Parent Involvement Coordinator - Illinois Action for Children

Hiring range begins at $48,200 (annualized) based on background and experience.

Under the direction of the Director of Early Learning Quality Improvement, the Parent Involvement Coordinator provides content area leadership to the parent involvement and engagement components of the agency’s Early Learning programs. This individual will ensure consistent implementation of the agency’s policies and procedures and will provide professional development for program staff to promote best practices in these areas.

The Parent Involvement Coordinator leads the agency’s efforts to promote parent/guardian education, engagement and leadership. This individual will partner with Site Directors, Teacher Coaches and the Home Visiting Supervisor to implement a comprehensive strategy for parent education opportunities that respond to family interests in all Early Learning programs. In addition, the Parent Involvement Coordinator manages recruitment and engagement of project-based and ongoing volunteers, including families, community members and volunteers placed by organizations.

This incumbent will be expected to promote and adhere to the workplace core capabilities of: accountability, customer focus, continuous quality improvement, communication, competent people and clear priorities. All work to be completed with minimum supervision and in accordance with organizational standards.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES include but are not limited to the following. The organization reserves the right to add to, delete, change or modify the essential duties and responsibilities at any time.

1. Content Area Leadership:

• Leads all program functions related to parent engagement, policy council shared governance and volunteer management across all program options, ensuring compliance and advancing best practices. Develops guidance and partners with Early Learning managers to provide ongoing professional development to program staff responsible for implementing each component.
• Establishes templates, guidance and processes to support planning and implementation of parent meetings, family fun nights, male engagement, and other parent activities that are engaging; promotes family involvement and supports families in meeting their goals and needs.
• Supports Early Learning management team in developing annual parent training and engagement plans for each site / program option. Collaborates with other content area coordinators to provide ongoing family opportunities to learn from experts in each content area.
• In partnership with the Lead Family Engagement Specialist, provides embedded professional development for family engagement staff to implement strategies and activities that engage and meet the needs of families.
• Partners with the Education Manager to identify and plan intentional professional development to support education staff in creating classroom environments that welcome and engage families.
• Serves as the agency’s designated expert to become trained in appropriate parent curricula. Trains program staff and directly implement curricula with parents as assigned.
• Implements and reviews program policies and procedures to ensure that processes for parent engagement, program governance and volunteer involvement/tracking are followed. Proposes revisions based on program needs and identified challenges.
• Conducts ongoing monitoring of program compliance in the areas of family engagement and program governance through on-site visits and observation of parent activities, review of program records, and review of program-level COPA data. Reviews implementation of systems to identify safety or compliance risks; determines root causes; and implements a comprehensive strategy, including training, resource development and measures for accountability.
• Identifies areas of non-compliance and implement a plan to resolve those concerns in partnership with department management.
• Serves as a connection between parents and IHSA/NHSA.

2. Operations and Partner Relationships:

• Ensures that all in-kind activities are tracked appropriately and submitted to the finance department in a timely manner. Supports and trains site staff to ensure adherence to in-kind procedures.
• Coordinates site-level Parent Committees and the program-level Policy Council. Implements agency procedures for election of members and officers. Recruits community representatives to bring new relationships and resources to the program.
• Provides training and support to Policy Council members and officers to support the performance of their duties.
• Develops monthly Policy Council agendas and reports according to the program calendar. Plans for all aspects of the meetings and support authentic parent involvement.
• Manages IAFC relationship with UCAN and other partners providing regular program volunteers. Builds and maintains partnerships with organizations to support parent education opportunities and connect program staff to these resources.
• Identifies and pursues opportunities to represent IAFC to external groups/organizations to promote the agency and increase utilization of services through events, presentations and/or day-to-day contact.
• Ensures confidentiality of parent and provider information received and managed by IAFC.
• Monitors in COPA areas of family assessments, family goals, case notes, resources provision, services, and family section of the PIR.
• Compiles and uploads in the Smartsheet, monthly newsletter articles from Site Directors and Parent Educator(s).
• Partners with community organizations to provide education to families in topics of their interest.
• Assists with responsible core area’s sections writing of the grant, program annual report, and other subsidies.
• In partnership with other staff, updates the parent handbook annually. Works with Marketing to have the Parent Handbook available at the beginning of the school year.
• Serves as Marketing Liaison for EL Department.

3. Executes our workplace core capabilities of: accountability, customer focus, continuous quality improvement (CQI), communication, competent people and clear priorities.

4. Independently works on multiple tasks effectively in support of department.

5. Other Functions: The organization may assign other functions to the job at its discretion.

QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS: 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.

EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE:

• Bachelor’s degree in early childhood education, child development, family studies, social work or a related field required, with significant coursework related to the goals of this position.
• Experience managing family engagement services in a Head Start or other early childhood program strongly preferred.

LANGUAGE SKILLS:

• Ability to speak and write effectively in both English and Spanish (preferred).
• Ability to read, analyze, and interpret common scientific and technical journals, financial reports, and legal documents.
• Ability to respond to common inquiries or complaints from customers, regulatory agencies, or members of the business community.
• Ability to write speeches and articles for publication that conform to prescribed style and format.
• Ability to effectively present information to top management, public groups, and/or boards of directors.

CERTIFICATES, LICENSES, REGISTRATIONS: Valid driver’s license, reliable personal transportation and insurance required.

OTHER SKILLS AND ABILITIES: Experience with database systems required, knowledge of COPA preferred. Ability to work with all levels of staff and management required. Ability to work discreetly with highly confidential information and documentation required. Attention to detail and ability to travel locally, when needed.

While we desire for this job posting to be comprehensive, all aspects of the position may be amended at any time at the discretion of IAFC including job duties, work location and/or work schedule.

This hybrid position will work in Homewood, Illinois IL Action for Children is EEO/M/F/V/D employer.