Ensures sites are “parent and father friendly” through the development, implementation and tracking of parent and male activities, programs and materials.

• Plans, organizes and/or coordinates at least two collaborative family-focused fatherhood events per year.
• Leads training for groups of various sizes (2 – 50 staff, parents or community members) on “best practices” for ERSEA, Family Services, Engagement and in-kind tracking.
• Compiles, tracks, analyzes, and assures accuracy of in-kind reporting in a timely Provides monthly reports on parent engagement to the ERSEA Manager.
• Ensures that annual community partnerships and PFCE training is data driven and consistent with performance standard.
• Organizes and maintains parent and family engagement plan files/records.
• Acts as an advocate and role model for Head Start families.
• Regularly provides feedback about parent engagement to staff and parents.
• Actively recruits children for the program.
• Maintains confidentiality in all aspects of client, staff and agency information.
• Creates and maintains effective working interaction with coworkers and outside contacts that will enhance the operation of the Head Start program.

• Participates in ongoing monitoring, Community Assessment and Self-Assessment and performs reasonable related functions.
• Participates in regular safety, storm and fire drills.
• Organizes and prioritizes all assignments as directed.
• Ensures in-kind documentation standards in ChildPlus are met as required by Program.
• Uses and follows the policies/procedures of Head Start, federal, state and local regulations/laws, and federal regulations/laws including the Head Start Performance Standards, applicable transmittal notices, and other administrative orders/directions.
• Uses and follows the policies/procedures of You Thrive Florida, including but not limited to Personnel Policies, Occupational Health and Safety policies, payroll policies/practices, etc.

NON-ESSENTIAL/SECONDARY FUNCTIONS:

Performs any additional duties as directed or assigned by supervisor, management staff, program director or You Thrive Florida management staff. This description is intended to convey information essential to understanding the scope of the position and is not intended to be an exhaustive list of skills, efforts, duties, responsibilities, or working conditions associated with the position.

JOB STANDARDS:

Education: Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university required. Degree in psychology, sociology, human services, or related field preferred. Employee will obtain certification in First Aid/CPR. Within 90 days of employment must begin at least one of the DCF Child Care training courses listed in S.402.305 (2) (d), Florida Statutes. Within eighteen (18) months of hire employee will complete Head Start/Early HeadStart required certification training hours. Employee must complete the Head Start/Early Head Start mandated 55 hours of Florida DCF Child Care Training as outlined in the Family Advocate Career Advancement Criteria. Employee will obtain certification in ERSEA within 1 year of hire date and will maintain annually thereafter.

Experience: 2 years of experience in human services or related field.

Licenses & Certifications: Valid Florida driver’s license and be insurable by Company’s current carrier. Subject to Federal, State and Local legal requirements/background checks/clearance for working with children.

CRITICAL SKILLS, ABILITIES, & EXPERTISE:

Physical Requirements: These physical demands are representative of the physical requirements necessary for an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of the position. Sitting, standing for long periods of time,use of fingers, arms, hands and legs and voice/talking are constant. Good eyesight (correctable) and hearing (correctable) are essential. Squatting, walking, handling, grasping, stretching/reaching, bending at the waist, drivingand light lifting and/or carrying (up to 30 lbs.) are frequent. Pushing, pulling, kneeling, balancing, turning, feeling, medium lifting and/or carrying (up to 60 lbs.) are occasional.

Equipment: Computer, facsimile, copy machine, calculator, switchboard, multi-line phone and other small office and instructional equipment, playground equipment and vehicle.

Skills & Expertise: Ability to work with limited direction. Knowledge of organizational methods. Skills in completing work with a high degree of accuracy. Skill in developing policies, procedures and/or systems for implementing programmatic functions. Ability to evaluate programs and situations and make decisions for improvement. Ability to effectively communicate orally and in writing. Ability to establish effective working relationships with people, including co-workers, parents and children. Ability to analyze and interpret data. Ability to use and operate a personal computer. Skills in public speaking andpublic relations. Ability to work with children with special needs. Knowledge of disability and mental health issues and practices. Ability to maintain child and parent confidentiality. Ability to provide counseling or crisis intervention.Knowledge of community resources.

ENVIRONMENTAL JOB FACTORS:

Job Location: Primary location is the Head Start facilities in Hernando, Sumter and/or Volusia counties. Frequent travelto other counties. As needed, primary job location is subject to change within the program’s operational regions at any given time with reasonable notice provided.

Work Environment: While performing the responsibilities of the position, these work environment characteristics are representative of the environment the employee will encounter. Office environment and working alone and with others frequently. Working with office equipment is frequent. Occasionally outdoors and operates a vehicle.

About You Thrive Florida

You Thrive Florida is a mid-size nonprofit 501(c)(3) Community Action agency dedicated to eliminating the causes of poverty through a comprehensive service delivery approach. Ongoing funding and resources are primarily obtained from “pass through” grants originating at the federal and state levels. The agency also relies heavily on local donors, partners, in-kind contributions, fundraising activities, and volunteer support as a key strategy to long term sustainability.

Connections working at You Thrive Florida