Program Manager ERSEA

VOALA

Helping Our Most Vulnerable Change Their Life Stories

Volunteers of America is a non-profit human services organization committed to serving people in need, strengthening families, and building communities. VOALA provides a variety of social services to Los Angeles area communities such as Head Start programs, Upward Bound college prep programs, veterans’ services, homeless shelters, low-income housing programs as well as drug and alcohol rehabilitation. Learn more at www.voala.org.

PAY RATE: $85,215 - $89,700 PER YEAR

BENEFITS: VOALA offers competitive medical, dental, vision and retirement benefits.

HEAD START/EARLY HEAD START

Through our Head Start and Early Head Start programs, we work with children (ages 0 – 5) and their families to provide the skills, confidence and stable home life necessary for a smooth transition into kindergarten and beyond. Children also receive a broad array of health services including screenings and referrals, maintenance of immunization schedules, nutrition assessments and follow-ups, mental health assessments as part of initial screenings, and determination if any developmental or physical delays are present. Children receive health and dental services and have access to ongoing and acute and routine health and dental care. Enrolled children receive healthy meals, along with an assessment of their nutritional needs and the necessary follow-ups. Nutrition education is available for parents and incorporated into daily classroom activities for the children.

Cities served include: Carson, Commerce, Compton, Culver City, Del Rey, East Los Angeles, El Segundo, Harbor City, Hawthorne, South Central Los Angeles, Lomita, Lynwood, Mar Vista, Newhall, North Hollywood, Pacoima, Palms, Paramount, Rancho Palos Verdes, San Fernando, San Pedro, Santa Clarita, Shadow Hills, South Central Los Angeles, South LA, Studio City, Sun Valley, Sunland, Sylmar, Torrance, Tujunga, Val Verde, Valencia, Valley Village, Wilmington.

JOB SUMMARY AND PURPOSE

The ERSEA Program Manager is responsible for managing the Eligibility, Recruitment, Selection, Enrollment, and Attendance (ERSEA) processes in accordance with Head Start Performance Standards, and State and Federal policies. This position plays a vital role in ensuring that eligible children and families have access to services, maintaining accurate records, and promoting community awareness about Head Start availability. The Program Manager analyzes, plans, and implements ERSEA systems and provides training related to these systems for all of the VOALA Children’s Services programs.

Specific duties include:

• Develop and implement strategies for recruiting eligible children and families, particularly those from under-served and high-need areas. Organize and participate in community outreach events, informational sessions, and partnerships with local agencies to promote the Head Start program. Ensure up-to-date recruitment materials are available in appropriate languages and formats for all potential families;
• Evaluate, design, and monitor systems to process enrollment applications, including the determination of eligibility and selection criteria. Provide input and solutions to develop and or revise the agency’s ERSEA systems, policies, and procedures;
• Ensure all applicants meet the eligibility requirements as outlined by Head Start Performance Standards and State Preschool guidelines. Maintain accurate, confidential, and up-to-date records of applicants and ensure compliance with the income guidelines, family size, and other eligibility criteria;
• Oversee the selection process based on priority criteria, including income, disabilities, homelessness, and foster care status. Ensure the process is fair, transparent, and compliant with Head Start regulations. Maintain a selection waitlist and monitor vacancies, offering spaces to eligible families in a timely manner;
• Ensure the timely enrollment of eligible children into the program. Review and verify all required documentation for enrollment (birth certificates, immunization records, etc.). Ensure that families are provided with necessary information and resources upon enrollment, including program policies, schedules, and expectations. Ensure full enrollment at all times;
• Track daily attendance and ensure that attendance records are maintained accurately. Ensure staff are in contact with families regarding chronic absenteeism and work with them to resolve attendance-related issues. Coordinate with other program staff to ensure that attendance concerns are addressed proactively;
• Ensure that all ERSEA proce