About PLN
Founded on Skid Row in 1980, Para Los Niños provides education and wraparound support, serving over 10,000 children, youth, and families annually in some of the most underserved areas in Los Angeles. PLN fosters pathways to success by striving for excellence in education, family support, and comprehensive social-emotional, and community-based services.
Through early education, TK-8th grade education, youth workforce services, and family and community services Para Los Niño’s’ model provides a comprehensive, holistic approach to break the cycle of poverty and help children and youth thrive.
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Position OverviewUnder the direction of the Family and Community Engagement Coordinator and the ERSEA Coordinator, the Family Services Specialists: 1) recruit and enroll families; 2) support families to meet all the requirements of CCL, CSPP, CCTR, Head Start and Early Head Start prior to and throughout enrollment (e.g., health requirements, nutrition requirements, immunizations, etc.); 3) provides support to families in accordance with their specific needs. The Family Services Specialist helps families to attain self-sufficiency through goal setting and family engagement activities.
Duties
Guiding Philosophy
- Carries out the Mission, Vision, and Values established by the President/C.E.O. and Board of Directors of Para Los Niños.
- Carries out Head Start Performance Standards, requirements of the Head Start Act, the requirements of the LACOE contract and the requirements of the California Department of Education (CDE).
- Always adheres to professional conduct (e.g., proper tone and language use in the classrooms/site, respectful, proper for children, parents, and peers at all times.
- Attends/participates in 1) Professional Development Activities, 2) Supervision, and 3) Individualized Professional Development Goals/Activities.
- Conducts ongoing outreach and recruitment to ensure site enrollment for assigned Head Start/State Preschool (CDE) programs.
- Completes enrollment (Head Start, Early Head Start, CSPP, CCTR) with families assigned to their caseload
- Reports vacancy information in a timely manner to maintain full enrollment at assigned sites at all times for both LACOE and CDE contracts.
- Completes strengths and needs assessment for assigned families.
- Provides families goal-setting opportunities and assists with attaining milestones that result in self-sufficiency.
- Facilitate parent activities and workshops/training to promote parent advocacy and involvement in partnership with Area Supervisors and Teachers.
- Enhances parent’s skills and understanding regarding parental engagement and activities that promote literacy.
- Collaborates with the Area Supervisor to plan and implement monthly parent meetings.
- Provides resources and referrals to families.
- Establishes and maintains partnerships with community-based organizations to facilitate family access to support services.
- Collaborates with the Family and Community Engagement Coordinator to review the Family Resource Handbook.
- Invites community-based programs to monthly parent meetings in response to parent-identified needs/interest.
- Provides health-related services to children such as hearing/vision screenings; heights/weights.
- Works with families to review and input health/dental requirements at enrollment and throughout the year as required by LACOE and CDE contracts.
- Provides parents with all necessary paperwork related to health issues, medication, and allergies.
- Works with Health/Nutrition Coordinator to ensure the site allergy-alert list is up to date and posted as required.
- Ensures all 0-, 30-, 45-, and 90- day health/nutrition requirements are completed in a timely manner.
- Communicates with Area Supervisor and teachers regarding health/nutrition needs of enrolled children.
- Completes monthly monitoring reports for ERSEA, FCE, and Health/Nutrition.
- Maintains up-to-date child/family files and disseminates information, as needed.
- Develops and maintains appropriate case notes and other records and prepares periodic reports as required.
- Monitors and completes attendance, absences and follows up with families to ensure that children are attending class on a regular basis to meet program requirements.
- Prepares and submits referrals for support services such as disability and mental health.
- Participates in Multidisciplinary Team meetings.
- Facilitates the exchange of information between assigned families and content area specialists; through the referral process and participates in MTD meetings.
- Bilingual English/Spanish preferred. English proficiency supporting professional-level verbal and written communication to children, parents and other staff members required.
- The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skills, and/or abilities required to perform the job successfully.
- Successfully pass all post offer, pre-employment screening requirements, including criminal background check, drug test and provide proof of eligibility to work in the United States.
- Bachelor’s degree (preferred) from an accredited four-year college or university in Child Development, Early Childhood Education, Human Development, Sociology, Psychology, Social Work, or a related field. Candidates with a completed AA degree in Early Childhood Education, Child Development, or related field and who take a course of at least three semester units per year in child development or a general education class required for the bachelor’s degree will be considered.
- Two years of experience in programs offering child and family assessment services, home visiting services, and/or early intervention services.
- Direct experience in working with children ages 0 to 5, parent education services, and family support and referral services or similar required.
- Bilingual (English/Spanish).
- Valid Class C California driver’s license and proof of auto liability insurance.
- Working knowledge of Head Start and CDE requirements preferred.
- Ability to effectively present information and respond to questions from groups of managers, clients, customers, and the public in English and Spanish.
Must have all required vaccinations, including influenza and Covid-19.
Physical Requirements
To perform this job the individual must be able to carry out all essential functions satisfactorily. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individual with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the job.
- Approximately 50% of time is spent sitting, while frequently required to walk, stand and bend.
- Must be able to speak and hear well.
- Good vision is imperative.
- Occasionally required to stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl.
- Employee will be required to lift and/or move up to 25 pounds without assistance
Candidates for employment at a Para Los Niños, regardless of position, will consistently demonstrate the following:
- Unwavering belief in and commitment to fulfill the mission of Para Los Niños.
- Deep commitment to the success of all PLN students and families
- Commitment to excellence and high standards -- for self, students, and colleagues.
- Continuous learning by engaging in reflection, self-assessment, and individual professional development.
- Use of data to inform decisions and drive continuous improvement.
- Ability to thrive as a member of a collaborative team.
- Self-motivation and initiative with solutions-oriented disposition.
- Belief in and ability to develop respectful relationship with parents and children marked by sensitivity to the students’ cultural and socioeconomic characteristics.
- Excellent oral and written communication skills.
- Ability to effectively handle challenging situations
- Comfort with basic Microsoft Office applications and a curiosity and propensity to push own adoption of new technology and approaches.
- Regular, punctual attendance and professional appearance.
It is the established policy of Para Los Niños (PLN) to provide equal employment and advancement opportunities to all qualified applicants and employees without discrimination with regard to race, religious belief (including dress or grooming practices), color, sex, sex stereotype, pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions (including breast feeding), age, national origin (including possessing a driver’s license issued under Vehicle Code § 12801.9), ancestry, sexual orientation, gender identification and expression, transgender status, physical or mental disability, medical condition, genetic characteristics, genetic information, family care, marital status, enrollment in any public assistance program, status as military, a veteran or qualified disabled veteran, status as an unpaid intern or volunteer, or any other classification protected by law. PLN also prohibits discrimination based on the perception that anyone has any of those characteristics, or is associated with a person who has or is perceived as having any of those characteristics.
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