Description:

Position: Family Counselor                                                                           

Department: Early Childhood Education

Reports to:  Director, Early Childhood Education                        

Hours: Full-time 

Salary: $40,000 - $50,000                                                                      

FLSA: Non-Exempt

Location: On-site

Position Summary:

Under the immediate supervision of the Director, Early Childhood Education, the Family Counselor will be responsible for community outreach to families in need of child care, interviewing applicants for day care services to determine eligibility, maintaining necessary records, making referrals to appropriate agencies as needed and generally working with families in a supportive fashion. Additionally, in consultation with the Director, Early Childhood Education and other staff, the Family Counselor serves as a liaison between the center and the parents and community which it serves including facilitating referrals and advocating with outside agencies and other supports, as needed. The Family Counselor ensures that children are admitted to the center in accordance with federal, state and city guidelines for day care services.

Responsibilities:

The Family Counselor is responsible for the community outreach, enrollment, and delivery of services to families in our Early Childhood Education Programs. They must have the knowledge and ability to relate to the day care center families, staff, Board, and community in which they will be serving as well as to other community agencies and organizations. This position must develop a good knowledge of the community and participate in community/family initiatives/activities including but not limited to NYCHA Tenant Association meetings, NYC Department of Education Parent Councils meetings, etc. Proficiency in a second language where appropriate would be an important asset.

INTAKE

• Facilitates initial interviews with persons applying or inquiring about day care. Gives information, shows parent around the center.
• Establishes eligibility of the family for the service in accordance with mandated priorities and requirements of city, state and federal law and guidelines; makes referrals for service in conjunction with Leadership members.
• Conducts observations and elicits information from parents to determine if conditions preventing child from participation exist. 
• Consults with Director for follow-up care plans and child’s admission.
• Receives and verifies financial or other information needed to determine eligibility and fees as required, revisits per required schedule.
• Issues medical form and plans with the parent for the child's pre-admission examination. 
• Elicits social and developmental information on the child and shares it with teachers and other staff in keeping with the requirements of family confidentiality.
• Maintains basic records and those required by City and State Departments of Social Services. 
• Prepares required reports to document compliance with State and City guidelines on intake, eligibility, priorities, etc.

SOCIAL SERVICES

• Contact for the family to receive information, referral and other services as needed (legal or medical services, public assistance, housing, training or employment, mental health, counseling, etc.)
• Establish good relationships with the family so that discussions of family needs can take place in an atmosphere of mutual trust and respect for the confidential nature of the discussions.
• Obtain thorough knowledge of the services available in the community in order to establish and maintain relationships with agency staff providing these services.
• Serve as an advocate for the family to obtain such services with Director of Supportive Services; support emergency circumstances.
• Maintain communications with families on the waiting list.

OUTREACH and COMMUNITY LIAISON

• Develop, maintain and execute a robust enrollment plan for parents and participants in collaboration with Early Childhood Education Director.
• Create daily and weekly reports on all outreach activities.
• Participate in community meetings and activities to develop partnerships that will support the project and its outreach events and activities.
• Coordinate center tours and other recruitment events to showcase Union Settlement’s programs.
• Ensure all outreach and enrollment activities comply with relevant regulations and organizational policies.
• Address challenges and barriers that may hinder enrollment in collaboration with Early Childhood Education Director by finding creative solutions and adapting strategies.
• Serve as liaison with community agencies in collaboration with Leadership and Director of Support Services. 
• Establish and maintain good relationships with all other community agencies and individuals, interpreting the daycare center and its sponsoring Board to them and vice-versa, so that the day care center becomes an integral and responsible part of the community.

PARENT LIAISON

• Under the immediate supervision of the director, maintain on-going contact with each family.
• Work with parents individually and in groups, helping them to plan and carry out their own goals, and to be their own advocates in getting services (i.e. housing, education). 

STAFF LIAISON AND INFORMATION SHARING

• Participate in regularly scheduled conference sessions with the ECE Director and Director of Supportive Services sharing information and planning for the special needs of children and families.
• Participate in full staff meetings including certain planning meetings of teaching staff, where challenges of individual children are part of the discussion.  
• Under the guidance of the Director, plan with the teaching staff to have observation of individual children in the group situation. The counselor shall also obtain from the teaching staff any information pertinent to the child's progress and development so that there is a coordinated effort to meet the child's needs to report his progress to the parent, as appropriate.
• Additional tasks as assigned.

Qualifications: