Family Worker - Preschool

Family Worker - F/T

Trenton, NJ • Preschool

Description

The Family Worker recruits and retains students and their families throughout the school year.  They serve as a liaison between the Preschool Center and our students’ families. They work with parents to encourage involvement in their child’s education by helping to increase their knowledge of child development and assisting with access to local resources that help with the healthy outcome of their children. They oversee the onboarding of each family from district application to maintaining complete and accurate student files. 

The Family Worker is also responsible for coordinating trainings, programs, and services for children and families in compliance with standards set forth by the school district, connecting parents and the community with the preschool department personnel to ensure a positive and safe experience in the children’s social, physical, spiritual, and mental development throughout the program and enforcing the YMCA core values: Caring, Honesty, Respect and Responsibility.

The Family Worker will receive administrative supervision from the Preschool Director and program supervision from a Social Worker/CPIS or Supervisor designated by Trenton Board of Education. The Family Worker is employed by the state contracted preschool center and works 40 hours weekly.

To protect the health and well-being of our children, and to maintain the optimum classroom environment, the Family Worker must be able to do the following:

Families

• Maintain daily open communication with parents to assist in building social connections
• Maintain confidentiality
• Process registration packages (drop off & pick up)
• Recruit new students for the program; attend local events, canvas the community, and conduct in-person and virtual open houses
• Create recruitment, meeting, and event flyers and distribute to the community
• Schedule and conduct wellness calls and home visits
• Schedule and conduct parent workshops on-site and virtually

District

• Attend district organized meetings, recruitment events like the Pre-K Fair & Back to School Extravaganza, and other community events
• Work as hotline assistant at the district office as scheduled by the district
• Meet all applicable district and licensing regulations

School

• Report any suspected concerns or potential child abuse to Preschool Director
• Arrange environment in accordance to program goals and philosophy
• Maintain a safe and healthy environment
• Attend in-service and staff meetings both in person and virtually
• Keep all appropriate records such as district and school applications, meal application, universal health, immunization, home visit records, parents’/guardians’ onsite discussions, play dates, and more
• Work and communicate well with classroom, support, and administrative staff

Requirements

-BA or BS in early childhood education, psychology, sociology or related field with experience in childcare or social service setting; or Associate’s degree in early childhood education, psychology, sociology or related field with at least one year of experience in child care or social service setting; or High School or General Equivalence Diploma with at least 3 years experience in childcare or social service setting. Excellent verbal, oral and written communication skills are required. Documentation of a physical examination, TB test, and first aid and CPR certifications that meet Health and Social Service requirements are mandatory within 30 days of starting work, and therefore as required by law. Fingerprinting and Child Abuse background check is required. 

-Can read and write English

-Must be able to pass all background checks, including but not limited to fingerprinting, child abuse records inquiries and criminal inquiries.

-Must be able to show proof of full vaccination for COVID 19

-Must be willing to wear a face mask or covering during the workday as needed, and in the presence of children

-Available flexible hours between 8:30 am and 5:30 pm

-Haitian-Creole & Spanish speaking candidates are encouraged to apply