The Early Childhood ERSEA Specialist monitors enrollment, recruitment, selection, eligibility and attendance (ERSEA) services for our early childhood programs in Kendall, Kane, Boone, Grundy, and DeKalb Counties. As the ERSEA Specialist, you will determine eligibility and provide training, monitoring, and technical assistance to staff and parents on regulations and procedures for Head Start, Early Head Start, Preschool for All, Prevention Initiative and child care subsidies. The ERSEA Specialist reports to the ERSEA Program Manager.
This position requires energy, attention to detail, a desire to work as part of a collaborative team, planning and analytical skills, and a desire for continuous improvement. It is about comprehensive, quality services for families and embracing the role of our Early Childhood centers as a community partner. The ERSEA Specialist will visit sites in Kendall, Kane, Boone, Grundy, and DeKalb Counties, and will have office space available at our DeKalb site, but will work from a home/remote location between site visits.
Responsibilities include:
- Maintain a monitoring system and process for determining the eligibility of children at assigned early childhood education sites; review enrollment applications and process to ensure accuracy of forms and timeliness of intake.
- Ensure that recruitment efforts reach families that are most in need of services.
- Work collaboratively with other Family Support staff to coordinate recruitment efforts that target children with disabilities.
- Monitor daily attendance; maintain waitlist and general program inbox.
- Assist with the community assessment process, including helping with planning of program design, recruitment efforts and enrollment guidelines.
- Train parents, staff and community partners in topics related to child care, program enrollment and eligibility.
- Work with program leadership to ensure that operations meet agency, federal, state and local requirements, including licensing, Head Start, accreditation, contractual and other standards.
- Maintain and monitor program data collection and evaluation system to ensure that quality standards are met and that services continue to improve.
- Participate in community outreach events and attend public meetings.
Qualifications:
- Bachelor’s degree in Social Work, Human Services, Psychology, Family & Child Studies, or a closely related field required.
- At least one year direct ERSEA experience preferred.
- ERSEA Certification, or ability to become certified within 12 months, required.
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
- Demonstrated skills in documentation, data-entry, and record keeping.
- Valid driver’s license, insurance and a reliable vehicle required.
- Bilingual (English/Spanish) a plus.
Children’s Home & Aid offers a very generous benefits packet to our professionals:
- Blue Cross and Blue Shield Medical Coverage: Traditional PPO, or PPO w/health savings contributions.
- Dental and Vision Insurance Options
- 11 paid Holidays
- Paid Time Off (PTO)
- Flexible Spending
- Opportunities for Student Loan Forgiveness
- 401K Plan
- Training and Professional Development Plan
- E- Learning
- Employee Assistance Plan