Family Services Educator

40 Hours Per Week, 52 Weeks Per Year Position

Family Services Educators engage with families to promote wellness and involvement in the Head Start/Early Head Start Program; act as liaison between the classroom and the home setting in the areas of education, child development, health and mental health. Implement the family partnership process and promote community awareness by creating meaningful and supportive relationships to enhance a unique learning community.

ESSENTIAL JOB DUTIES

Under the direction of the Family Services Program Manager, Family Services Educators:

• Participate in recruitment efforts/activities for assigned sites and classrooms. Plan and facilitate family orientations/enrollments to the program. Welcome and enroll families into the Head Start Program and ensure all registration steps are completed prior to the child’s first day of school.
• Assist families in the development of family partnership goals; provide timely and relevant referrals; monitor progress on the goals and other necessary follow up. Assess for unmet family needs at enrollment and throughout the school year. Provide assistance and educate families regarding availability and use of resources in the community. Maintain family information in each child’s electronic file.
• Coordinate family support services including implementing and providing direct case management services to program families. Maintain regular contacts with families, i.e. \- phone calls, text messages, group activities, home visits, and classroom visits, to promote partnership and provide for regular communication.
• Provide information relative to Head Start health and nutrition requirements to families and offer transportation for families as needed. Support families in completing immunizations for their child. Monitor attendance of enrolled children, making contact with a family when a child has been absent for two consecutive days with no contact. Assist families in making the transition into and out of the Head Start/Early Head Start program. Document all family contacts in the information system in a timely and objective fashion.
• Participate in family staffing’s with the teachers for each assigned site/classroom, as well as community agencies, therapists, DHS workers, family members, family support and/or resource people. Document any support consultation given to teachers regarding particular concerns with families at these staffing’s.
• Participate in referral and Special Education (individual family service plans/IFSP) processes as needed.
• Attend all required program meetings and maintain on\-going contact with teaching staff in order to receive and share relevant information regarding child and family. Participate in classroom routine for each assigned classroom each week, for a minimum of one hour.
• Coordinate monthly family meetings at each assigned site/classroom, assisting parents to take the leadership role. Actively encourage families to participate in the program i.e. parent meetings, field trips, policy council, parenting education, and volunteering. Inform and support families to establish and maintain regular attendance for their child.
• Develop and maintain a working knowledge of community resources. Advocate and collaborate with community agencies to support child, family and agency outcomes.
• Report and document incidents of suspected child abuse and neglect to DHS, and the family services manager within 24 hours of the incident.

* Regular and consistent attendance is required.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS \& ABILITIES

Qualified candidates for this position will have relevant education and experience necessary to perform the essential functions and meet the minimum performance expectations for this position with or without an accommodation.

• Considerable knowledge of parent training techniques and processes; considerable knowledge of child development.
• Skill in Effective organizational and record keeping skills; basic use of computers.
• Strong interpersonal skills necessary to develop, establish and maintain effective, professional, collaborative, and collegial working relationships with customers, other employees, contractors, vendors, and others with whom we may work.
• Demonstrated ability and competency to work with a diverse population of clients, contractors, vendors and co\-workers of all ages, including people who may be aggressive, belligerent and/or hostile, confused and/or disoriented, or who may be suffering from a medical or physical impairment.
• Ability to communicate effectively in oral and written forms with internal and external customers, vendors, contractors, and other diverse audiences while providing outstanding customer service. Demonstrated ability competency to communicate clearly and concisely in both individual and group presentation settings.
• Ability to make decisions independently in accordance with established policies.
• Well\-reasoned decision making with a high attention to detail in actual work product, organization, planning, workflow, and project prioritization to ensure tasks are completed efficiently and accurately.
• Naturally self\-motivated, confident individual with ability to work independently and/or with limited direction, as well as cooperatively in a team environment, while consistently demonstrating collaborative, respectful and productive work habits. Actively pursue professional development opportunities to add value to the agency and to help the agency meet its strategic goals and objectives.
• Highly ethical individual who applies ethical standards of behavior to daily work activities. Takes responsibility for actions and decisions and fosters a work environment where integrity is rewarded. Exercises discretion when involved in highly confidential and sensitive matters.
• Demonstrated experience and competency operating and working effectively and efficiently with computers and other forms of office technology, electronic data, computer programs and software applications, especially Microsoft 365, Word, Excel, Outlook and Teams. Ability to use electronic timekeeping system is required.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Associates degree in human services, social services, psychology or family and children studies or an acceptable combination of experience in a social services setting.
• Bachelor degree in human services, social services, psychology or family and children's studies is preferred.
• Considerable knowledge of parent training techniques and processes; considerable knowledge of child development.
• Effective organizational and record keeping skills; basic use of computers.
• This position requires driving. Applicant must possess a valid driver’s license and provide court print driving record that meets the requirements of the UCAN Driver Policy as part of a contingent offer of employment. Must possess valid Oregon driver's license within 30 days of hire.
• At time of appointment, must be enrolled in the Criminal History Registry. Link: Application for Enrollment in the Criminal History Registry (CHR\-601\) The normal processing time is 3\-5 days from the date the form is received at Central Office before the letter for fingerprinting is mailed out. For out of state applicants, this process may take up to 8 weeks to complete. Applicants are required to pay the fingerprint\-processing fee.
• This position requires a Staff Health Appraisal within 60 days of hire.
• This position requires sufficient mobility to address the changing needs of children, which can be frequent and/or unexpected. Includes, but not limited to; being in one position for a period of time, bending, reaching, squatting, lifting up to 40 lbs. regularly, moving about office, classrooms and in homes. Hearing voice conversation and requires continuous mental and visual attention.

United Community Action Network (UCAN) is a poverty fighting non\-profit located in Southern Oregon. Founded in 1969 by low\-income community organizers, UCAN now operates programming across multiple departments, delivering programs to equip our neighbors experiencing the symptoms of poverty with resources and opportunities to help them reach their full social, civic, and economic potential. Our dedicated and energetic employees provide essential and supportive services to individuals and families. We take pride in caring for our communities each and every day.

UCAN has a generous Benefit Package including:

Medical Coverage*

Dental and Voluntary Vision insurance,*

Generous leave,*

Retirement plans,*

Basic Life and Voluntary life insurance,*

Employee assistance program.*

UCAN is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer that does not discriminate in the terms and conditions of employment against any applicant or current employee on the basis of any status or class protected under applicable federal, state or local law.

If you require special assistance at any point during the application or selection process and would like to request an accommodation due to a disability, please e\-mail a description of your request to Human Resources: ucanhr@ucancap.org