Bright from the Start: Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning is responsible for meeting the childcare and early education needs of Georgia's children and their families. It administers the nationally recognized Georgia's Pre-K Program, licenses childcare centers and home-based childcare, administers Georgia Childcare and Parent Services (CAPS) program, federal nutrition programs, and manages Quality Rated, Georgia's community powered childcare rating system.

The department also houses the Head Start State Collaboration Office, distributes federal funding to enhance the quality and availability of childcare, and collaborates with Georgia childcare resource and referral agencies and organizations throughout the state to enhance early care and education.

Job Summary:

The Family Support Consultant will work closely with and report to the Family Support Manager. The Family Support Consultant is responsible for conducting the programmatic and operational activities within a geographical region of the family support function/section of the Childcare and Parent Services (CAPS) program within the Department of Early Care and Learning (DECAL). This includes providing ongoing support to families and outreach to community partners on behalf of the CAPS program. This is a field-based position with a focus on the region in which the candidate resides and requires travel throughout the region. The successful candidate would reside in or adjacent to the assigned territory. The position is home based, however it does require the Consultant to be engaged in the communities served, as well as have ongoing communication with families.

The Southwest Region Family Support Consultant will serve the following counties: Lee, Terrell, Webster, Sumter, Schley, Macon, Taylor, Marion, Crawford, Upson, Talbot, Lamar, and Pike

Reliable attendance is an essential function of this position; consistent availability to work scheduled appointments and adhering to report deadlines is required.

**MUST LIVE WITHIN 50 MILES OF THE COUNTIES SERVED**

Job Responsibilities:

Delivers services as a part of a comprehensive system of childcare financial assistance and social services for families with focus on innovation and system building, as well as improved performance and more accountability. Delivers local services that adhere to federal and state requirements.
Works with the Family Support Manager to assure CAPS program compliance with policies, as well as maintaining appropriate documentation based on federal and programmatic requirements.
Implements a new service delivery model focused on:
- helping families feel welcomed, safe, and respected by building trusting relationships over time
- supporting and assisting families with case changes
- assisting families in searching for stable, high-quality childcare
- connecting families with other state and community resources that they may be eligible for
- providing resources that promote child development
- providing information regarding children’s health (physical and social-emotional behavioral), nutrition, parent/child interactions, and mental health
- providing information about developmental screening
- providing information about programs for children with disabilities
- helping families understand and navigate health and safety requirements for childcare
- bridging the gap created by barriers (i.e., lack of internet, limited literacy/understanding) by providing information directly to families to ensure they fully understand childcare options are able to assess quality, and make informed decisions about childcare providers
- supporting families in developing skills and confidence to be effective leaders and advocates for their children.
Develops strong, positive, and effective relationships with families, including those families experiencing crises. Supports families in identifying, developing, and utilizing their informal and formal support networks (e.g., neighborhood groups, faith/spiritual communities, civic organizations).
Maintains a network of regularly scheduled training, outreach, and informational sessions for both families and childcare providers, in collaboration with the Family Engagement Coordinator and Instructional Supports division.
Works in close collaboration with scholarship eligibility and program administration sections of the CAPS division to ensure seamless and timely service delivery to all families and providers, and exemplary customer service.
In partnership with CAPS Family Support Directors and Managers, develops an understanding of community resources so they are able to connect families with the most appropriate supports.
Creates, builds, and maintains positive working relationships within the community. Recognizes and promotes CAPS as a part of the broader community (geographically, within early childhood, etc.):
- Engages and collaborates with Public Health Child Health Teams (Children First, Babies Can’t Wait, Children’s Medical Services, and Home Visiting).
- Participates in Family Connection partnership collaborative within their region.
Supports the Family Support Manager in compiling necessary content to enhance communication within the division and with other divisions of the agency, such as the Audits and Compliance and Legal divisions on a specific case level as well as on a procedure/policy level.
Manages timelines and component project steps to achieve project deadlines and objectives set by Family Support Manager.

Required Qualifications:

Bachelor's degree in a related field from an accredited college or university AND three (3) years of professional job-related experience in a human services field; or two (2) years of experience at the lower level Social Svcs Prgm Mgr 2 (SSP021) or position equivalent.

Agency Preferred Qualifications:

Bachelor's degree in a related field from an accredited college/university AND Four years of experience in a child serving, state or community program or organization.

Current or previous CAPS program work experience
Current work experience in another DECAL program
Social Work, Community Development, Early Childhood, Human Services, or Psychology degree
Two years or more of experience working with vulnerable populations, including families experiencing homelessness, children with disabilities, and those whose home language is not English
Two years or more of experience working with low-income families
Knowledge of CCDF federal regulations
Knowledge of programs and services at state and community level which benefit vulnerable children and their families
Two years or more of experience collaborating with state and/or community programs/services to connect families to these resources.

Technical Competencies:

· Excellent communication skills, both oral and written, and organizational skills.

· Demonstrated ability to form and maintain collaboration among partners and members of a team.

· Demonstrated ability to develop and deliver training and presentations.

· Computer skills in Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.

· Ability to develop trusting relationships with early care and education stakeholders through active listening, problem solving and interpersonal skills.

· Ability to manage own time, set priorities, work without direct supervision, and contribute to team atmosphere.

· Competent to answer questions related to childcare quality and health and safety, as well as community resources quickly and accurately.

· An understanding of early care and education settings, as well as both state and community programs and resources for eligible families.

· Experience working with diverse communities and sensitivity to needs and concerns of various cultural groups.

· Ability to react with flexibility and sensitivity to changing situations and needs.

Physical Position Requirements:

· Work is typically performed in an office environment with intermittent sitting, standing, or walking in various settings.

· The ability to speak clearly, to hear and understand at a normal conversational level, and to receive detailed information through verbal communication

· Close visual acuity to perform an activity such as: preparing and analyzing data; viewing a computer terminal; extensive reading and visual inspection.

· Full range of hand and finger motion for data entry purposes.

· Must have a valid Georgia driver’s license, insurance coverage, and have the ability to drive extensive periods as needed.

Bright from the Start: Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning is a family-friendly employer, offering flexible work schedules (at supervisory discretion) and a comprehensive compensation package, to include healthcare, retirement, 401-k match, and elective options for dental, vision, AD&D, short and long-term disability, and life insurance. Bright from the Start: Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning is an equal opportunity employer and drug-free workplace. A background check will be completed upon hire, which may consist of any or all of the following: criminal and employment histories, credit history (as applicable to the position), education credentials, and motor vehicle driving records.

If you are an individual with a disability who may require assistance or other reasonable accommodation in order to participate in the selection process for this position, you may contact our HR department at 678-879-2993. Due to the volume of submissions received by this office, information concerning application or interview status cannot be provided in writing, over the phone, or in person. All applicants who submit a complete application package will be considered but may not necessarily receive notification or an interview. The job posting may be subject to being closed at any time without notice. Only those qualified candidates who are selected for an interview shall receive notification upon the filling of this vacancy.

Bright from the Start: Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning is an equal opportunity employer.

Bachelor's degree in a related field from an accredited college or university and three (3) of professional job-related experience in a human services field; or two (2) years of experience at the lower level Social Svcs Prgm Mgr 2 (SSP021) or position equivalent.

Additional Information