Family & Community Services Manager

Description

JOIN THE ECS4Kids TEAM

At ECS4Kids (formerly Episcopal Children’s Services), we honor young children’s immense potential by helping them enter school ready to learn. We cultivate lifelong learners by immersing children in enriching guided experiences and discovery-oriented approaches. Through programs like Voluntary Prekindergarten (VPK), Head Start, School Readiness, Child Care Resource & Referral (CCRR), and more, our dedicated professionals work with families and caregivers throughout Florida to promote children’s well-being. These enable us to strengthen key areas including motor development, cognitive development, social and emotional development, language and communication skills, and problem-solving skills.

Partner with us to help empower communities to rise above generational poverty with comprehensive early childhood education and holistic family support. We have career opportunities available in several counties throughout Northeast and Central Florida.

ECS4Kids offers a competitive benefit package which includes:

• Medical, dental and vision insurance
• 403(b) plan with 5% employer match
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Long-term & short-term disability insurance
• Employer-paid life insurance
• Paid holidays
• Generous paid time off
• Career development
• Qualifying employer for Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program

GENERAL DESCRIPTION:

The Family and Community Services Manager is responsible for ensuring Family and Community Partnerships, Home-Based, and ERSEA performance standards are met in Head Start programs.

MAJOR RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Implement policies and procedures that enhance the effectiveness and efficiency of Family and Community Partnerships, Home-Based, and ERSEA.
• Provide direct oversight and leadership to Family Advocates and Home Visitors.
• Monitor attendance and ensure Family Advocates and Center Managers develop appropriate attendance actions plans when necessary to maintain 90% attendance in the program.
• Monitor weekly home visits to ensure compliance with OHS and parent participation.
• Monitor 30M transition plans and ensure Family Advocates and Center Managers are meeting with families and creating appropriate transition plans that will ensure children transition to Head Start preschool in a timely manner.
• Work with DFCS to maintain relationships with DCF agencies and Homeless Coalitions to maintain and/or increase enrollment for children in foster care, children and families on public assistance, and homeless families.
• Monitor data pertaining to Non-Federal Share.
• Provide onboarding, ongoing training, training needs assessment, leadership and support to the Head Start Family Advocates and Home Visitors.
• Assist in agency efforts to increase parent engagement in Head Start programs.
• Provide staff development training to Family Advocates and Home Visitors using the PFCE framework, Family Development Credential training materials, PHB curriculum, and HOVRS.
• Review child files for appropriate paperwork which at a minimum includes documentation for: enrollment, family partnerships, referrals, follow-up, and record keeping.
• Check DRDP monthly to ensure home visitors are completing checkpoints and documenting observations in a timely manner.
• Develop and revise parent handbooks, resource directories, and other pertinent information for distribution.
• Monitor the implementation of parent meetings, workshops, and other parent involvement activities, including male involvement activities and home-based socializations.
• Work with Family Advocate’s to ensure services and parent involvement documentation is current and maintained at all centers, including center activity calendar, newsletters, activity flyers, parent meeting agendas, minutes, sign in sheets, etc.
• Ensure that two group socialization activities per month are held for each child that emphasize peer group interaction through age-appropriate activities in a Head Start classroom, community facility, home, or on field trip.
• Complete HOVRS on each home visitor biannually. Use results to provide training and support throughout the program year.
• Communicate regularly with other managers and support staff in order to better serve children and families, including attending staff meetings, trainings, and sharing information.
• Ensure that Family Advocates and Home Visitors prepare for, participate in, and follow up with regularly scheduled case management meetings to ensure that children are in compliance with screening and health requirements and to address the overall needs of children and families.
• Coordinate extensive services for families and meet with parents as needed.
• Ensure quality implementation and reporting of the Home Instruction for Parents of Preschool Youngsters (HIPPY) program as needed and provide direct supervision to the HIPPY Program Coordinator as required.
• In the event of an extended leave or vacancy of a Family Advocate or Home Visitor, provide home visiting services and/or center support as needed.
• All other duties as requested to maintain the success of ECS4KIDS.

(These essential job functions are not to be construed as a complete statement of duties performed. Employees will be required to perform other related marginal duties as required.)

Requirements

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE:

• Bachelor’s degree in family services, social work, human services, counseling, or related field with case management and supervisory experience required.
• Competency to plan and implement home-based learning experiences that ensure effective implementation of the home visiting curriculum.
• Promote children’s progress across the standards described in the Head Start Early Learning Outcomes Framework: Ages Birth to Five, including children with disabilities and dual language learners, as appropriate.
• Ability to build respectful, culturally responsive, and trusting relationships with families.

SKILLS, KNOWLEDGE AND ABILIITES:

• Bilingual (English/Spanish) skills preferred
• Knowledge of standards set by Head Start, DCF, NAEYC, APPLE, and other relevant regulatory agencies
• Understanding of early childhood development.
• Experience with structured, child-focused home visiting that supports cognitive, social, emotional, and physical development
• Effective, strengths-based parent education strategies that promote parents as their child’s ??irst teachers, including methods to support emergent literacy
• Ability to demonstrate problem-solving and counseling skills, empathy, and strategies for supporting families in crisis
• Knowledge of and ability to link families to appropriate social services and community resources
• Ability to motivate, mentor, train, and counsel staff and families effectively
• Strong interpersonal skills, with the ability to interact tactfully and diplomatically with others
• Sound judgment and emotional maturity in both crisis and routine situations
• Commitment to strengthening families, with a primary focus on the well-being of the child
• Ability to work independently with minimal supervision
• Knowledge of safety protocols and abuse-reporting procedures
• Proficiency in Microsoft Of??ice at an intermediate to advanced level
• Strong oral and written communication skills
• Ability to handle confidential information with discretion
• Strong organizational skills, including the ability to maintain records, prepare reports, and manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment

CERTIFICATIONS:

• Valid Driver’s License with proof of automobile coverage
• Satisfactory Driving Record (as outlined in Vehicle Driving Policy)
• Completion of 15 hours of in-service/professional development training hours each fiscal year (July-June)

ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS:

• Works in an office setting
• Local travel to multiple centers & homes is required
• Minimal night, weekend or out-of-town work possible

ESSENTIAL PHYSICAL SKILLS:

• Typical Physical & Mental Demands: Requires prolonged sitting with some bending, stooping, and stretching, and eye-hand coordination and manual dexterity sufficient to operate a keyboard, telephone, photocopier, calculator and other office equipment.
• Requires a normal range of hearing and eyesight to communicate with clients and staff.

(Reasonable accommodation will be made for otherwise qualified individuals with a disability)