Family Support Specialist

Priority Consideration Date: August 17, 2025

Located in the scenic Puget Sound area with nearby mountain ranges and Mount Rainier in the distance, Tacoma is surrounded by outdoor recreational opportunities such as hiking, boating and camping. Tacoma, Washington has been ranked as one of the most livable cities in the country, due to the increasing career opportunities, cultural diversity and community engagement, just to name a few.

Tacoma Community College (TCC) was built on the ancestral territory of Coast Salish peoples, specifically the Puyallup and Squaxin Island Tribes. The 1854 Medicine Creek Treaty forcibly removed them to Reservations to make way for colonizers; we recognize the privilege of utilizing this land has come at a great cost. We honor the resilience of the Puyallup and Squaxin Island people, who still live here, defend their rights, and contribute greatly to the well-being of our community. Our institution aims to increase partnerships and community ties with the local indigenous populations. Moreover, TCC stands in solidarity with Black Lives Matter and the Black community by further strengthening collaboration with the Black Student Union as well as community entities such as the Tacoma-Pierce County Black Collective, the Tacoma Urban League, and local black-owned businesses. In addition, we strongly support the Stop Asian Hate movement and have an active Asian Pacific Islander Student Club as well as an Asian and Pacific Islander Faculty and Staff Coalition. TCC is committed to developing more culturally responsive curricula by infusing and incorporating more educational content focused on the lives, experiences, and contributions of Native, Black, Asian, and other marginalized communities. We continually strive to become an anti-racist institution.

We are specifically focusing on improved support for traditionally marginalized populations, including Black/African- American, Indigenous, People of Color, Dreamers, justice-involved, immigrants and refugees, Veterans, people with disabilities, and the LGBTQ+ community. To this end, TCC seeks applicants who:

• Value intellectual curiosity and innovative teaching
• Welcome difference and model respectful interaction with others
• Recognize and honor the important role that diversity brings to an educational community
• Are committed to educating a racially and socioeconomically diverse student population
• Are committed to teaching in a community college setting
• Care deeply about student success
• Intentionally support and promote efforts related to equity, diversity, and inclusion
• Honor TCC's mission promoting equitable access to educational opportunities
• Reflect the diversity of our community

• Organize and conduct ongoing recruitment to ensure full enrollment in all center programs, inclusive of ECEAP.
• Organize and conduct enrollment activities.
• Responsible for planning monthly parent meetings and family activities.
• Attend and oversee parent activities held on campus.
• Organize and conduct parent orientations to ECEAP.
• Family Support: Collection and distribution of health and nutrition information, works in partnership with families, conducts home visits, family events, children's health screenings, and communication through emails, newsletters, and information boards.
• Provide family resources and referral support.
• Participate in interdisciplinary planning for children and families.
• Communicate and collaborate with community resources.
• Provide support to families experiencing a crisis and refer to emergency assistance and crises intervention providers as appropriate.
• Contribute as a team player with all members of ECEAP and Puget Sound Educational Services District (PSESD) staff.
• Work with diverse population and access interpreters and the Language Line as needed through PSESD.
• Work in classroom with children, as needed.
• Earn at least 20 hours of professional development per year in administration, development, and family support.
• Perform other duties as assigned by Center Director and as pertinent to Family Support and classroom support responsibilities.

Duties of the position require knowledge, skills and abilities:

• Ethics and integrity.
• An appreciation of diversity and the benefits of a commitment to cultural awareness and sensitivity in the workplace.
• Commitment to professionalism and confidentiality.
• Skill in building and maintaining internal/external customer satisfaction.
• Good organizational skills and resourcefulness in problem solving.
• Ability to be self-directed and work independently in a team environment.
• Must be highly dependable, responsible and possess an excellent work ethic.
• Ability to participate as a positive, productive team member of the site's multi-disciplinary team.
• Knowledge of community resources for families and appropriate referral procedures.
• Ability to effectively communicate with preschool age children, family members, outside agencies, co-workers, and other district staff.
• Ability to work effectively with diverse populations and people with limited income.
• Ability to organize your own work and to work independently.

Duties of the position required experience:

• High School graduate or equivalent.
• Experience working as a Family Support Specialist at an ECEAP or Head Start site, or as a Home Visitor.
• 3 years of experience working with families.

• Successful completion of a criminal history background check prior to employment.
• Must have reliable transportation to and from assigned work locations.
• Valid First Aid and CPR Certification. May obtain within 30 days of hire.
• Ability to lift and carry 20-45 pounds, live weight.
• Obtain State Training & Registry System (STARS) number for MERIT (Managed Education & Registry Information Tool). May obtain upon hiring.
• Completion of a one-step Mantoux tuberculosis skin test.
• Reliable transportation.

Application Materials & Procedure
Complete application packages must include the following:

1. Tacoma Community College application
2. Resume & cover letter. In your cover letter indicate how your background and experience meet the qualifications for this position.
3. Unofficial copies of transcripts for all colleges and universities attended.
4. Diversity Statement:Tacoma Community College is committed to creating and supporting a multi-cultural climate that welcomes, fosters, respects, and celebrates diversity. Please attach a statement (maximum two pages) describing your experiences with other cultures and communities, your level of cultural self-awareness and how you have integrated both experience and self-awareness into your living/working environment.