Family Services Associate

Who We Are:
Pacific Clinics is California's largest community-based nonprofit provider of behavioral and mental health services and supports. Its team of more than 2,000 employees speak 22 languages and are dedicated to offering hope and unlocking the full potential of individuals and families through culturally-responsive, trauma-informed, research-based services for individuals and families from birth to older adults. The agency offers services in 18 counties including Alameda, Contra Costa, Fresno, Kings, Los Angeles, Madera, Orange, Placer, Riverside, Sacramento, San Bernardino, San Francisco, Santa Clara, Solano, Stanislaus, Stockton, Tulare and Ventura.
Pacific Clinics Head Start and Early Head Start programs provide free early education and childcare for children from birth to age five and prenatal and parenting support for eligible families.
Who We Serve:
Pacific Clinics serves children, transitional age youth, families, adults, and older adults. We offer a full range of mental and behavioral health services, foster care and social services, housing, continuing adult education and early childhood education programs to Medi-Cal eligible individuals and families. Our diverse staff provides culturally and linguistically relevant services in over 22 languages to our region's culturally and ethnically diverse populations. We provide services in 18 counties across California.
Pacific Clinics Head Start and Early Head Start programs provides services in center-based, home base and family child care provider homes, regardless of income. We teach children how to share emotions in a healthy way.
What We Offer

• Pay: The starting rate for this position is now $24.11 per hour.
• We Offer Medical, Dental & Vision benefits, retirement options, Flex Spending, EAP, and more!
• Employee engagement and advocacy opportunities to advance our justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion agenda across our Agency and throughout the communities we serve
• Benefits eligibility starts on Day 1!

POSITION SUMMARY:
This position supports and assists families as they identify and meet their goals through a family-centered case management model for developing and carrying out Family Partnership Agreement, family needs assessment including responsibility for child files, enrollment applications, recruitment, resource and referral. This position also assists with the completion of the child health requirements and other required screenings and assessments. This position supports the larger system of social services coordinated by Head Start/Early Head Start, thereby supporting the goals of the program. The position may involve reassignment of caseloads and/or center location as deemed necessary for program operations.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITES:

• Works with parents to develop family partnership agreements and carry out follow up plans.
  • Participates in in-service, workshops, conferences and college courses to enhance skills.
  • Recruits prospective families and assists with enrollment process. Monitors attendance and does follow up accordingly.
  • Conducts home visits as needed to facilitate family plans, assists families in achieving identified goals and follow-up on referrals.
  • Acts as a case manager and works cooperatively with local agencies to assist families to linkup with services in the local community.
  • Assists with the completion of the child health screening, other required screenings and assessments and is familiar with referral requirements.
  • Conducts and documents follow-up on all referrals.
  • While respecting family confidentiality, shares information with teachers to ensure coordinated services that meet the needs of individual children and families.
  • Provides health, safety and family literacy activities to parents, as appropriate.
  • Coordinates with center staff to promote parent engagement in the program as a classroom visitor, volunteer, and/or participant in family events.
  • Promotes effective community support for families by coordination and advocacy for services with community agencies.
  • Develops a working knowledge of community resources and partnership building in the community. Refers families for emergency or crisis assistance.
  • Coordinates or refers families to opportunities for continuing education, employment training and other employment services through formal or informal networking in the community.
  • Provides family needs assessment that includes consultation with parents about the benefits of parent engagement and activities in which parents may choose to participate.
  • Arranges for education and other appropriate intervention including opportunities for families to participate in counseling or to receive information on mental health, substance abuse, child abuse and neglect and domestic violence.
  • Attends parent/teacher conferences, as requested.
  • Assists teaching staff with Parent Committee meetings, Family Nights, socializations and other parent activities.
  • Assists families in making the transition into and out of the Early Head Start/Head Start Program.
  • Documents efforts to assist families in identifying their strengths, needs and sufficiency goals. Performs data entry functions as necessary to keep files up-to-date. Uses COPA or other database software.
  • Submits reports as needed and requested, such as monthly summary tracking reports, follows up with families to determine if services received through referral met the their expectations and circumstances.
  • Maintains and provides data for the annual Program Information Report (PIR).
  • Attends all workshops and meetings as deemed necessary by the immediate supervisor.
  • Attends all required staff and parent meetings and activities.
  • Positively promotes Head Start in the community.
  • Maintains strict confidentiality with respect to Head Start/Early Head Start children, families and staff in accordance with established policies and procedures.
  • Evaluates family needs, formulate service plans, and ensure delivery of services.
  • Exhibits patience and tact when communicating with children, families, staff, management, referral sources and the public.
  • Reports to work on time and maintains reliable and regular attendance.
  • Models Pacific clinics' approach, mission and core values in all communication and correspondence.
  • Communicates effectively in a culturally competent and diverse consumer population and promotes favorable interaction with managers, co-workers and others.
  • Performs other duties as assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS/SKILLS:
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required.
ORGANIZATIONAL RELATIONSHIPS/INTERACTION:
Initiate and maintain professional interactions and communication with Clinic's employees and/or others.
EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE/POSITION REQUIREMENTS:

• Required B.A./B.S. Degree in Human Services, or related field, degree in Social Work preferred.
  • Demonstrated understanding Head Start Performance Standards and local child care licensing regulations.
  • Demonstrated understanding and ability to generate documentation supporting in-kind and other allowable costs as applicable to the non-federal share requirement.
  • Demonstrated knowledge of the regulations associated with prevention of occupational disease and injury, including the exercise of universal precautions and the prevention of contamination.
  • Bi-lingual preferred (Spanish, Armenian, Chinese, Mandarin)
  • Must have good verbal/written skills.
  • Ability to work within deadlines and maintain time management skills.
  • Demonstrated ability to work in Windows environment (including MS Office, Excel, Internet).
  • Must maintain DOJ, FBI, and Child Abuse Index Clearance.
  • Must possess a current Pediatric CPR and First Aid Certification.
  • Must possess a valid California driver's license, reliable transportation and maintain an insurable driving record under the Clinics' liability policy.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.

• Travel time to make contact with families and agencies is required.
  • Some exposure to communicable diseases.
  • Travel/overnight many be required associated with attendance at conferences, meetings and other duties.
  • Noise level in work environment may be moderate to loud.
  • Must be available, as requested, for a variety of evening and weekend meetings as well as social and community events.
  • May be required to lift up to 40 pounds.