FAMILY ENGAGEMENT SPECIALIST
Exemption Status:
Full-Time, Exempt, Salaried
Salary Range:
$42,000 - $52,000
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ORGANIZATION OVERVIEW
Educare DC is a state-of-the-art, full-day, year-round school that serves children from birth to five
years that are at-risk of academic failure. Building on the program foundations of Early Head Start
and Head Start, Educare promotes school readiness by implementing effective programming aimed at
preventing the development of an achievement gap in the early years. Educare DC is part of a larger
national network that serves as a platform for broader change, inspiring high-quality programs in
communities, improving public policies within each state, and demonstrating a comprehensive
approach to the first five years of life and learning. As part of the Educare initiative, each school is a
highly visible program that is host to a wide variety of visitors. The Educare model draws on a unique
blend of private and public dollars, including child care, Early Head Start, Head Start, and other state
and local education funding streams.
POSITION SUMMARY
The Family Engagement Specialist will develop and maintain relationships with families and ensure
that they receive comprehensive services through their participation in the program. Comprehensive
services include health and social services, disabilities, early childhood education and care services,
and a range of parent development training opportunities at the site. The Family Engagement
Specialist is also responsible for conducting community outreach efforts to identify and develop
relationships with community-based organizations that provide other needed services to families.
REPORTING RELATIONSHIPS
 The Family Engagement Specialist reports to the Family Engagement Supervisor
MAJOR RESPONSIBILITIES AND KEY TASKS
Functions
 Develop and maintain meaningful, productive relationships with families
 Recruit and enroll families into the program
 Secure informed consent for family participation in program evaluation/Educare Learning
Network research activities
 Conduct periodic home visits to assess family resources and needs
 Refer and link children and parents to needed services
 Maintain enrollment throughout the program year through various recruitment strategies
 Work in collaboration with other program staff and consultants to monitor, track and
coordinate services for children and parents
 Assist parents with understanding and implementing the Family Partnership Agreement in
order to encourage and promote their overall development, including achievement of selfsufficiency, as well as positive developmental outcomes for their children
 Collaborate with Education Staff to facilitate children’s transitions
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Assist with outreach to families and recruitment of infants and children with disabilities into
the program
Assist in planning parent activities, encourage parent participation in program activities, and
obtain feedback from parents regarding the level of satisfaction with the services they receive
Collaborate with Health Coordinator to ensure the health and nutrition needs of infants,
children, and families are addressed
Communicate with education and care staff regarding infant/child’s progress in the
classroom
In collaboration with the Family Engagement Supervisor, implement protocols to follow up
on absenteeism
In collaboration with fiscal clerk, encourage families to pay childcare co-payments
Administration
 Maintain records and document services in a timely manner
 Enter service data into management information system
 Participate in the evaluation of Head Start and Early Head Start services, and ensure
compliance with Head Start Performance Standards
 Participate in staffing of all families on their caseload and case studies
 Attend family support team meetings, staff meetings, staff trainings, collaborations and
planning meetings
 Must identify and document in-kind to the program
Promote and Maintain Parent Involvement
 Promote parents’ overall involvement and participation in program governance
 In collaboration with the Family Engagement Supervisor and Site Administrators, facilitate
parent committee meetings
 Promote family involvement in center-based services, home-based services, and other
program activities
Community Involvement
 Develop relationships with other community-based service providers targeting pregnant and
parenting teens
 Identify services currently available and those needed by families enrolled in the Head Start
or Early Head Start programs
 Participate in recruiting volunteers from the community
EDUCATIONAL REQUIREMENTS
 A Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work or a related field
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Experience working with families in a community-based Head Start or family support
program preferred
ADDITIONAL JOB REQUIREMENTS
 Clearance of background check as required by local, state and federal regulations
 Physical examination and diagnostic tests as required by local, state and federal
Regulations
 A bi-annual physical exam, drug screen and TB test are required as a condition of
continual employment
REQUIRED SKILLS AND ABILITIES
 Ability to establish supportive relationships with children and families from diverse
backgrounds
 Ability to utilize reflective supervision
 Ability to work within an interdisciplinary team as a cooperative and supportive team
member
 Ability to manage work in an environment that can be interrupted by violence
 Knowledge of community resources and capacity to develop community cooperation to
ensure that families receive comprehensive services
 Knowledge of Head Start Performance Standards
ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS
 Must have good written, verbal, communication and organizational skills
 Must become knowledgeable about current Head Start and OSSE Childcare and OSSE prekindergarten guidelines, including the rules and regulations affecting the families served
 Must be able to manually operate a computer and other office equipment
 Must be able to travel within the community (i.e., parents’ homes, community agencies, etc.),
may require climbing stairs
For additional information on Educare DC and Educare schools, please visit
www.educaredc.org and www.educareschools.org.
This position is NOT in the collective bargaining unit.
Submit your resume to via e-mail to [email protected] or by mail to Attn: Educare DC
640 Anacostia Ave., NE Washington, DC 20019
Educare DC is an equal opportunity employer
www.educaredc.org
Revised 08/18/2015
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