Family Support Specialist

Our Head Start team is searching for a full-time Family Support Specialist to join us. As Family Support Specialist, you will work with families to facilitate healthy child development. Using your experience working with families and knowledge of early childhood development, you will:

• Visit and interview families in their homes and in the community to assess their needs and assist them in setting goals to become self-sufficient and provide an environment that supports their child’s education and well-being,
• Connect parents with community resources and supports parents in problem solving when they are faced with barriers,
• Support parents in strengthening their knowledge of safety, health, nutrition, financial stability and life goals,
• Transport families to parent power hours, workshops, and required health appointments, committee meetings, policy council social service events or to appointments that pertain to the education of the enrolled child,
• Accurately complete all necessary paperwork and data collection in compliance with the Head Start Program, and
• Provide assistance in the classroom in the absence of classroom staff to ensure that the daily routine and performance standards are carried out during that time, as requested.

Westmoreland Community Action is a non-profit organization that works to connect individuals and families to opportunities and resources throughout the community to improve their quality of life and help to reduce poverty in the community. This is accomplished through housing, counseling, support, education, intervention, collaborations, partnerships, information, referrals, and networking.

Head Start and Pre-K Counts are free programs that serve children, ages 3-5, and their families in both learning centers and the home. Head Start provides pre-Kindergarten learning experiences for young children to help prepare them for a smooth transition into kindergarten. The overall goal is to promote school readiness.

• Minimum of one-year experience in Human Services.
• Associate's degree in Human Services, or related field; OR Family Development Credential; OR strengths based family worker credential preferred.
• Interpersonal skills and the ability to communicate effectively both orally and in writing.
• Basic data entry skills.
• Must be able to provide or successfully obtain child abuse, state police, fingerprint-based criminal background, and sex offender registry clearances.
• Valid PA driver’s license, mandated Agency auto insurance coverage, and reasonably clean driving record.
• Physical examination and TB/PPD test upon initiation of employment.

Benefits:

• 100% Employer paid Dental, Vision, Life Insurance, Short-term Disability and Long-term Disability polices.
• ICHRA health plans – Using an allowance, choose the best plan for you,
• 8% retirement match after 1 year and 1000 hours of service.
• 9 paid holidays, paid summer break, and paid winter break.
• 10 days of Personal Time Off.
• Mileage Reimbursement

Family Support Specialist salary based on years of experience: $34,278.40 - $37,523.20 annually. This position is paid on an hourly basis.

Westmoreland Community Action (WCA) is committed to recruiting and retaining a diverse workforce that reflects our community and those that we seek to serve. If you, in good faith, believe that you are qualified to succeed in this position, we encourage you to apply. Please include a cover letter to tell us about your unique qualifications for the position. Our hiring manager will review your application and, if interested, will contact you regarding next steps.

*REQUIREMENTS NECESSARY TO SAFELY PERFORM THE ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS OF THE POSITION OF FAMILY SUPPORT SPECIALIST

Physical requirements – Push/pull, lift/move up to 50 pounds.

Manual dexterity – Perform moderately difficult manipulation – typing, filing, writing.

Coordination – Perform tasks which require foot and/or hand/eye coordination – driving a car.

Mobility – Walk, stand, sit for prolonged periods of time, drive.

Speech – Articulate with extreme accuracy – employee/client relations, phone contact.

Vision – Read small print, drive a car.

Hearing – Receive verbal instructions, answer phones, intercom, communicate with employees.

Concentration – Able to concentrate on fine detail with some interruption.

Attention span – Able to attend to task function for more than 60 minutes.

Conceptualization – Able to understand and relate to theories behind several related topics.

Memory – Able to remember multiple verbal and written task-assignments given at beginning of a period extending over long period of time.

Environment conditions – Indoor/outdoor work.