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Head Start Family Support Specialist

Washtenaw Intermediate School District
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The WISD's Mission Washtenaw ISD educates, serves, and advocates with students, families, schools, and the community. We disrupt racial inequities, build just educational systems, and expand access for all learners. We value human potential while striving to support current and future generations of Washtenaw County to enrich as many lives as we possibly can.


The WISD’s Vision is to be a leader in empowering, facilitating, and delivering high-quality, boundary-spanning, educational system that educates all children through an equitable, inclusive, and holistic approach.
 
SUMMARY:
The Head Start Family Support Specialist, under general supervision, provides consistent and multi-faceted case management and support to the children and families being served through the Head Start and Early Head Start (Home-based and Center-based) program. This position works in partnership with families, along with teachers and Home-based Parent Educators to develop and achieve Family Partnership Goals, refer and support access to community resources, conduct health screenings, and ensure that families are receiving the full scope of Head Start services. This position is heavily rooted in social services and requires detailed knowledge of community resources available to those being served in the Head Start program. This position will work closely with the Help Me Grow Specialist and the Family and Community Partnerships Specialist to meet the needs of enrolled families. The Head Start Family Support Specialist also conducts initial application and enrollment appointments for new families.
 
ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

  • Demonstrates a strong commitment to equity, social justice, and inclusion in all practices and position responsibilities.
  • Demonstrates the ability to examine how his/her/their position (directly or indirectly) impacts educational inequities in student achievement outcomes.
  • Engages in reflection and ongoing learning and development on critical concepts and terms identified in the Washtenaw ISD Educational Equity Policy including concepts such as cultural proficiency, racial equity, and systemic and structural inequities.
  • Assists in ensuring maximum enrollment for Head Start programs and the creation/maintenance of a waitlist by actively recruiting families within the community.
  • Assists families throughout the enrollment process (completing paperwork, obtaining documents, scheduling needed physical and dental exams among other possibilities), meeting with families on site, off site, or in their homes to complete their applications.
  • Conducts health history, nutrition, hearing, and vision screenings for applicants.
  • Obtains dental and well-child visit records from parent/caregivers, and/or dental and physicians’ offices and provide follow-up as needed.
  • Works with families in partnership with teachers and Home-based Parent Educators on an individual basis to encourage, motivate and assist them in setting and achieving family goals.
  • Assists families in developing ways to break down barriers that keep them from participating in provided programs and community activities.
  • Supports home visitors in assisting families in carrying out social service recommendations or referrals; in some cases, attending appointments with families.
  • Maintains an accurate, up to date family service record on each assigned Head Start family.
  • Promotes and assists in providing parent engagement in all facets of the Head Start Program.
  • Plans and co-facilitates parent committee meetings.
  • Plans and facilitates family socializations and activities.
  • Attends home visits as needed.
  • Participates in the transition process for children exiting the Early Head Start program and entering a Head Start classroom in one of our partner or sub-recipient programs (including completing the application with the family to ensure timely transition).
  • Provides training for volunteers, and at times, Policy Council and/or Parent Committee members.
  • Attends meetings and completes all required training.
  • Serves on various committees, task forces or other countywide workgroups, as directed.
  • Maintains regular predictable attendance.
  • Performs other related duties as assigned.

 
SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES:

  •  N/A

 
QUALIFICATIONS:
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. Alternative requirements that may be appropriate and acceptable to the Board of Education may be considered.  The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill and/or ability required.  Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
 
EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE:

  • Bachelor’s degree in Human Services, Social Work or Early Childhood - required.
  • Experience working in a Head Start program - preferred.
  • Knowledge of the Federal Head Start Program, policies, procedures, rules and regulations related to Head Start including Performance Standards, Grants, and Service Plans.
  • Knowledge of early childhood programs, related services (i.e., health, dental/oral health, mental health, human services, etc.) and financing.
  • Experience working with low-income and high-risk families.
  • Possesses an understanding of the needs of and demands faced by Head Start families.
  • Possesses a genuine empathy for, and understanding of, families with young children.
  • Excellent organizational, leadership and interpersonal skills.
  • Experience working as part of a team.
  • Possesses knowledge of administrative practices and procedures, filing, and preparing business correspondences.
  • Such alternatives to the above qualifications as the Board may find appropriate and acceptable
     

CERTIFICATES, LICENSES, REGISTRATIONS:

  • Current valid driver’s license and reliable transportation is necessary to ensure completion of duties required.


LANGUAGE SKILLS:

  • Demonstrates ability to read, analyze and interpret periodicals and professional journals.
  • Demonstrates ability to write reports and business correspondence.
  • Demonstrates ability to effectively present information and respond to questions from groups of educators, customers, and the general public.
  • Demonstrates ability to express self clearly, both orally and in writing.
  • Excellent oral and written communication skills.

 
TECHNICAL SKILLS:

  • Demonstrates proficiency in the use of a personal computer (PC) or MAC in a networked environment to utilize the Internet and other electronic communications mechanisms such as email, conferencing, bulletin boards, etc.
  • Demonstrates excellent knowledge of productivity applications such as Microsoft Office (word processing, spreadsheets, databases and presentation software) and other technology to support efficient and effective office operation as required.
  • Demonstrates ability to read and interpret general business periodicals, professional journals, technical procedures, governmental regulations and forms.
  • Demonstrates ability to integrate technology into the everyday workflow as necessary.
  • Demonstrates ability to implement new technologies as they become available.

 
MATHEMATICAL SKILLS:

  • Demonstrates ability to apply the concepts of basic math, algebra and geometry consistent with the duties of this position.

 
REASONING ABILITY:

  • Exhibits a high proficiency in areas of problem-solving, organizational dynamics, and emotional intelligence.
  • Demonstrates ability to solve practical problems and deal with a variety of concrete variables in situations where only limited standardization exists.
  • Demonstrates ability to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, diagram, or schedule form.
  • Exhibits a high level of professionalism with the ability to handle confidential information, use good judgment, plan, and handle complex projects while maintaining a flexible attitude.
  • Demonstrates ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts and draw valid conclusions.
  • Demonstrates excellent records management skills and practices.
  • Demonstrates excellent data management and assessment skills.

 
INTERPERSONAL SKILLS:

  • Demonstrates ability to work effectively and collaboratively with other departments, agencies and individuals. 
  • Exhibits excellent organizational, leadership and interpersonal skills.
  • Demonstrates ability to work independently with management guidance.
  • Exhibits excellent customer service and communication skills with a family-centered focus.
  • Demonstrates ability to build rapport with others and to serve diverse publics.
  • Exhibits ability to take the initiative, work well with others as a collaborative team member.
  • Demonstrates ability to work effectively and collaboratively with other departments, agencies and individuals.
  • Exhibits excellent interpersonal skills.

 
PHYSICAL DEMANDS:
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.  Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. 

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to stand, walk, sit, talk, see and hear.  The employee is occasionally required to stoop, kneel, crouch, crawl and reach with hands and arms.  The employee is continuously repeating the same hand, arm or finger motion many times. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 35 pounds such as books and training material. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distant vision and the ability to adjust focus. Frequent travel and/or driving to various off-site locations is required. The position requires the individual to sometimes work irregular or extended work hours and meet multiple demands from several people.

ENVIRONMENTAL ADAPTABILITY:
The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job.  Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. 

The noise level in the work environment is quiet to loud depending upon the activity in the particular part of the day. The employee may be required to be outdoors for periods of time, and therefore subject to varying weather conditions, for purposes of accomplishing the essential functions of this job.
 
FUNCTIONS OF POSITION DESCRIPTION:
This position description has been prepared to define the general duties of the position, provide examples of work and to detail the required knowledge, skills and ability as well as the acceptable experience and training for the position.  The description is not intended to limit or modify the right of any supervisor to assign, direct and control the duties of employees under supervision.  The WISD retains and reserves any and all rights to change, modify, amend, add to or delete from any portion of this description in its sole judgment. This position description is not a contract for employment. 

The WISD is an equal opportunity employer, in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act.  The District will provide reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities and encourages both prospective and current employees to discuss potential accommodations with the employer.
 
TERMS: 
Salary and other employment conditions to be established by the Board of Education as reflected in the Non-Affiliated and Early Childhood Personnel 2025-2028 Manual. Starting Salary ranging from (dependent upon experience) $51,580 - $63,404.

The WISD is an equal opportunity employer, in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act.  The District will provide reasonable accommodation to qualified individuals with disabilities and will encourage both prospective and current employees to discuss potential accommodations with the employer.

Washtenaw Intermediate School District is a drug-free workplace.

It is the policy and commitment of the Washtenaw Intermediate School District not to discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, disability, age, height, weight, familial status, marital status, genetic information, sexual orientation or any legally protected characteristic, in its educational programs, activities, admissions, or employment policies in accordance with Title IX of the 1972 Educational Amendments, executive order 11246 as amended, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and all other pertinent state and Federal regulations.