Save the Children Kindergarten Readiness Ambassador - Charleston, United States - Charleston Community Center

Description

Job Description

The job is through Save the Children, Inc and the work site is with Charleston Community Center, Inc

Summary
Kindergarten Readiness Ambassador (Ambassador) is responsible to implement Early Steps to School Success
(ESSS) – Kindergarten Readiness program to support kindergarten readiness for children ages 3-5 years throughout the community through increased family and community engagement in early learning.

Although this position is funded through a Save the Children sub grant, the Ambassador is an employee of the school district and directly supervised by district staff. The ESSS Program Specialist will act as the dotted line supervisor for the Ambassador and provide training, technical assistance, and support regarding program implementation.

Essential Duties, Responsibilities and Impact
Implement ESSS Kindergarten Readiness program elements for Family Readiness:

• Recruit children ages 3-5 years and parents/caregivers into the program. Identify the number of children who are eligible to attend kindergarten in the coming year who are not participating in any preschool experience as target program participants.
• Hold a minimum of weekly group activities, e.g., community-wide parent/child groups to support the development of strong parent/child relationships that nurture early learning and language development.
• Support access to early learning resources and materials, e.g., regular home library or book exchange program.
• Provide information and support to program participants on local kindergarten readiness expectations, and support kindergarten transition through individual Family Conference meetings.

Conduct ESSS Kindergarten Readiness program elements for Community Readiness to increase the availability of and access to early learning opportunities for families with young children throughout the community through awareness, engagement, and collaboration, including:

• Locally-driven efforts to strengthen early learning at home and in community settings, e.g., awareness campaigns, mobile programming, community events, kindergarten readiness local partnerships, etc.
• Efforts to promote home-school partnerships and facilitate Kindergarten transition.
• Participation in early childhood community collaborative groups (when available) and/or connections with other local community resources, coalitions and initiatives that support overall kindergarten readiness and transition.

Participate in activities to support program implementation, professional development, and collaboration, including:

• Actively partnering with the ESSS Early Childhood Coordinator, Community Engagement staff, and other providers of early childhood services to integrate and sustain efforts in the community.
• Participating in training and technical assistance to support program implementation.
• Participating in data collection and annual evaluation of the program.
• Collaborate with Save the Children's Program Specialist to foster an understanding of our child safeguarding policies through ongoing training and technical assistance.
• Ensure consistent reporting of child safeguarding risks and incidents; strong methodology in the field for managing risks and following reporting protocols; supplying proper documentation in support of incident reports as needed; and collecting data on child safeguarding risks and efforts to mitigate risks in the program environment.
• Make intentional, regular efforts to remain up-to-date on key local and state child-welfare policies and reporting protocols.
• Follow all key local and state child-welfare policies and reporting protocols, as provided by the

Program Specialist.

• Complete all Save the Children required Child Safeguarding trainings.

Preferred Qualifications

• Highly motivated, flexible, individual who is eager to learn and able to work independently
• Associate degree in a related field, Bachelor's degree, or equivalent experience
• Demonstrated knowledge of early childhood development and family engagement
• Experience working with children ages birth to five, and families in rural areas
• Strengths-based and non-judgmental approach to engaging and working with parents and caregivers
• Strong cultural knowledge of the targeted communities, and understanding of the critical challenges and assets available to families in rural communities
• Experience or demonstrated interest in leading parent-child groups, &/or coordinating community-based activities
• Competency with computers including previous experience with Windows programming and use of the Internet (Ability to use social media is advantageous)
• Available and reliable vehicle, and willingness to travel locally for training and program activities

(mileage reimbursed)

• Ability to keep and maintain accurate records
• Willingness to collect data, participate in program evaluation activities, and comply with child safeguarding and data protection requirements

Save the Children is committed to conducting its programs and operations in a manner that is safe for the children it serves and helping protect the children with whom Save the Children is in contact. All Save the Children representatives are explicitly prohibited from engaging in any activity that may result in any kind of child abuse. In addition, it is Save the Children's policy to create and proactively maintain an environment that aims to prevent and deter any actions and omissions, whether deliberate or inadvertent, that place children at risk of any kind of child abuse. All our representatives are expected to conduct themselves in a manner consistent with this commitment and obligation. Any violations of this policy will be treated as a serious issue.

Company Description