University of Delaware·Newark, Delaware
The Child & Family Support Specialist provides weekly educational home visits to support child development and family self-sufficiency. They act as a case manager, connecting families to community resources and ensuring all program performance standards and screenings are met.
Pay Grade: 28E Context of Job:
New Directions Early Head Start is a federally funded program that provides pregnant participants, infants and toddlers, and their families with quality care and family services that support families in providing the best for themselves and their very young children in order to promote children's success and families' self-sufficiency, through community collaboration and partnerships.
The Child & Family Specialist will work with children & families, providing weekly educational home visits, assisting parents in understanding their child's development and being their child’s first teacher. In addition, the Child & Family Specialist will assist in identifying family resources and needs, and families’ goals for their child and themselves.
Under limited supervision of the Program Coordinator or Child & Family Supervisor, the Child & Family Specialist will act as an itinerant teacher and case manager for families, providing child activities to support children’s development, ensuring the connection to health services, other services and referrals as needed and providing weekly home visits. Educate families about their child’s development and connect them with other parents. Major Responsibilities:
Ensure that the program meets or exceeds the Head Start Program Performance Standards.
Support parents in developing and fostering a healthy self-concept in themselves and their children.
Promote the philosophy of empowering parents.
Conduct Weekly 90-minute home visits with families providing the education and child development services outlined in the Head Start Program Performance Standards section 1302.32 3 and using the programs curriculum and individual planning.
Act as a liaison and advocate between community resources and Early Head Start families.
Coordinate, facilitate and plan, socializations for the child and parent in conjunction with parents and Child and Family Supervisor that provide age-appropriate activities that align with the programs school readiness goals.
Help parents use activities and materials which naturally occur in the home as learning opportunities.
Foster the view and practice that parents are their child’s first teacher and reinforce with practical suggestions for development.
Model developmentally appropriate practice. Assist families in developing activities and fostering behaviors that will enhance their children’s development.
Ensure that the necessary developmental, social emotional and health screenings are completed within the 45- and 90-day deadlines.
Maintain follow-up screenings as required.
Complete professional observations on every child on your caseload and encourage parental observations.
Record observations in the Teaching Strategies Gold developmental assessment system.
Complete developmental assessments 3 to 4 times a year, sharing the information with parents and using the information for planning activities.
Complete developmental, social emotional, nutritional and dental screenings in conjunction with the family.
Create and implement individual home visit plans (lesson plans) that reflect the childs goals as outlined by the parent and the child observations and assessment.
Assist parents in creating and maintaining safe, healthy , nurturing environments in their homes.
Participate in the process to recruit and enroll program eligible pregnant women and families with young children to maintain maximum enrollment.
Maintain confidential records on child and family progress, including using the programs computer software.
Prepare reports and maintain accurate and timely records as necessary to meet all requirements of funding source.
Develop Family Partnership Agreements (FPA) based on each family's strengths and each child's needs and record progress or an IFSP for children with disabilities.
Assist families in assessing their ongoing progress as it relates to the FPA or IFSP.
Participate in and support families with accessing needed community services and resources.
Make referrals as necessary to community services.
Plan and support a smooth transition for the children & families into and out of Early Head Start.
Support families in arranging and keeping medical and dental appointments as required by Early Head Start and submitting all necessary documentation.
Work to ensure consistent quality prenatal care and to support the mother in meeting all of the recommendations for a healthy pregnancy.
Ensure program screenings and/or assessments for pregnant women are completed, with the appropriate follow up and/or referral takes place.
Help expectant families prepare a welcoming and safe home for the baby.
Coordinate and schedule appointments for health staff to visit the newborn within two weeks of the birth, ensuring the well-being of the mother and child as is required by the Program Performance Standards.
Maintain supplies and materials for home visiting, socialization etc.
Make suggestions for new materials and submit order requests for supplies that need replacement.
Assist with long range program planning and development of NDEHS program.
Attend training, staff development workshops and meetings as appropriate or requested by the Supervisor, Program Coordinator, or Director.
Positively represent NDEHS, DIEEC, CEHD and the University in the community at large.
Provide parent transportation as necessary using NDEHS vehicle.
Perform other job-related duties as assigned.
Market context
In Delaware, Child & Family Support Specialist openings often reflect steady demand in early childhood, family services, and community support settings. These roles are competitive because employers typically look for a bachelor’s degree, relevant experience, a valid driver’s license, reliable transportation, and clearance through background checks. Review the AI-summarized requirements and benefits here to save time, then confirm your experience aligns and prepare examples of family support work and community coordination.