Family Engagement Specialist

Title: Family Engagement Specialist

Location: Reedsport, OR

Program: South Coast Head Start

Reports to: Area Manager/Family Services Coordinator

HR Contact: hr

Pay Level: Starting at $20.26 hourly, depending on experience and qualifications

Staff Supervised: None

FSLA Status: Non‑exempt from overtime

Effective: 1/2025

Position Type: Full Time;
Seasonal

Revised: 1/2025

To promote family engagement in all aspects of the program and provide family support services according to Head Start Performance Standards, program goals, and other funding source rules and regulations.

• Complete child enrollment with each assigned family within required timeframe. Identify individual health and education needs (e.g., asthma, diabetes, behavioral) that require individualized service plans. Coordinate with parents, site team, program staff, and community partners, as appropriate, to develop, document, and communicate individual plans. Update as needed.
• Conduct two home visits per year with assigned families in the family’s home environment to support safety, health, financial stability, life goals and aspirations. Provide additional home visits or contacts as needed. Maintain regular communication with all assigned families and classroom teams to provide information based on family’s individual needs.
• Provide culturally responsive services. Provide information to families in understandable formats, including information for individuals with low literacy. Provide communication and materials in the family’s primary language. Use translated materials and qualified bilingual staff or consultants, as needed.
• Promote parent leadership and volunteerism. Engage parents in site parent committees and recruit and support Policy Council representatives. Facilitate planning and implementation of parent meetings and activity days with site teams and parent leaders.
• Support site‑based and program‑wide parenting education classes and activities.

• Provide information to families about preventative medical and dental care. Assist families with information and support related to ongoing access and follow up. Assist families to complete follow up (e.g., dental, medical, nutrition, mental health, etc.).

• Support classroom team communication with families related to classroom safety or behavior concerns and facilitate problem‑solving.
• Assist families in accessing needed services and supports to promote full, inclusive participation in early learning and school activities.
• Support families in accessing needed evaluations and supports for Early Intervention and/or Early Childhood Special Education programs. Attend meetings to provide parent support for placement and IFSP development and updates, as appropriate.
• Provide referrals and support for families in accessing health, behavioral or other specialized services, as appropriate.

• Promote strong attendance habits. Provide information/education to families about the benefits of regular school attendance.
• Work with teaching team to track attendance and conduct a home visit for children with two or more consecutive unexcused absences.
• Provide individualized attendance support for families, including direct contacts, intensive case management, and attendance support plans.

• Participate in each assigned classroom at least 2 hours a week as scheduled with teaching team and Area Manager. Ensure children are supervised at all times and never left alone with volunteers.
• Support parents as their child’s primary educators with a focus on the whole child, including child education, child health, mental health, and nutrition. Encourage parent participation in the classroom, including invitations for parents to join site activities and mealtimes.

• Complete timely documentation of services provided according to program policies and procedures.
• Maintain assigned company owned equipment and cleanliness of work spaces utilized. Report damaged or malfunction of equipment to supervisor, maintenance, or HR.
• Provide site and team support, including answering phones, providing data‑entry assistance, purchasing…