Family Services Specialist

Location: San Francisco,California,United States

Family Services Specialists promote family wellness and parent involvement in the program while acting as a liaison between classroom and home settings in the areas of ERSEA, health and family services. This position supports the larger system of social services coordinated by Head Start/Early Head Start, thereby supporting the goals of the program.

Position: Full-time 

Location: 1550 Evans St. San Francisco CA  ( Req# 1674) - Spanish Required

Primary Responsibilities 

• Learn and follow Early Head Start/Head Start Program Performance Standards, California Department of Education requirements (including eligibility criteria), and all Wu Yee Children’s Services Child Development policies and procedures.
• Maintain and manage a caseload of 20 – 43 families throughout a program year.
• Document in ChildPlus information obtained through family contacts, disability services, enrollment and health screenings.
• Maintain confidentiality of all family information and records in accordance with the Wu Yee Children’s Services Child Development Confidentiality Policy and Procedures.
• Assist the Center Manager in identifying and recruiting eligible families, including the recruitment of children with disabilities to ensure full enrollment at the center including scheduling site tours and orientation meetings, as well as assisting families with documentation and in planning for transition of children into, within, and out of the program options.
• Work with families from the point of application and intake to the program and throughout their enrollment and determine family’s eligibility for child care programs using contract requirements. 
• Process applications on a timely basis and assign priority points according to pre-approved priority guidelines; verify that applications are complete and follow-up on incomplete applications. During this process assist families on issues concerning certification and recertification – gathering appropriate income verification and ensuring ongoing eligibility in the HeadStart and CDE Child Development Program.
• Create and maintain application folders for each applicant by ensuring that all relevant documents (including copies of all correspondence) are correct and immediately included in the file, that all conversations are documented in both the children’s file and on CP.net database system.
• Support ERSEA, center manager, and teachers in educating parents regarding the Wu Yee Children’s Services Child Development Attendance and Tardiness Policy.\Work in collaboration with families, center staff, center manager, content managers and external consultants to help identify all needs of assigned children and families, including special needs of children.
• Establish links and working relationships with appropriate service providers and community agencies.
• In partnership with classroom teachers, outline clearly to parents the results of all screenings and evaluations and the need for additional follow-up services, including immunizations, health, disability, and social services.
• Follow Wu Yee Children’s Services Child Development referral procedures as outlined in the policies and procedures and ensure the completion of all screening, documentation, and follow-up services as
• Encourage assigned families to participate in family orientation, family committee meetings, Policy Council and other family activities.
• Assure that all children and families are in a safe environment at all times in the program and is a mandated reporter of child abuse.
• Work with center manager and teachers to plan home visits, parent-teacher conferences, case conferences, and multi-disciplinary meetings.
•  Assist families in developing Family Partnership Agreements based on strengths and needs throughout the program year.
•  Provide recommendations and referrals for relevant staff or community resources as needed. ∙ Empower parents to develop and foster healthy self-concepts to assist them in fostering healthy self concepts in their children and that they are their child’s first teacher.
• Assist families during transition within Wu Yee Children’s Services Child Development programs, as well as to other centers or community/public programs.
• Perform other duties as needed.

Requirements 

• Bachelor's Degree in Social Work, Human Services, family services, counseling, or related field. Without one of these related degrees you will be required to complete a certification or credential, in one of the above fields within 18 months of hire.
• Knowledge/Experience/Skills Required:
• Two year of relevant family Services work experience preferred.
• Language required for this position is bilingual Spanish/English