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Title: Head Start Family Engagement Specialist (Child Care Partnership) - 998310

Position Number: 998310

Unit/Department: Drake Head Start

FTE: Full Time

Drake Head Start:

The Mission of Head Start and Early Head Start is a noble one: “better preparing young children and their families for life experiences now and in the future.”

Drake University Head Start and Early Head Start programs support the comprehensive development of children from birth to age 5, in classroom settings, home-based programs, & childcare partner locations.

Job Summary:

Drake University Head Start is seeking a qualified candidate that would be responsible for working with an assigned group of families to provide parent education, assist in the development of Family Partnership Plans and family driven goals, and assist with providing social service information and community resource referrals to families.

The ideal candidate for our Child Care Partnership (CCP) Family Engagement Specialist will be resourceful and culturally competent.

Minimum Qualifications:

• B.S. or B.A. in social work, psychology, sociology, human services, child, parent and family services or related field required.

• At least 1 year of experience working with families on a professional basis.

• Current Driver's License and ability to be insured by University's insurance carrier

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience as a social worker of employment with IHHS

• Head Start Experience

Job Duties:

35% - Implement a comprehensive, individualized and developmentally appropriate parent engagement and education program responsive to parent needs, concerns, and requests, and that supports parents in their role as the primary influence and advocate in their children’s lives. Support Family wellbeing, strengthen resiliency, and healthy development of child. Develop and deliver family involvement programs and educational events and encourage families to participate in the Head Start and Early Head Start programs and to become leaders in program governance. Utilize evaluation tools and complete documentation to determine effectiveness of family involvement programs and educational events. - (Essential)

25% - Liaison with teaching staff, nurse, and mental health consultant to promote and maintain family wellbeing. In collaboration with other staff, assess each family’s need for social services to provide comprehensive community resource information to families, individualizing to respond to the family’s need and concerns to the maximum extent possible. Partner with families to develop an individualized plan with family driven goals in response to the family’s need. Review and update goals, plan, and resource needs as appropriate. Follow up on health, attendance, and other documentation as necessary. Ensure timely and accurate paper and electronic documentation. - (Essential)

10% - Work with the Eligibility, Recruitment, Selection Enrollment & Attendance team to recruit infants and toddlers preschoolers and their families in Polk County. Initiate the enrollment process by helping the family complete required documentation. - (Essential)

10% - Assist parents with the process of transition into Head Start from home or another setting, within Head Start, and from Head Start to kindergarten or another setting. - (Essential)

5% - Maintain regularly scheduled times at drop off and pick up to meet and greet families, build rapport and relationships, and provide additional parent education. - (Essential)

5% - Develop partnerships and collaborative relationships with outside agencies to develop resources to enhance the quality of services for families. - (Essential)

5% - Refer families to community agencies/program; assess accessibility, relevance, and usefulness of assistance received and document follow-up with families regarding effectiveness of referrals. - (Essential)

5% - Federal Head Start Program Performance Standards, state and local regulations, rules and requirements compliance. Maintain strict confidentiality of all records and documents. Maintain department records and reports in a secure manner. Represent Drake University and Drake University Head Start in a professional manner. Treat clients, co-workers, staff, parents and community members with respect and civility, and ensure a safe and inclusive environment for everyone at all times. React to change productively, maintain prompt and regular attendance, and perform all other duties as assigned. Promote Head Start philosophy and initiatives. - (Essential)

Salary & Benefits

We anticipate the starting hourly rate to be between $17.96 - $19.59. The final offered salary will be commensurate with the qualifications and experiences of the selected candidate.

At Drake, we are proud to offer our employees, their spouses, and eligible dependents a comprehensive benefits package, which includes a wide range of core benefits, perks, and discounts. If you are exploring a job with Drake University, we invite you to spend a little time with our digital benefits guide: Drake Benefits Guide (Plan Year 2024) (https://www.drake.edu/hr/benefitsoverview/) .

One of our very popular policies provides a tuition waiver for Drake employees, their spouses, and eligible dependents. Drake also participates in not one, but two tuition exchange programs available to dependent children. You can learn about both the tuition waiver policy and tuition exchange programs here: Tuition Benefits (https://www.drake.edu/hr/benefitsoverview/tuitionbenefits/) .

Special Instructions to Applicants:

Applicants will be asked to complete the online application and attach a resume/cv and cover letter.

Questions about the position, the application process, or working at Drake may be directed to Drake Human Resources at jobs@drake.edu .

All job offers are contingent upon satisfactory completion of a background check, satisfactory reference checks, and proof of work authorization.

Review of Applications Begins:

A review of applications will begin immediately. This position will remain open until filled.