This position entails mainly specific tasks that are technical and diverse in nature and requires the capacity for independent judgment and action and the ability to work with others to accomplish program goals and objectives and integration of program activities to achieve comprehensive program services for eligible children and families. Regular work hours are 8 am to 5 pm; however extended hours will be required. SPCAA Head Start Staff must be able to adapt to flexible work schedules as established by management.

JOB TITLE SUMMARY

Head Start is committed to establishing a learning environment in which children, parents, and staff can teach and learn from one another. To accomplish this goal, staff must display sensitivity to and knowledge of the community’s cultural differences and issues. All Head Start shall agree to abide by the program’s standards of conduct introduced during pre-service and/or orientation. Employee orientation, pre-service and in-service training are provided in order to assist staff and volunteers in acquiring or increasing the knowledge and skills needed to fulfill their job responsibilities.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS

· Assists in the provision of quality Family and Community Partnership and ERSEA services that meet or exceed Head Start Performance Standards, The Head Start Act, ongoing guidance from the Office of Head Start, and TDFPS Minimum Standards, by developing and implementing policies and procedures.

· Conducts regular site visits to provide technical support and monitor service delivery

· Assists in planning and implementing training programs that will effectively meet the needs of Head Start staff to enhance the Family and Community Partnership and ERSEA content area.

· Aggregate and analyze Family and Community Partnership and ERSEA data and make recommendations for improvements and changes.

· Assists in the monitoring of the Family Services and Community Partnerships and ERSEA content area to ensure compliance with all federal, state, and local laws and regulations.

· Coordinate with other Managers and Assistants to ensure quality integration of all content areas

· Capture, value, and appropriately document In-Kind, non-federal share.

· Assist Mental Health/Disability Manager in implementing and facilitating the delivery of needed special services for Head Start children and their families on a daily basis

· Help to organize and coordinate the program’s disabilities effort in recruitment, enrollment, diagnosis, and provision of services

· Assist with developing the disabilities services plan and child mental health plan on an annual basis.

· Assist in the recruitment and enrollment of children and families in the Head Start program in the spring of each year

· Establish and maintain an up-to-date record, documentation, and child service tracking system for disabilities and mental health. This system will also include the confidentiality of records in locked file cabinets and ChildPlus .

· Ensure that health screenings are complete within 45 days (but no later than 90 days) of enrollment

· Attend appropriate Head Start trainings, as scheduled, in order to stay abreast in early childhood education, mental health and disabilities issues, family support services, and other related areas

· Serve as a liaison between Head Start, public schools, early childhood intervention programs, and public/private providers in order to meet the special needs of children with disabilities and /or mental health issues on a daily basis and reflected on the interagency agreements, contracts and community partnerships.

· Arrange, coordinate, communicate, and work with Head Start staff, public school personnel, Shared Services Arrangement Agencies (Special Education), parents, and other agencies/providers regarding screenings, referrals, diagnostic evaluations, ARD-IEP’s, and follow-though services for young children with disabilities, as scheduled.

· Advocate for other services through other community resources as needed

· Establish good public relations with private and public agencies, organizations, and providers on an ongoing and continuous basis

· Assist in monitoring and documenting the child’s disability records/progress through the Head Start experience and maintain the child’s comprehensive files on an ongoing and continuous basis

· Assist with facilitation of the child’s transition into the public school in spring (March, April, May) of each year

· Work with teaching staff to provide support, suggestions, and collaboration as needed or as requested

· Work with content area and staff members in the implementation of the Head Start disability and mental health goals/objectives on an ongoing and continuous basis.

· Help in the identification and utilization of community resources as well as local and state providers on an annual basis and as needed or requested

· Help promote active parent involvement in the Head Start Program, especially parents/guardians of children with disabilities and mental health issues from August through May of every school year

· Complete and coordinate the development of monthly reports concerning disabilities and mental health

· Consult regularly with parents and staff on the progress of children with special needs in the program

· Inform the MH/Disability Manager and appropriate senior staff of training, staff development and/or management strategies that need to be implemented to increase the Mental Health/Disability component within the Head Start system as needed and/or requested

· Know and understand all Head Start Performance Standards and policies in order to interpret the rules educate staff and families and implement MH/Disability programs via Pre-Service Training and in-Service Training on an on-going basis.

· Develop community linkages to locate and access MH/Disability resources for families on an annual basis or as needed

OTHER RESPONSIBILITIES OR JOB REQUIREMENTS

· Ensure time sheets are submitted accurately and timely on a bi-weekly basis.

· Ensure any on-the-job accidents are reported immediately and followed-up with appropriate forms.

· Report any suspected fraud and abuse to the direct supervisor or SPCAA Fraud and Abuse Officer.

· The above statements are not a complete list of all responsibilities and duties performed by employees in this job. Employees may perform other related duties and special projects as assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS

· Bachelor or associate degree in health, psychology, human services, special education, or related area

· Experience in case management preferred

· Experience in services to disadvantaged individuals and/or families preferred

· Knowledge/ability to develop a network of community social services

· Computer and technology skills to effectively use: word processing software, spreadsheet format, emails, and internet.

· Ability to communicate in a professional and effective manner (orally and written format) with center staff, program supervisors and others providing services to children and families

· Prepare, collect, aggregate and analyze data in to ensure continuous improvement in program operations.

· Must possess ability to provide reliable self-transportation capable of regional travel. Must possess and maintain valid Texas motor vehicle operator’s permit of appropriate classification and endorsement as required.

· Must agree to maintain a satisfactory MVR and minimum requirement of insurability as required by law. MVR background checks may be conducted by the agency.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

· The usual requirements in an office environment may require lifting boxes of supplies, equipment and occasional adjustments of office furniture

· Occasional pushing, pulling, lifting and/or moving up to 25 pounds

· Regularly required to sit, stand, or walk for extended periods of time

· Occasional bending or squatting required