Mckinney Vento Family Engagement Specialist

This TWA Family Engagement Specialist position supports the McKinney Vento program and is grant funded. The McKinney Vento program supports students and families experiencing significant financial hardship and housing insecurity.The Family Engagement Specialist position will work closely with the McKinney Vento Specialist and School Social Workers. This position will identify, support, and engage families that are in need of McKinney Vento services with a goal of improving school connection and ensuring students have access to supports needed throughout the division. The McKinney Vento Engagement Specialist will work as part of the network of assistance for homeless students and families in pre-schools, elementary schools, middle schools and high schools. This position is a temporary work assignment under the McKinney Vento Subgrant awarded to Chesterfield County Public Schools for the 2023-2024,2024-2025, and 2025-2026 school years. The poisiton will report to the Coordinator for Social Work Services and McKinney Vento Specialist.

• Works to ensure homeless children and families’ needs are identified and steps are taken to meet those needs through school resources and community agencies.
• Attend McKinney meetings and attend professional development sessions related to role.
• Work with students and families experiencing high mobility to assist in securing housing and other community resources.
• Participates in on-going professional development by attending workshops, lectures and institutes on specific subjects to enhance job performance.
• Work with GRASP office to coordinate outreach to Unaccompanied Youth, assuring their knowledge of their ability to apply for financial aid for college as an independent.
• Identify students under McKinney Vento who have a history of chronic absenteeism. Work with students, families, and school staff to address barriers to attendance related to homelessness and refer to resources to alleviate barriers.
• Develop an email list or other electronic means to distribute information about community resources to families and unaccompanied youth.
• Work with high school coordinators to assure counselors are knowledgeable of unaccompanied youth on their caseload and that they meet with unaccompanied youth and counsel them regarding going to college.
• Serves as a liaison between student, home, school, and community resources such as family resource agencies.
• Maintain a log of family contacts and home visits
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Budgetary Responsibility: N/A

Decision Making: Substantial independent decision making required with continuous communication with, and appropriate clearance from the Coordinator for School Social Work Services and McKinney Vento Specialist.

Formal Policy-Setting Responsibilities: Provides expertise and recommendations for policies related to McKinney Vento. Works closely with the Coordinator for School Social Work Services and McKinney Vento Specialist to establish program processes and guidelines for McKinney Vento compliance.

Physical Demands: Must have the ability to sit and stand for extended periods of time; exhibit manual dexterity to dial a telephone, to enter data into a computer terminal; to see and read a computer screen and printed material with or without vision aids; hear and understand speech at normal indoor levels, outdoors and on the telephone; speak in audible tones so that others may understand clearly; physical agility to drive, bend, stoop, sit on the floor, climb stairs, walk and reach overhead. May be occasionally required to use crisis prevention or intervention techniques and lift and carry instructional materials usually under 25 pounds.

Working knowledge of the legislative requirements and practical needs of students who are homeless. Knowledge of school organization, and available federal, state, and community resources to support families and schools serving McKinney-Vento students. Demonstrated skill in a wide variety of media and the use of technology to support job functions including proficient use of MS Word, MS PowerPoint, MS Excel, MS Access and MS Outlook preferred. Demonstrated ability in decision-making, problem analysis, conflict resolution and interpersonal relationships

Applicants considered for employment must successfully complete the following background investigations/tests: