General Information Organization Overview Smart Start of Mecklenburg County (Smart Start or SSMC) is a Charlotte-based non-profit that funds local programs for children ages birth to five and their families. The organization is a catalyst for improving the lives of the 85,000+ young children in our community, with a focus on health, family, early education, and literacy. We mobilize resources and forge partnerships to support evidence-based policies, practices, and programs to ensure all children enter kindergarten healthy and ready to succeed. Smart Start has a budget of over $30 million comprised of funding from the state of North Carolina, Mecklenburg County, and private donations and grants. SSMC funds approximately 25 programs annually serving over 25,000 young children and their families and administers Mecklenburg County's MECK Pre-K program, which provides free Pre-K to children in the community. SSMC also operates programs and campaigns internally, including Dolly Parton's Imagination Library, Guiding Parents to Services, Ready4K, and The Basics Mecklenburg. The organization is also the leader in research, data, convening and collaborating on issues related to children 0-5 in the Greater Charlotte area. Position Summary The MECK Pre-K (MPK) Family Engagement Specialist works collaboratively with both MPK staff and community partners to empower, support, and engage MPK families in all aspects of the program. The position will report to the Child Development and Family Support Director and will collaborate with the rest of the Child Development and Family Support Team, Success Coaches, Site Administrator Coaches, the assigned Mecklenburg County Social Worker and other community partners to support the children, families, teachers, and site providers and ensure full benefit from participating in the program. Specifically, this role ensures a continuum of care for children and families throughout their enrollment in the MPK program. Essential Duties and Responsibilities Family Engagement Supports all families in fulfilling their engagement requirements by auditing the Family Engagement Report each trimester and providing follow-up with families needing extra support Works alongside internal and external partners to create family-based education and outreach opportunities. Collaborates with staff and community partners to provide comprehensive services, assists in the planning and implementation of family events Produce monthly MPK Family Newsletter and work in conjunction with Smart Start Outreach to disseminate Facilitate monthly Ready Rosie parent cafes (virtual) Schedule, coordinate, facilitate, and update master spread sheet for monthly Parent Advisory Committee meetings Support families with a child that has been referred for evaluation for support services by monitoring the Specialty Services database and providing follow-up with families and site providers Serve as liaison between MPK and specialty service providers (i.e. Speech, OT, PT) Support to MECK Pre-K students, families, teachers and program providers Operates as a team member, including meeting and conferring regularly, with other members of the Child Development and Support Team Inspires, models, and sets a high standard of excellence in practice by supporting MPK families and center staff in implementing child & family-centered services according to State and MPK Program policies and procedures. Eliminates barriers so that all parents and families may be engaged with MPK during their child's enrollment and meet engagement requirements Establishes and maintains a cooperative working relationship with MPK families, center leaders, and community partners, ensuring open lines of communication and timely exchange of information. Curates, distributes, maintains, and regularly updates resources (equipment, print, and web-based information, etc.) for parents and center staff on topics impacting social-emotional development and family support Shares positive guidance techniques with families to support parenting skills and reinforce practices used in classrooms. Supports Child Inclusion Specialist in maintaining database of IEP meetings, specialty services, and documentation between the site administrators, classroom teacher, parent, MPK staff, and Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools staff, as needed. Works with MECK Pre-K leadership team to coordinate and schedule Developmental Screenings. Assists with screening events. Maintains digital records using assigned databases (Ascend, Apricot) for tracking, referral access and sending, etc. Professional Development, Data & Reporting Attends required Professional Development (PD) for MPK teachers and site providers as well as for internal staff. Works collaboratively with other MPK Team members to deliver professional development opportunities that support providers' needs related to promoting social-emotional development and family support. Internal & External Communication Demonstrates proficiency/fluency with database management and Microsoft Office Suite software systems (Excel, Word, PowerPoint, & Outlook) Exhibits effective oral and written communication skills with internal and external clients. Maintains documentation of family engagement activities (resources, training, family visits, referrals, etc.) in central database Establishes and maintains a system of communication with site providers to obtain information relevant to site-specific events and updates Education, Experience, and Other Job Functions Education and Experience Required for Position Three years of successful experience in a professional setting providing direct services to families. Additional two years of increasingly responsible and progressive administrative leadership experience in education programs, including direct experience with families combined with training, consulting or providing TA to staff is desired. Spanish-speaking applicants are highly preferred. Equivalent education and experience may be considered. 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 the job. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk or hear. The employee frequently is required to stand, walk, use hands to finger, handle or feel, and reach with hands and arms. Specific vision abilities required; include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus. Position Type/Expected Hours of Work This is a full-time exempt position. Occasional evening and weekend work may be required as job duties demand. Location & Travel This position is based in Charlotte, NC, with a minor amount of travel. Travel is primarily local during the business day to MECK Pre-K programs, although some out-of-the-area and overnight travel may be expected. May work in shared office space. Other Duties Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities and activities may change at any time with or without notice. No calls, emails, or visits please . For immediate consideration, please formally apply online and provide a resume and cover letter. The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by people assigned this job classification. They are not to be constructed as an all-inclusive list of all duties, skills, and responsibilities of people so assigned. The Agency's policy is to provide equal opportunity in all terms, conditions, and privileges of employment for all qualified applicants and employees without regard to race, color, creed, religion, national origin, sex, age, marital status, disability or veteran status.
