JOB CLASSIFICATION TITLE:                                              

Family Service Worker           

Range 11.3

DEFINITION:  Under the supervision of an administrator, has the responsibility of assisting in the development of Family Partnerships within the community; serves as a family advocate for families for community services; helps to promote parent involvement in the Head Start or State Preschool Program; provides on-going assistance and tracking of overall progress.  Position will periodically include variable hours for evening meetings and home visits as part of the regular work day, and performs other related work as required.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

1. Assists family in planning and developing an individualized program for family, including but not limited to, the establishment of a caring professional relationship and climate of trust and respect between the parents and Head Start or State Preschool program. 
2. Conducts regular home visits with families enrolled in the program; assists in coordinating parent education and literacy growth.
3. In collaboration with parents and team staff members, assists in strengthening family’s knowledge of how their children grow and learn; planning and conducting child education activities with parents meeting the child’s intellectual, physical, emotional, and social needs; provides assistance in training for parents and center representatives; provides or assists in providing language interpretation; serves as a resource and assists parents in strengthening the families’ knowledge of community, health, and other resources and obtaining services, and supports parents in problem solving.
4. Assists with the transitioning of Head Start or State Preschool families by working cooperatively with the Turlock School District’s Title I Parent Involvement Education in planning activities appropriate to the needs of families with Head Start or State Preschool students entering kindergarten; assists with the recruitment of new families for the program, coordinating and implementing the application process; maintains and submits required records, reports and data; assists with the planning, coordinating and implementation of appropriate parent/family activities; attends regular in-service training and staff meetings; attends and provides input at monthly case conferencing; assists with maintenance of the Head Start County Parent Council; and performs other related work as required.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:

The physical requirements indicated below are examples of the physical aspects that this position classification must perform in carrying out essential job functions:

• This type of work will involve walking, standing or sitting for extended periods.
• Perceiving the nature of sound, near and far vision, depth perception, providing oral information, the manual dexterity to operate equipment, and handle work with various materials and objects are important aspects of this job.
• Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable a person with a disability to perform the essential functions of the job.

• Stooping, squatting, kneeling, overhead reaching and repetitive bending may be involved frequently with this position.

• Persons performing service in this position classification will be exposed to outdoor conditions including, but not limited to, extreme temperature; equipment and objects related to the position.

This list of essential functions and physical requirements is not exhaustive.

SAFETY REQUIREMENTS:

• Operate equipment according to established safety procedures.
• Follow established safety procedures and techniques to perform job duties, including lifting, pushing and pulling.
• Use provided safety equipment.
• Report any unsafe conditions in work area that are not correctable to supervisor immediately.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

Knowledge of:

• Community resources.
• Adult education principles.
• Child growth and development.
• Various cultural and socioeconomic groups.
• Parent/child relationships and activities.
• Computer skills desirable.
• Literacy in Spanish desirable.

Ability to:

• Demonstrate skill in written and oral communication.
• Record keeping; facilitate and lead group meetings; develop positive relationships and work well in a team setting.
• Valid California driver’s license and own transportation required. 

Experience:

• Prior experience in an Early Childhood Program with parent involvement or human/social service program desired.

Education:

• High school graduate or equivalent.

• Minimum of six college or university units in Human Services or Child Development.                   

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS:

• Fingerprint clearance
• TB clearance
• Pre-employment physical

06/09