Family Support Coach - Model Center

Essential Duties

• Family Navigator/Pathways
  • Leads the two-generation post-secondary/employment pathways and economic supports efforts.
  • Ensures that targeted families participate in the Bridge Assessment which includes goal setting.
  • Buils relationships with agencies and organizations in the community that are potential resources for families.
  • Plans regular workshops and/or guest speakers in the areas of post-secondary/employment pathways and economic supports.
• Family Engagement /Transition
  • Leads the two-generation social capital efforts.
  • Utilizes all informal and formal opportunities to build and maintain relationships with families.
  • Promotes parent leadership by actively including parents in planning and implementing activities.
  • Facilitates networks and group activities that support families’ strengths, interests and needs.
  • Promotes and build families’ knowledge of child development and parenting skills.
  • Involves families in advocacy issues.
  • Works collaboratively with parent leaders and center management team to coordinate fundraisers.
  • Provides opportunities for families to engage in literacy and learning activities with their child.
  • Observes and participates in the classroom as a strategy to support the center staff team and to share information with parents about their child’s development.
  • Collaborates with the teaching staff to conduct home visits, parent/teacher conferences and parent meetings.
  • Leads the internal planning and subsequent involvement of parents in all of their children’s program transitions, i.e. into the program, from EHS to PHS and from HS to Kindergarten.
  • Develops working relationships with local schools to help coordinate the successful transition of children and families.
  • Assembles a center-based transition team to assist with planning transition activities.
  • Promotes good attendance using Attendance Works! Strategies and follows the proper procedures for documenting attendance in Procare and following up with families.
  • Plans and coordinates the Parent Leadership Organization (PLO) with parent leaders and the center management team.
  • Implements the Fostering Family Leaders Program or similar parent curriculums on an annual basis.
  • Helps plan, facilitate or co-facilitate the Parent Leadership Organization (PLO) Boot Camp at least annually.
• Health and Wellness
  • Follows Sheltering Arms procedures for referring children for further professional evaluation when necessary.
  • Work cooperatively with the Nutrition, Health and School Readiness Specialists and/or Consultants.
  • Ensures that all children have appropriate health records and screenings on file with the appropriate time period according to Sheltering Arms procedures (ASQ immunizations, health checks, EED, dental exam, etc.).
  • Coordinates and facilitates Healthy Beginnings meetings.
  • Provides support and resources to parents of children with special/mental health/health needs.
  • Ensures that any special nutritional needs of children are met.
  • Makes referrals and link children and families to needed community resources; follow-up on referrals made and outcomes to ensure the needs of families are met.
  • Select parents for participation in the Health and Wellness Advisory Committee.
  • Attends Health and Wellness Advisory Committee (HWAC) meetings.
• Teamwork & Professionalism
  • Participates as an active and responsible member of the center management team.
  • Demonstrates a belief in the philosophy of Sheltering Arms.
  • Creates a positive, welcoming climate for families.
  • Has a good attendance record and informs the center director when planning to be absent.
  • Follows center rules.
  • Maintains a professional appearance and conducts self in a professional manner at all times.
  • Is a willing learner and accepts constructive criticism.
  • Displays energy and enthusiasm in performing the FSC job.

Knowledge, Abilities, and Skills

• Ability to collaborate with families to develop goals and to provide clear feedback about their progress
• Excellent analytical and listening skills
• Excellent communication skills, both written and oral
• Ability to work effectively with community partners
• Must be familiar with best practices for family-centered, quality early childhood education
• Must be able to facilitate parent meetings and workshops
• Must have basic computer skills
• Must be able to visually observe and hear children from all areas of the classroom and playground from a distance of at least 70 feet
• Be able to sit on the floor to interact with children

Education, Training, and Experience

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in family and consumer sciences; child and family development; social work or closely related field with at least two years of experience in a family support type position.

Physical Demands

• Must be able to lift 50 lbs

Special Requirements

• Evaluation: Performance of this job will be evaluated consistent with Sheltering Arms evaluation policy.