The School District of the City of Erie

148 West 21st St. Erie, PA 16502

Phone: 814/874-6000 Fax: 814/874-6049

Position Title:Access and Visitation (AV) Program Specialist

Location:Family Center

Position Summary/Goal:The Access and Visitation Program Specialist is responsible for providing intensive parent education and case management to families, particularly non-custodial parents, referred for services through the Erie County Court of Common Pleas/Family Court Division. The AV Program Specialist models appropriate adult-child interaction with and for parents using approved curriculum materials and best practices, facilitates parent support group sessions as assigned, prepares reports of client participation and progress to the Courts in a timely fashion, and provides direct supervised visitation services, as well as coordination and monitoring of contracted Visit Supervisor schedules and reports.

Term of Employment:12-month, full time position (35 hours/week); non-traditional hours including evenings and minimum of one weekend day/month required; continuation of employment dependent upon annual grant funding renewal

Reports to:FamilyCenter Supervisor

Qualifications

Education and Experience: Bachelor’s Degree in criminal justice, social work, or related human services field minimally required, preference given to candidates with at least 5 years of demonstrated experience working with families and children in a community-based setting; ability to work collaboratively with varied partnership agencies; excellent verbal and written communication skills; demonstrated ability to work within programs featuring diversity among the workforce, as well as among the target population. Practical experience in family and child development, including non-traditional family systems and those who have not been successful with prior social service supports, is preferred.

Clearances: Must hold or obtain FBI, State Police (criminal history), and Child Abuse clearances

Essential Skills:

▪Demonstrated ability to work with parents, students, educators and larger community

▪Expected to be flexible in terms of scheduling and hours worked; no more than 70 hours/pay period

▪Working knowledge of ESD policies, procedures, and organizational structure

▪Must possess strong verbal and written communication skills and be highly organized

▪Able to work as a team member with a professional staff in shared office space

▪Able to maintain strict confidentiality in office/client matters

▪Accurately maintain weekly reports and client records

▪Basic workplace computer skills, including, but not limited to Microsoft Word, Excel, and web-based data entry practices;

Access and Visitation (AV) Program Specialist –page two

Special Requirements

  • Physical Demands: Physical requirements are the same as those encountered in the course of a typical professional office environment. Position requires the ability to lift program supplies, no greater than 40 pounds.
  • Work Environment: Office-based, with extensive travel to various locations within ErieCounty, with occasional out-of-county travel to attend training programs and/or funding source meetings at the

regional, state, and national level; must be able to operate Family Center/ESD vehicles; possess reliable, private transportation, have a valid PA Driver License, and excellent driving record.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

This list is intended to be illustrative rather than complete and serves to show major duties and responsibilities and does not express or imply that these are the only duties to be performed by the incumbent in this position. The employee will be required to perform any other position-related duties requested by the supervisor.

  • Evaluate need for services through strict adherence to Court Order;
  • Provide coaching and support to parents involved with the Erie County Family Court system;
  • Model appropriate parent-child interaction;
  • Complete orientation/intake session with all parties involved in a Court Order for services to assess needs, identify areas of concern, and systemic barriers;
  • Must maintain safety of children and adults involved in supervised visitation at all times;
  • Provide child development education through supervised visits on site at the FamilyCenter, in the community, and home setting;
  • Schedule and monitor delivery of supervised visitation services and reporting by contracted Visit Supervisors;
  • Complete pre- and post-measures to assess development of parent-child relationship;
  • Make referrals to collaborative programs and services as needs are identified;
  • Attend weekly staff meetings and trainings as assigned;
  • Accurately maintain weekly reports and client records;
  • Prepare reports of client progress for submission to Courts in a timely fashion;
  • Ability and willingness to testify in Court regarding client participation and progress;
  • Submit reports and records according to program requirements for due dates;
  • Assist Family Center staff and participate in extra activities provided to clients as assigned;
  • Be able to organize individual schedule, paperwork, program materials, and office space;
  • Maintain confidentiality and non-judgmental attitude toward clients;
  • Accurately maintain record keeping and case notes on all client interaction;
  • Assist School District of the City of Erie/Family Center in achieving program goals

Evaluation: Conducted annually by Family Center Supervisor

Applicants for this position should apply in writing to the Human Resources Department, 148 West 21st Street, Erie PA 16502, no later than 3:30 PM November 13, 2012.

POST: 8:00 AMOctober 31, 2012

REMOVE:3:30 PMNovember 13, 2012

THE ERIE SCHOOL DISTRICT DOES NOT DISCRIMINATE IN EMPLOYMENT, EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS OR ACTIVITIES BASED ON RACE, SEX, HANDICAP OR BECAUSE A PERSON IS A DISABLED VETERAN OR VETERAN OF THE VIETNAM ERA. THIS POLICY OF NON-DISCRIMINATION EXTENDS TO ALL OTHER LEGALLY PROTECTED CLASSIFICATIONS. PUBLICATION OF THIS POLICY IS IN ACCORDANCE WITH STATE AND FEDERAL LAWS INCLUDING TITLE VII OF THE CIVIL RIGHTS ACT, TITLE IX OF THE EDUCATION AMENDMENTS OF 1972, SECTION 504 OF THE REHABILITATION ACT OF 1973, AND THE AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT. INQUIRIES MAY BE MADE BY CONTACTING THE ERIE SCHOOL DISTRICT, 148 WEST 21ST STREET, ERIE PA 16502, (814) 874-6080.

An Equal Opportunity Employer