ECEAP Family Support & Health Specialist

About the Role

The Family Support & Health Specialist is an integral member of the ECEAP comprehensive services team and is responsible for coordinating family support, family engagement, and child health services in alignment with Washington State ECEAP Performance Standards, Child Care Action Council policies, and ECEAP contract deliverables.

This position provides direct support to children and families through relationship-based family partnerships, health coordination, referrals, follow-up, classroom connection, and community resource navigation. The Family Support & Health Specialist partners with families to identify strengths, needs, goals, and barriers; ensures required health and family support documentation is complete and current; and supports children's healthy development, regular attendance, family well-being, and school readiness.

Responsibilities

• Build authentic, respectful relationships with families using strengths-based, trauma-informed, culturally responsive, and family-centered practices.
• Partner with families to identify strengths, priorities, needs, goals, and resources through ongoing communication, family conferences, family support visits, and individualized planning.
• Support families in developing, reviewing, and making progress toward family goals that promote child development, family stability, well-being, and school readiness.
• Help families navigate community services and resources, including health care, dental care, mental health, developmental services, housing, food access, transportation, employment, education, and other identified needs.
• Complete, document, and follow up on family support contacts, family conferences, family support visits, referrals, resource connections, and goal progress in accordance with ECEAP Performance Standards and program timelines.
• Develop trusting, responsive relationships with children through daily interactions and participation in classroom activities.
• Support children's sense of belonging, emotional safety, and connection within the classroom environment.
• Regularly participate in classroom routines, learning experiences, transitions, meals, activities, and other daily classroom duties to support children and staff.
• Collaborate with teaching staff to support children's individual strengths, interests, and developmental needs.
• Coordinate, monitor, and document child health requirements, including medical, dental, vision, hearing, immunization, developmental screening, health history, and follow-up documentation.
• Partner with families to identify health, dental, developmental, mental health, nutrition, attendance, and access-to-care needs and support timely referrals and follow-up.
• Collaborate with families, teachers, program leadership, health consultants, and community providers to address barriers that impact children's health, attendance, participation, or learning.

Qualifications

• Associate degree in Early Childhood Education, Human Services, Family Studies, Social Work, Public Health, or related field.
• Experience working with young children and families in an early learning, education, social service, or community-based setting.
• Knowledge of child development and family-centered practices.
• Ability to build respectful relationships with families from diverse backgrounds.
• Strong communication, organization, and collaboration skills.
• Commitment to equity, inclusion, and culturally responsive practices.

Preferred qualifications include experience working in ECEAP, Head Start, or another comprehensive early learning program, knowledge of Washington State ECEAP Performance Standards, experience coordinating health services or community resources, and bilingual or multilingual skills.

Physical Requirements

The ability to actively participate in a preschool classroom environment, sit on the floor, kneel, bend, lift, and engage physically with young children. The ability to travel for home visits, community meetings, and program activities as needed.

Benefits

• Health Insurance (80% employer paid)
• Dental Insurance
• Vision Insurance
• Paid Leave
• Sick Leave
• Retirement Plan
• Tuition Assistance
• Professional Development

Benefits are provided starting the 1st day of the month following hire.