Family Support Specialist

POSITION: Family Support Specialist

• 20 hours per week, 43 weeks per year
• $23.97 - $32.87 per hour (up to $28,268 annually), Depending on Experience
• Employee Wellness and EAP
• 401(k) and 401(k) Matching
• Sick Leave
• Work with a team of supportive, knowledgeable providers
• In-home visits with local travel to communities and centers
• Based out of Encompass Preschool, Carnation, WA

SCOPE: The Family Support Specialist (FSS) provides coordination, case management, information, and referral to community resources for families with children in the Early Childhood Education and Assistance Program (ECEAP), as well as provide program administrative support as needed.  

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Recruitment, Enrollment and Orientation

• Organize and conduct an ongoing recruitment effort to ensure full enrollment in the ECEAP program. The FSS will maintain an outreach, recruitment, and enrollment process throughout the school year.  
•  Organize and conduct enrollment activities, interview parents to determine program eligibility, verify income and obtain necessary parent permission for ECEAP activities.  
• Organize and conduct parent orientations to ECEAP, including rights and responsibilities in ECEAP. Coordinate with other preschool staff to integrate the orientation process for ECEAP and non-ECEAP parents.  

Family Support/Case Management

• Assist families in recognizing their strengths, setting goals and planning how to meet their goals through the development of a Family Goal Plan; work in partnership with families to overcome barriers, meet their stated goals; provide family support services during the program year; offer information and referral to non-ECEAP families in Encompass Early Learning programs as needed; assist families to access resources in the community; work with diverse populations and access interpreters as needed; maintain flexible hours to provide services when parents are available (this is specifically listed in the DCYF performance standards). 
• Crisis Intervention: Provide support to families experiencing a crisis and refer them to emergency assistance and crisis intervention providers as appropriate. This applies to ECEAP and non-ECEAP families, as needed.  

Parent Partnerships

• Promote parent, staff, and community partnerships in the ECEAP program through various methods (e.g., parent meetings, newsletters, parent trainings, home visits, Policy Council, volunteer opportunities, other agency programs and through other strategies supported by the agency).
• Encourage parents to participate in the decisions concerning the education of their children and support families involved in program leadership activities. Encourage families to get involved in other Encompass program activities as appropriate.  
• Work with families and the program team to ensure smooth transitions to before-and after-school care and between ECEAP and Kindergarten. 
• Family Events: Plan and facilitate family events that respond to specific training interests and information requests through parent input throughout the year; work with the preschool team and parents to plan and conduct/facilitate family events.  

Administrative and Record Keeping

• Maintain accurate records including enrollment information, family goals, documentation of referrals made and follow-up and contact hours according to ECEAP program standards.
• Track and submit documentation.
• Compile and submit monthly report information and other required records.
• Documentation and reporting must be completed and submitted to the appropriate person, department, and/or agency on or before the required due date. 
• Program Budget Accountability: Responsible for keeping records of parent activity and other job-related expenses.  

Collaboration

• Participate in staffing for children and families with program and therapy staff.  
• Collaborate with staff at Puget Sound Educational Service District and at local agencies, establish linkages with community members and agencies to promote and enhance services for ECEAP families, and maintain linkages through attending pertinent community-based meetings.  
• Collaborate and communicate with preschool, family support and therapy staff in a timely manner to provide consistent services and referrals for families. 

Other duties as assigned. 

QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work or related field with 2 years demonstrated, successful experience working with at risk, low-income families.  
• Demonstrated knowledge of human services systems.  
• Acknowledge, value, and operate according to the family support principles.  
• Bilingual Spanish a plus  
• Ability to work independently and as a member of a team  
• Excellent oral and written communication skills  
• Basic computer skills (includes MS Office suite – Word, Excel, Share Point, Outlook)  

REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES

• Knowledge of community resources for families and appropriate referral procedures  
• Ability to work effectively with diverse populations and people with limited income  
• Ability to organize your own work and to work independently  

CERTIFICATION AND LICENSES

Required prior to first day of employment:

• Documentation of TB screening, MMR results
• Cleared Portable Background Check through the Department of Child, Youth, and Family Services (DCYF)
• MERIT registration and obtain a STARTS ID
• Food and Beverage Handler’s Permit
• Reliable transportation and Washington state driver’s license.  

Required within 45 days of hire:

• First aid and CPR card
• Other training courses as required of role

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

• The physical requirements indicated below are examples of the physical aspects that this position classification must perform in carrying out essential job functions.  
• Persons performing service in this position classification will exert 10 to 20 pounds of force frequently to lift, carry push, pull, or otherwise move objects. 
• This type of work involves sitting, walking, or standing, and may involve some running.  

Perceiving the nature of sound, near and far visual acuity, depth perception, providing oral information, the manual dexterity to operate business related equipment, and handle and work with various materials and objects are important aspects of this job.

Encompass is a private nonprofit serving the Snoqualmie Valley and Issaquah communities for over 50 years. Our mission is to partner with families to build healthy foundations for children. We believe what happens early in life matters. We offer high quality, leading edge early childhood educational and therapeutic services to all children in our communities.

Encompass is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Qualified applicants receive consideration for employment without discrimination based on gender, marital status, race, color, religion, national origin, age, or the presence of a non job related medical condition or handicap.

The information in this job description has been designed to indicate the general nature and level of work performed by employees in this job.  It is not designed to contain or be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities, and qualifications of employees in this job.

Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable a person with a disability to perform the essential functions of the job.