The Specialist of Parent, Family and Community Engagement (PFCE) is responsible for supporting the following components of Head Start and Early Head Start programs: Eligibility, Recruitment, Selection, Enrollment and Attendance (ERSEA), family engagement, family development and community partnerships.
This position oversees and works closely with staff on all areas of ERSEA. This entails working in collaboration with Family Service Coordinators, the Specialist of Education & Inclusion and/or Center Directors to maintain full enrollment in funded classroom slots. By assuming responsibility for development and oversight of family service systems, the PFCE Specialist secures opportunities for families to identify their own strengths, needs and interests.
In addition, the PFCE Specialist ensures families have opportunities to build on their knowledge and skill base to find their own solutions. Duties also extend to developing a parent and community volunteer program, and developing relationships with community partners to whom families can be referred for services. The PFCE Specialist makes certain that family and community partnerships are supported by staff and/or consultants who have experience in fields related to human services. At the core of the PFCE Specialist’s role is continuing to deepen understanding of parent, family and community engagement, and implementing such knowledge through high quality collaborations that promote family sustainability.
Lastly, the PFCE Specialist serves as the Corporate Secretary of the Head Start Policy Council and assists the Program Director with meeting logistics, materials, etc. in line with the Head Start Program Performance Standards.
As a frontline representative of Save the Children, the position holder is required to ensure the safety and security of children and families and represent the agency values of Accountability, Ambition, Collaboration, Creativity and Integrity.
As a Save the Children employee who will come into contact with children on a routine basis, the position is expected to prevent child abuse in every situation by striving, through mental awareness, good practice and training to minimize risk to children. The position must take positive steps to protect children who may be a subject of concern and report, respond to any instance of child abuse, and promote training and awareness around all child-safeguarding obligations.
- Ensure complete and accurate collection, entry, reporting and maintenance of data related to family development services.
- If in a supervisory position: direct supervision of Family Service Coordinators (FSCs)
- If in a non-supervisory role: provision of technical support to FSCs and their supervisors as needed
- Responsible for the collection, entry, reporting and maintenance of ERSEA records related to program operations including Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP).
- In coordination with the Specialist of Education & Inclusion, ensure that vacancies are filled within 30 days, eligibility is properly determined, enrollment includes 10% children with special needs, recruitment is active/ongoing and that funded enrollment is achieved and maintained.
- Track daily attendance data and the program staff’s timely follow-up with families on tardiness and absenteeism.
- Visit all classrooms on a regular basis (4-6 hours per month per site) to conduct observations and support teaching staff in promoting parent involvement, provide training and technical assistance and coach teachers as they support parents in understanding their role in their child’s educational success.
- Prepare and distribute monthly reports, such as attendance, enrollment, etc.
- Ensure that electronic data collected can be reported accurately to grant officers.
- Provide training and technical assistance and build capacity by working directly with staff, parents and community partners to ensure high-quality programs.
- Responsible for tracking that all parents have been offered the opportunity to establish a Family Partnership Agreement and the tracking of strengths, needs, goals, referrals, individual contacts, home visits and follow-ups.
- Provide or arrange for training and technical assistance to staff and parents based upon pertinent issues/interests expressed in the Family Outcomes Assessment. This may include: advocacy, family literacy, sustainability, child development, health, parenting skills and other topics as identified.
- Provide support to staff in developing parent training opportunities. Track and maintain documentation of parent meetings and training.
- Ensure the PFCE Framework is a systematic component of programming, services and management systems.
- Assist in the monitoring and reporting of services to ensure high quality support, positive child outcomes and achievement of school readiness goals.
- Attend case coordination meetings with other staff in order to fully integrate services.
- Design, implement and monitor the volunteer program to include the recruitment and training of parent and community volunteers for the program.
- Work collaboratively to train on and distribute the Volunteer Handbook.
- Ensure that all regular volunteers have completed the appropriate paperwork and that records are maintained in a locked file cabinet.
- Serve as Secretary of the Policy Council as needed.
- Assist in arranging Policy Council meetings, preparing and posting agendas, reserving facilities and arrangement of food.
- Perform other duties as assigned by the Program Director.
- Experience of at least 3 years in a position that directly relates to the provision and management of family services for young children and their families, as well as supervisory experience.
- Strong interpersonal, communication and organizational skills.
- Ability to work collaboratively with other staff and community partners in the provision of high-quality services and resources to families.
- Clear criminal records check (including child abuse registry check if required by state regulations) and pass all state and local health requirements required post job offer and prior to employment. To drive agency vehicles (if applicable), must have a valid driver’s license and be insurable by the Save the Children Head Start insurance carrier and have a Motor Vehicle Record acceptable to Save the Children Head Start. Current and former Head Start/Early Head Start parents will receive preference for employment vacancies for which they are qualified.
Preferred Qualifications
- Advanced degree in early childhood development, social work, adult learning or a related family/human services field.
- Previous Head Start experience.
- Aetna Medical and Dental insurance with a concierge service
- Health Care and Dependent Care Flexible Spending Account
- Vision Insurance
- Life Insurance
- Employee Assistance Program
- Paid Holidays
What makes us special!
- Generous Retirement Savings with matching company contributions
- Pet Insurance, Critical Illness Insurance, Identity Protection, Home, Auto and additional Life insurances
- Leadership and Employee Development Training, including:
- Our remarkable in-house CORE, Senior Management Development, and Leadership Development Programs
- Language learning opportunities
- Continuous Improvement skill development programs
- Brown Bag information sharing sessions