Family Services Specialist (HSSAP & PKC Child Care Partners)

Early Childhood

Other - Position - Non-Certified

Job Number
4600264008

Start Date

Open Date
09/01/2022

Closing Date
11/30/2022

Under the general direction of the Grants Manager, the Family Services Specialist is responsible for recruitment, intake, and family support services following enrollment as set forth in the Head Start Performance Standards as well as State and District regulations. This work will include collaboration with the PPS Early Childhood Program and the HSSAP/PreK Counts child care Partner sites, which provide services to children from 3-5 years of age. The Family Services Specialist must create and maintain an organized system of documentation, artifacts and valid evidence of activities and interventions, both written and electronic.

Work Year: Follows the Pittsburgh Public Schools education staff calendar plus additional paid work days during the summer months to maintain enrollment as well as family support to families enrolled in HSSAP or PreK Counts at Partner location.

Reports To
Program Managers, Officers and Executive Director

Salary

Preschool Salary Schedule Family Services Specialists

Exempt (starting at $42,854)

Qualifications

- Requires a Bachelor?s Degree in Social Work, Psychology, Early Childhood Education, Child Development, or related field.

- MSW preferred.

- Must be able to keep accurate and detailed records as well as work as part of a team to serve families and children.

Residency Requirements
City of Pittsburgh Residency Required

Essential Job Functions

1. Recruits and screens children for the Program:
- Conducts recruitment sessions and plans other activities to recruit children into all of the Early Childhood Programs as well as assigned child care partner sites.

- Determine eligibility for Early Childhood Partnership Programs and other Pittsburgh Public Schools Early Childhood Programs.

2. Intake:
- Helps applicant complete forms, on paper (if applicable).
- Follows up on all applications and provides support to child care partner staff on the process of collecting applications
- Assists families in completing the Family Needs Assessment (if applicable).
- Completes registration forms.
- Maintains a prioritized waiting list.

3. Supportive Services to families:
- Completes home visits 2 times per school year. Additional home visits will be completed as needed.
- Meets with families in person as needed at classroom site.
- Monitors classroom attendance.
- Keeps ongoing records of children/families, both written and electronic.
- Prepares written and electronic statistical records and reports and maintains case histories that evidence planning and appropriate record keeping that promotes effective delivery of services.
- Provides resources to families.
- Provides counseling and/or referrals to appropriate agencies and follow-up services as the need indicates.
- Prepares paperwork for transferring children among agencies.
- Terminates children from the program based on the withdrawal policy.
- Assists parents in completing health forms, family histories, and follow-up.
- Assists parents in acquiring required health and dental services for their child. Assures that children?s health/dental forms are completed in the mandated timeframe.
- Intervenes as an advocate for children and families in emergency situations.
- Stays in contact with the family in a supportive role.
- Maintaining regular consultations with program staff and other district staff to facilitate a better understanding of the child and his family environment/circumstance.
- Maintains up-to-date confidential records on each child on the caseload.
- Consults with supportive services at other agencies.
- Supports Partners in planning and conducting parent orientation and monthly parent meetings at each center.

- Collaborate with other content areas in the pre-kindergarten department to assure smooth delivery of services to children and parents.

4. Other responsibilities:
- Attends workshops and in-service training as necessary.
- Attends regular staff meetings.
- Completes weekly reports as assigned.
- Prepare parent volunteerism reports (if applicable).
- Performs other duties as assigned by the Grants Manager and ECE Administration as needed.

- Flexes work schedule to include evening hours as needed in order to accommodate working families? needs.
- Computer literate: must be able to enter accurate information into a computer database (i.e. ChildPlus, Pelican), proficient in Microsoft Office, and able to use educational software/programs as needed.

Additional Job Information

Physical Demands: Employee will be required to operate computer system for data entry, and have the ability to complete necessary paperwork. Must be able to travel from one location to another to visit classrooms and families. This position requires minimum physical effort and not subjected to Occupational Health and Safety risks.

Work Environment:
- Indoors in busy office or classroom, working in close proximity to co-workers and teaching staff.
- Must have a valid driver?s license and reliable transportation (personal vehicle) to travel from one location to another to visit classrooms.
- Frequently required to work at fast pace.
- Requires considerable concentration and creativity.
- Subject to stress caused by a changing environment, diversity in the organization, tight deadlines and work load.

ADA: The employer will make reasonable accommodations in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990.

This job description will be reviewed periodically as duties and responsibilities change with business necessity. Essential and marginal job functions are subject to modification.

The Pittsburgh Public Schools (PPS) does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, age, creed, religion, gender (including gender identity or expression), sexual orientation, ancestry, national origin, marital status, pregnancy or disability in its programs, activities, career and technical education programs or employment and provides equal access to the Boy Scouts and other designated youth groups. It is the policy of the Pittsburgh School District to make all services, programs and activities available and to provide reasonable accommodations to persons with disabilities. Please make requests for accommodations at least 72 hours before the scheduled event. For more information regarding accommodations, civil rights grievance procedures, please contact Employee Relations, Office of Human Resources, 341 S. Bellefield Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15213 or 412-529-HELP (4357).