SANTA CLARA COUNTY OFFICE OF EDUCATION
Personnel Commission

CLASS TITLES:

Family Support Specialist, Senior
Family Support Specialist, Senior - Restricted

DESCRIPTION OF BASIC FUNCTION AND RESPONSIBILITIES

To develop, coordinate, facilitate, and audit the provision of health care and social sources for children enrolled in Head Start Programs and their families and to provide health care information and resources as needed. Employees in this class receive limited supervision within a framework of standard policies and procedures. This job class directs and monitors the work of the others. this job class requires organizational skills and technical knowledge in the health care and social services field and requires knowledge of Head Start programs, activities, and operations.

TYPICAL DUTIES:

• Monitor and participates in obtaining, updating, and assessing of individual diagnostic health information for children enrolled in Head Start Programs; ensuring established dental/medical requirements and special programs and accommodations are met and verified
• Coordinate and audit the Head Start dental Program as related to eligibility, treatment, reconciliation of billing statements, and contributions
• Identify appropriate resources and assesses their effectiveness in relation to health and meeting the social service needs of Head Start parents and children
• Develop a resource data base of effective service providers for use by staff and parents
• Develop and provide culturally and provide appropriate outreach materials to encourage participation by Head Start parents who are encountering barriers or have needs in the area of family services
• Conduct parent and child educational support groups
• Provide expertise, consultation, and training to Head Start staff in the area of health family services (Health/social service)
• Insure timely completion of reports and other federal requirements as per performance standards
• Promote family services and Head Start objectives with public, education, and community organizations
• Evaluate results for referral, providing parents with results, and following up with rechecks submits billing instruments to Medical
  Confer with teachers, staff, health care providers, community agencies and parents regarding health problems; assess needs, share information, coordinate referrals, and act as a liaison
• Maintain supplies in good condition; ordering and distributing materials as needed
• Provide case management services which include: assessing individuals, developing service plans, making appropriate referrals, treatment plans for children; reviewing and evaluating individual health information making referrals, and monitoring progress
• Provide education, follow-up and social service support resources for parents; develops and conducts counseling workshops, contributing health related materials to newsletter, providing information on an individual health information on an individual basis
• Participate in the development of health education curriculum for the classroom
• Serve as on-site medical resource; evaluate illness or injury, administer firs aid and routine health care to ill or injured students, identify communicable diseases, complete appropriate reports, contact parents, and check on follow-up care
• Insure timely completion of reports and other federal requirements
• Participate in advisory councils, community related boards, case conferences, home visits as needed, workshops, staff meetings, and home visits as assigned.
• Coordinate and monitor the work of Family Services Support specialists as assigned
• Keep abreast of current trends in social services and health care issues
• Perform related duties as required.

EMPLOYMENT STANDARDS

Possession of:

• A valid California Class C Driver's License
• A driving record which meets the County Office of education's insurance requirements

May require ability to speak, read, and write in another language

Knowledge of:

• Health principles, practices and terminology
• Health related public and private agencies
• Proper first aid and safety practices and procedures
• Head Start Program procedures, requirements, and activities
• Cultural needs and problems of families associated with program area
• Social work principles and practices
• Community needs
• Social service agencies, public and private

Ability to:

• Assess family needs and refer to appropriate services
• Interpret and apply program provisions and requirements
• Work closely with families of diverse cultural, racial, and ethnic backgrounds
• Effectively communicate in both oral written form in English
• Establish and maintain records and files related to assigned functions
• Prepare detailed records of family contacts
• Prepare reports and correspondence
• Guide and monitor the work of others
• Establish and maintain effective work relationships with those contacted in the performance of required duties.

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE

Generally, the required knowledge and abilities will been acquired through any combination of education or experience equivalent to graduation from a four year college with a major in Social Work, Psychology, Humanities, Health Science, Health Education or a related field and during at least three years of experience in Health and Social Services.

Bargaining Unit: Office, Technical and Business Services (OTBS) Unit
Personnel Commission: June 12, 1997
Revised: May 22, 2003 (Added Restricted Class)