Family Engagement Specialist-Play Learn Connect

Seeking: We are seeking a Family Engagement Specialist for the Play Learn Connect Program Early Literacy and Family Engagement Program

Program Description: The Play Learn Connect Early Literacy and Family Engagement Program is a weekly family and classroom visiting program that provides families with educational books and toys that connect to the classroom curriculum and continues a child's learning at home. The program is designed to strengthen verbal interaction and educational play between parents and their preschool children to engage families in their children’s learning. The philosophy of the program is that the parent is their child’s first teacher. 

Responsibilities:

• The Family Engagement Specialist will be assigned a caseload of 2-4 classrooms and the families of children in those classrooms.
• The Family Engagement Specialist will visit in the classroom weekly to introduce the book or toy.
• The Family Engagement Specialist will visit with the children enrolled in participating classrooms and their parents once a week at the school during the scheduled visit time.
• The Family Engagement Specialist will plan activities using books and toys as the curriculum.
• The Family Engagement Specialist maintains record of visits and statistics, as directed by the Coordinator. 
• The Family Engagement Specialist attends weekly staff meetings and monthly supervision meetings. 
• Under the direction of the Coordinator, the Family Engagement Specialist may refer families to area resources and social service agencies. 
• The Family Engagement Specialist refers all other family issues to the Coordinator. 
• The Family Engagement Specialist assists in evaluation and goal-setting for the Play Learn Connect program. 
• The Family Engagement Specialist continues professional development through seminars, conferences, course work and state-sponsored training. 
• The Family Engagement Specialist keeps abreast of current trends in early childhood education, including child development techniques to promote literacy and parent education. 
• All other duties as assigned.

Qualifications: 

The Play Learn Connect Family Engagement Specialist must have a high school diploma and experience working with parents/caregivers and their young children.

• Other qualifications must include the ability to establish and maintain supportive, non-judgmental rapport with both adults and children.
• The ability to demonstrate playful interactions with children.
• Positive attitudes toward young children, parenting and books.
• The ability to plan, with supervision, play activities within a public school setting. 
• The ability to document visits legibly and accurately; and must be able to maintain confidentiality. 

SCHEDULE & WORK ENVIRONMENT: This is a part-time position at 10-12 hours per week for 33 weeks. 

Duties are performed in the office and at participating preschools (currently located in Adams, Cheshire, and North Adams, though locations change each year with funding).  

Salary Range: $18-$19 per hour, commensurate with experience and dependent upon continued program funding. This program is currently provided by the Massachusetts Department of Early Education and Care and the North Adams Community Development Block Grant.

CHILD CARE OF THE BERKSHIRES IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY, AFFIRMATIVE ACTION EMPLOYER, WITH A LONGSTANDING COMMITMENT TO INCREASING THE DIVERSITY OF THE EMPLOYEE COMMUNITY