Expectant Parent Program Specialist

Overview

Lutheran Services Florida (LSF) envisions a world where children are safe, families are strong, and communities are vibrant.

LSF is seeking a talented Expectant Parent Program Specialist who wants to make an impact in the lives of others.

Purpose and Impact:

The Expectant Parent Program Specialist supports and assists expectant parents and birth parents as they identify and meet their own goals through a family-centered case management model for developing and carrying out the program family partnership agreements, including responsibility for child files, enrollment/applications, etc. They will assist with the completion of the child health requirements and other required screenings and assessments.

Participates in the EHS Quality Assurance efforts.

• Coordinates with center staff to integrate expectant parents and birth parents partnership goals with classroom efforts and to ensure integrated child and family curriculum.
• Participates in team management functions of planning, implementing and evaluating family and community engagement goals and objectives.
• Participates in in-service, workshops, conferences and college courses to enhance skills.
• Recruits prospective families and assists with enrollment process.
• Works cooperatively with local agencies to assist families to linkup with services in the local community.
• Assists with the completion of the child health screening, other required screenings and assessments and is familiar with referral requirements.
• Conducts and documents follow-up on all referrals.
• While respecting family confidentiality, regularly shares information with teachers to ensure coordinated services that meet the needs of individual children and families.
• Provides health, safety and family literacy activities to parents, as appropriate.
• Develops a working knowledge of community resources, and visits, at least annually, with major agencies for service delivery updates and community resource guide updates.
• Attends parent/teacher conferences as requested.
• Ensures an appropriate written transition plan is prepared for all children, six months prior to their third birthday.
• Documents all efforts to assist families, tracks family partnership efforts and outcomes, records, monitors and follows up on referrals, and submits reports as required. Attends all workshops and meetings as deemed necessary by the supervisor
• Attends all required staff and parent meetings and activities.
• Maintains strict confidentiality at all times with respect to Head Start/Early Head Start children, families and staff in accordance with established policies and procedures, including the ability to recognize situations in which confidentiality is required.
• Other related duties as assigned.

Note:

The duties above are illustrative and not exhaustive. The omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related, or a logical assignment to the position. Depending on assigned area of responsibility, incumbents in the position may perform some or all of the activities described above.

Must be able to lift at least 45 pounds. Reasonable accommodation may be made for otherwise qualified persons with disabilities.

High School diploma or G.E.D. required. Associates or higher degree preferred in Social Work or Human Services or related human services field.

• At least one year of experience working with children and families in a social services environment. Early Head Start experience preferred.
• Bilingual preferred:
  English/Spanish or English and other languages present in the local area.

Certification in First Aid and CPR within six months of the date assigned to this position; and successful completion of a Level II background screening and drug screening prior to hiring.

• Considerable knowledge of the principles and practices of social work and human behavior.
• Knowledge of human development and health.
• Knowledge of social services and health services available in the area.
• Knowledge of computer data entry processes.
• Knowledge of family-centered practices.
• Ability to communicate ideas and instructions orally and in writing.
• Ability to write reports and business correspondence.
• Ability to speak to community groups and provide public information to inform the community about the services.
• Ability to speak before groups of individuals, such as Committees and Staff meetings.
• Ability to calculate amounts by adding, subtracting, multiplying, dividing and figuring percentages.
• Ability to interpret an extensive variety of instructions.
• Ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts and draw valid conclusions.
• Ability to make recommendations and develop implementation strategies.
• Basic computer skills.

Must demonstrate sensitivity to our service population’s cultural and socioeconomic characteristics and needs.

• Team player with co-workers and central service office staff.
• Cost…