Family Development Specialist at Lantern Community Services Inc – New York, New York

Job Title: Family Development Specialist

Reports to: Director of Resident Learning and Resources

Status: Full-time

Classification: Non-Exempt

Job Location: Sites across the organization, travel to sites required.

Work Schedule: Monday – Friday

Hourly Range: $30.21

Objective:

The Family Development Specialist provides educational support, guidance, and skill-building to parents and their children to enhance overall stability and self-sufficiency. This role emphasizes improving family well-being by fostering parenting skills, promoting child development, and offering resources that support children's academic success and enrich the family dynamic.

The specialist collaborates with families to address challenges related to parenting, child development, education, and social-emotional well-being, ultimately fostering positive family outcomes and creating a safe and nurturing home environment.

This is a full-time position with a variable schedule based on the needs of clients and employers.  This may involve flexible hours. Lantern staff may be asked to change the work schedule and hours depending on the operational needs of the site and the agency.   

 
Essential Functions:

• Build rapport and foster relationships with children and families at each site.
• Conduct one-on-one meetings with parents and children to discuss academic support and individual needs.
• Assist students and parents with school-based grade transitions to ensure smooth adjustments.
• Host workshops to keep parents and students informed about educational initiatives, timelines, and deadlines.
• Lead special projects, including backpack and holiday drives.
• Support parents in understanding their children's emotional, cognitive, and social development, promoting healthy growth.
• Provide coaching and education on positive parenting techniques, child development, discipline strategies, and effective communication to enhance family dynamics.
• Ensure that children have access to educational and developmental resources, including school enrollment, tutoring, extracurricular activities, and mental health services as needed.
• Assist parents in pursuing educational goals such as GED completion, vocational training, or enrollment in higher education, including navigating financial aid applications and scholarship opportunities.
• Develop and host educational, age-appropriate activities that promote cognitive, behavioral, and social skills.
• Identify children who may need additional support (tutoring, academic assistance, or mental health services) and facilitate referrals.
• Support families in navigating the education system, advocating for their children’s educational needs, and accessing resources such as tutoring, school supplies, and after-school programs.
• Assist parents in enrolling their children in school, Head Start, or other educational programs, ensuring regular attendance.
• Help parents understand effective communication with schools, including engaging with teachers, attending parent-teacher conferences, and addressing learning challenges.
• Collaborate with social workers, mental health providers, and other specialists to ensure the educational needs of both parents and children are met.
• Stay informed about current trends and best practices in supportive housing, child development, and family services.

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.   

Required Education and Experience:   

• Bachelor’s degree in early childhood education, Social Work, Human Services, Psychology, or a related field (preferred).
• At least 2-3 years of experience working with children and families, particularly in supportive housing, community services, or educational settings.
• Experience working with individuals facing barriers to employment, such as homelessness, mental health issues, or substance use.
• Knowledge of trauma-informed care and the ability to work with families facing homelessness, mental health issues, or substance use challenges.
• The ability to create and facilitate group workshops or educational sessions for parents and families.
• Ability to build trusting relationships with families and work effectively within a multidisciplinary team. 

Work Environment:  This job operates in a supportive housing site and works with a population who experiences mental illness, addiction, disability, HIV, and other chronic illnesses.  

 Physical Demands:   While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to stand, walk, sit, stoop, climb stairs and/ or kneel. They must also use their hands to type, handle, or feel. The employee is frequently required to talk or hear and must occasionally lift and/or move up to 5 pounds. Specific