SPAN JOB POSTINGS

  ISG Family Resource Specialists

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Parent Group Specialist Part-Time
1 Regional Associate, Hunterdon, Mercer, and Somerset counties

Statewide Parent Advocacy Network is currently looking for an independent, self-motivated individual who is the parent/caregiver of a child receiving special education services and/or who has experience as a member/leader of a local parent group.

SPAN is seeking a qualified individual with a strong commitment to the importance and significance of the involvement of empowered and educated parents/caregivers in improving academic & health outcomes for children in New Jersey through development of parent groups and participation in strong family/school partnerships. SPAN is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to empower families and inform and involve professionals and other individuals interested in the healthy development and educational rights of children. SPAN is funded through private contributions and grants from government, foundations, corporations and individuals.

Job Responsibilities:

· Parent Group Specialist should be a resident of a county in the region they cover and have experience working with parent and community organizations in this region. 

• Provide information, training, technical assistance and support to parents and professionals regarding:

1. Establishing parent groups.

2. Maintaining the membership and effectiveness of existing groups.

3. Informing parents about their rights to be involved in educational planning for their child.

4.  Providing training and workshops on parent involvement in the IEP process and additional topics as needed.

5. Increasing parental awareness regarding their role in improving special education systems within their district and at the state level through parent professional collaboration.

• Identify parent groups, networks and/or formal organizations (PTAs/PTOs/HSAs, etc) currently supporting or interested in supporting families with children with special education needs.

• Outreach to identified groups/networks/organizations to determine what resources or information may be needed to sustain their development. 

• Network with families, educators and service providers as well as attend conferences and trainings in their counties, regions, and throughout the state regarding family-centered principles and practices. 

Qualifications

The successful candidate, through experience, as well as training, will demonstrate the following knowledge, abilities, and skills:

1. Excellent planning and organizational skills;

2. Excellent interpersonal skills are required.

3. Good verbal and written communication skills;

4. Experience as the parent/caregiver or advocate of a child with disabilities.  And experience as the leader or an active member of a parent organization or support group.

5. Outstanding ability to work well with a wide spectrum of people;

6. Ability to work well independently as well as with a team;

7. Capacity to exercise independent judgment and sound decision-making;

8. Demonstrated commitment to the goals of the project and organization.

9. Reliable transportation.

Reports to: START Project Director
Hours:  18.75 hours per week
Interested applicants are encouraged to send a resume and letter of interest to:
Dianne Malley START Project Director
Statewide Parent Advocacy Network
35 Halsey Street
Newark, NJ  07102
856-397-5294
dmalley@spannj.org  

 

SPAN Family Resource Specialist:  Special Child Health Service Case Management Unit - Mercer & Middlesex counties

Statewide Parent Advocacy Network is seeking a qualified individual with a strong commitment to the importance and significance of the involvement of empowered and educated parents/caregivers in improving academic & health outcomes for children in New Jersey. SPAN is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to empower families and inform and involve professionals and other individuals interested in the healthy development and educational rights of children. SPAN is funded through private contributions and grants from government, foundations, corporations and individuals.

Qualifications

Must be parent of a child five years old or older with a disability and/or special health care need, and has been involved with their county Special Child Health Service Case Management Unit.  Must reside in the county for which you are applying. Preferred:  parent of a child who has gone through Early Intervention and transitioned to Preschool. Preferred: Bilingual

Experience, as well as training that demonstrates the following knowledge, abilities, and skills:

1. Planning, communications and organization skills ;

2. Good verbal and written communication skills;

3. Personal and professional experience in education, health, and social services issues affecting families of children with disabilities and/or special health care needs and empathic to those needs;

4. Excellent interpersonal skills are necessary;

5. Outstanding ability to work well with a wide spectrum of people;

6. Ability to work well independently as well as with team;

7. Capacity to exercise independent judgment and sound decision-making;

8. Demonstrate commitment to the goals of the project and organization;

Job Description:

• Provide parent to parent information, technical assistance and support to parents and professionals regarding education and health development.
  
• Facilitation of small group networks and care coordination based on the unique needs of family, strength of the SPAN Family Resource Specialist and particular demands of the Special Child Health Service (SCHS) Case Management Unit(CMU) where assigned.

• Will provide information and technical assistance to families on the telephone, in person, at meetings and through material dissemination by mail.

• Will support both the New Jersey Statewide Parent-to-Parent and Family Voices project staff in recruiting parents to participate in the projects.

• Will network with service providers as well as attend conferences and training’s in their counties, regions, and throughout the state regarding family-centered principles and practices.

• Will attend quarterly SPAN All-Staff meetings at the SPAN Newark office or other designated location.

Reports to:                 Project Care Coordinator

Salary:                    $10.75

Fax resume and a letter of interest to Patricia Paraskevacos FX. # 973-523-7715 Email: paraskevac@aol.com 
Special Child Health Services Passaic County CMU, Catholic Family & Community Services, 279 Carroll Street, Paterson New Jersey , 07501

If applying for this position by e-mail, please indicate the position title in the subject heading of your e-mail message.  In the body of your message please describe why the position is of interest to you and any special information that you would like for us to know that is not reflected in your resume.  You can send your resume as an attachment or include in the body of the message.

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ISG Family Resource Specialists

The Statewide Parent Advocacy Network seeks parents with a strong commitment to the involvement of empowered and educated parents in improving outcomes for NJ children. SPAN is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to empower families and inform and involve professionals and others interested in the healthy development and education of children and youth. SPAN is funded through private contributions and grants from government, foundations, and corporations. 

Qualifications:  Must be a parent of a child five years old or older with a disability or special health care need who has been involved with your county Special Child Health Service Case Management Unit.  Must reside in the county in which you wish to serve.

Preferred:  Parent of a child who has gone through Early Intervention and transitioned to Preschool and school-age services.
Preferred: Bilingual.  Preference is given to candidates who have completed SPAN’s SRP training series. 

SPAN seeks part-time Family Resource Specialists (FRSs) to work with the Project Director, partners, SCHS CMUs, Medical Home pilots, health providers, SPAN staff, and family volunteers to provide high-quality, culturally competent services leading to positive outcomes for Children and Youth with Special Health Care Needs and their families and positive relationships with professionals.   FRSs will be housed in the uncovered SCHS Case Management Units of Hunterdon, Ocean, Somerset, Sussex, and Union Counties, averaging between 5-10 hours/week/unit.

Job Responsibilities:

1.      Conduct outreach and provide training and support to families of Children and Youth with Special Health Care Needs who represent the full diversity of families in NJ, and professionals who work with families, Children and Youth with Special Health Care Needs.

2.      Provide information, technical assistance, and support to families of Children and Youth with Special Health Care Needs and professionals.

3.      Participate as a parent voice in the medical home pilots and community implementation projects.

4.      Present at and attend professional meetings relating to project goals and SPAN’s mission.

5.      Collect and analyze evaluation information; prepare reports in collaboration with Project Director.

6.      Maintain records and information that support project under direction of Project Director.

7.      Other responsibilities as needed.

Qualifications

Demonstrate relevant training and experience with the following knowledge, abilities, and skills:

1.      Outstanding planning, communication & organizational skills;

2.      Excellent outreach, family engagement and empowerment, and community collaboration skills;

3.      Ability to interact with a diverse population of families, children and youth, and professionals;

4.      Facility with written and verbal communication, strong Spanish skills a plus;

5.      Knowledge of local community and resources;

6.      Ability to work flexible hours and reliable transportation resources.

Reports to:     Integrated Community Services Project Director in collaboration with Family WRAP Project Director

Salary: $12.50/hour.

SPAN is an equal employment opportunity employer.  Candidates with the full range of diverse backgrounds are encouraged to apply.

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