Preschool Family Worker

What You'll Do

Key Responsibilities

Classroom & Program Coverage

• Provide scheduled or emergent classroom coverage to maintain required adult-to-child ratios under NYC Health Code Article 47 and DECE regulations during staff breaks, planning periods, team meetings, or absences.
• Execute active supervision and zoning strategies while covering classrooms to ensure all children are safe, engaged, and visually monitored across all areas.
• Assist teaching teams with daily routines, including meal/snack times, nap/rest periods, toileting and handwashing, outdoor play supervision, and activity transitions.
• Engage with children using positive behavior guidance, Universal Design for Learning (UDL) principles, and Pyramid Model strategies aligned with classroom norms.

Recruitment, Intake & Enrollment (ERSEA)

• Conduct community outreach, recruitment, and intake to maintain 100% program enrollment throughout the program year.
• Verify eligibility documentation (income, age, residency, housing status) in compliance with Head Start, state, and NYC DECE guidelines.
• Facilitate family orientation and onboarding to introduce school policies, attendance expectations, and available support systems.

Family Partnership & Goal Setting

• Conduct comprehensive Family Needs Assessments to identify family strengths, priority needs, and cultural preferences.
• Partner with caregivers to co-create individualized Family Partnership Agreements (FPAs) with measurable short- and long-term goals.
• Conduct regular progress reviews, celebrate achievements, and adjust support plans as family circumstances evolve.
• Execute scheduled home visits to build trust, observe home-learning environments, and strengthen home-school connections.

Case Management & Community Referrals

• Provide individualized case management for families experiencing crisis, housing instability, food insecurity, unemployment, or legal challenges.
• Establish and maintain a dynamic network of local community resources, including food pantries, mental health clinics, job training, and legal aid.
• Issue timely referrals, assist with application processes, and systematically follow up to ensure families successfully access services.
• Maintain precise, chronological, and objective case notes documenting all family interactions, interventions, and follow-ups.

Family Engagement & Community Leadership

• Plan, organize, and facilitate monthly parent workshops, literacy events, and family empowerment sessions.
• Support parent governance groups, such as the Parent Advisory Committee (PAC), Policy Council, or PTA.
• Promote fatherhood and male-caregiver involvement through targeted engagement initiatives.
• Collaborate with teaching teams to connect classroom study topics with meaningful at-home learning activities.

Attendance Monitoring & Absenteeism Intervention

• Track daily classroom attendance patterns, identifying children with consecutive absences or chronic absenteeism.
• Conduct immediate outreach (phone calls, text messages, home visits) for unexcused absences to verify child well-being and identify barriers.
• Develop tailored attendance improvement plans in partnership with families facing chronic attendance obstacles.

Health, Dental & Developmental Compliance

• Audit and ensure timely completion of annual physical exams, immunizations, lead screenings, and dental assessments for every enrolled child.
• Assist families in securing medical homes, dental providers, health insurance, and medical transportation.
• Coordinate with health staff and teachers to track developmental screenings (e.g., ASQ-3) and special education (IEP/IFSP) referrals.

Data Management & Confidentiality

• Input, update, and maintain complete family records in designated management systems (e.g., ChildPlus, PROMIS, or SmartTeach).
• Uphold strict family data privacy and confidentiality standards in accordance with FERPA, HIPAA, NYC Health Code Article 47, and DECE regulations.
• Generate monthly service tracking data, attendance logs, and compliance reports for program leadership and regulatory audits.

Requirements

Qualifications & Requirements

Education & Credentials

• Education: Associate’s or Bachelor’s degree in Social Work, Human Services, Family Studies, Sociology, Psychology, Early Childhood Education, or a related field required.
• Credentials: Family Development Credential (FDC) preferred (or commitment to obtain within 12 months of hire).

Experience & Competencies

• Minimum of 2 years of direct experience working with urban families and young children in community-based or Head Start settings.
• Demonstrated ability to step into classroom environments comfortably and support early childhood instructional routines.
• Deep knowledge of community resources, entitlement programs (SNAP, WIC, housing vouchers), and family support systems.
• Strong cross-cultural competence and ability to engage respectfully with linguistically and socioeconomically diverse populations.

Qualifications & Requirements

Education & Credentials

• Education: Associate’s or Bachelor’s degree in Social Work, Human Services, Family Studies, Sociology, Psychology, Early Childhood Education, or a related field required.
• Credentials: Family Development Credential (FDC) preferred (or commitment to obtain within 12 months of hire).

Experience & Competencies

• Minimum of 2 years of direct experience working with urban families and young children in community-based or Head Start settings.
• Demonstrated ability to step into classroom environments comfortably and support early childhood instructional routines.
• Deep knowledge of community resources, entitlement programs (SNAP, WIC, housing vouchers), and family support systems.
• Strong cross-cultural competence and ability to engage respectfully with linguistically and socioeconomically diverse populations.
• Excellent communication, conflict resolution, case recording, and organizational skills.

Certifications, Clearances & Training

• Mandated Reporter: Active State Mandated Reporter certification for child abuse and maltreatment identification.
• Classroom & Health Clearances: Medical clearance, TB test, and full clearance on comprehensive criminal background checks, fingerprinting, and state child abuse registry screenings.
• Ongoing Learning: Commitment to continuous professional development, trauma-informed care practice, early childhood learning standards (ELOF), and family engagement coaching.

Nice to Have

• Bilingual proficiency (e.g., Spanish, Cantonese, French) highly desirable based on community needs.

Benefits

• Health Insurance
• Life Insurance
• Paid Leave
• Sick Leave
• Retirement Plan
• Tuition Assistance
• Professional Development