Director of Center Based Programs

Horizons for Homeless Children

Boston, Massachusetts

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

Horizons for Homeless Children is a Boston-based, independent nonprofit founded in 1988 to improve the lives of young homeless children and their families. Horizons for Homeless Children (HHC) is seeking an exceptional manager and child development professional to be its Director of Center Based Programs (Director). The Director will lead HHC’s Community Children’s Centers, guide each of the Centers’ Directors in the fulfillment of the organization’s mission, and attend to administrative needs, maintaining and tailoring policy and procedure to streamline operations in order to clear the way for the Centers’ focus on successful programs for their homeless young children. The Director will also be a key voice in the organization and will report to the Chief Programs Officer to ensure alignment of budgetary and administrative priorities with program development and HHC’s broader mission.

The successful candidate will have both the experience and the personal integrity to provide strong leadership for the Centers’ staff and the sophistication and skill to navigate large and small administrative challenges as they arise. S/he will assist in Center hiring and firing decisions and, in partnership with HHC’s human resources staff, will guide performance development. S/he will also lead accreditation and reaccreditation processes for the Centers in compliance with the National Association for the Education of Young Children’s standards and requirements. Combining a personal commitment to professional excellence with exceptional communication skills and a commitment to serving low income and disadvantaged children and their families, the ideal candidate will minimally have a bachelor’s degree with a graduate degree in early childhood development preferred and five to seven years of nonprofit or program management experience. HHC is committed to diversity and men and people of color are encouraged to apply.

This search is being conducted by the Nonprofit Professionals Advisory Group.
 

HISTORY AND MISSION

Horizons for Homeless Children was founded in 1988 as an independent, non-profit organization dedicated exclusively to serving young homeless children and their families. Since that time, the organization has grown into a complex, well-established force fighting for young homeless children in Massachusetts and beyond. HHC currently impacts the lives of more than 2,000 homeless children each week in Massachusetts through educational and recreational activities in shelters and serves 175 young children through its three Community Children’s Centers, Boston’s only comprehensive, full-time early education and care centers specifically for young homeless children. In addition to direct service, HHC advocates on behalf of homeless children and their families with policy makers and provides training and technical assistance on the local and national level to related service providers.

Horizons for Homeless Children’s activities are broken down into four distinct, but interrelated areas:

• Playspace Programs
  Founded in 1990, the Playspace Programs is designed to provide homeless shelters with educational and recreational activities for young children. The Playspace Programs’ staff members collaborate with residents and staff of the shelters to design and build age-appropriate, “kid-friendly” spaces that are equipped with libraries, climbing structures, art supplies and other all-important tools to challenge children physically and creatively and to allow them to have a place to play, to use their imaginations, and to just be kids. A unique aspect of this program includes the recruitment, training, and placement of volunteers in the shelter Playspaces to engage the children in fun, educational play so that they can grow and develop, as all children should.

• Community Children’s Centers
  Since 1994 HHC’s Community Children’s Centers have provided young homeless children from shelters in Boston with comprehensive, full-time early care and education for homeless children and support services to their families. For the children, they are a safe haven to play and learn, including activities such as reading children's books and developing their emergent literacy skills, exploring through the constructing (and tearing down) of castles, and creating works of art with finger-paints. The specialized curriculum is designed to help the children build social skills, a love of learning, and to foster their growth in all areas of development. Each classroom is staffed with three teachers in order to provide the children with the individual attention that they need. For the parents, the centers are a resource for on-site counseling, education, job training, and parenting workshops and bolster their ability to work toward social and economic self-sufficiency while their children enjoy safe and educational activities.
  
  Horizons for Homeless Children currently operates three Community Children’s Centers. The first site was established in Dorchester in 1994. The second Center opened in March 2000 in Jamaica Plain and the third site in Roxbury opened in March of 2006. The Dorchester and the Jamaica Plain sites are National Association for the Education of Young Children Dorchester (NAEYC) accredited and the Roxbury site is up for accreditation, a high qualification awarded to only 15% of childcare organizations nationally.

• Training and Technical Assistance
  Compared with housed children at or near the poverty line, homeless children experience more health problems, developmental delays, increased anxiety, depression, behavioral problems, and lower educational achievement. As a response, Horizons for Homeless Children launched the Training and Technical Assistance program in September 2002 to equip other service providers with the information and tools necessary to help these young children and families.
  Designed to share HHC’s expertise on the issues facing homeless children with other service providers who encounter this population, the program brings together experts to focus specifically on homeless children to improve services for these children and families across the country.

• Public Policy and Advocacy
  HHC believes that quality childcare and early education for homeless children - those at greatest risk for learning and developmental delays - serve a clear public interest, both in terms of children's healthy development and in purely financial, "cost-benefit" terms. With a successful record of private fundraising and substantial experience delivering services to homeless children and families, HHC has now been taking a far more active role in the public arena.
  
  Through its ongoing advocacy efforts HHC hopes to help reframe the debate around homelessness to include a better understanding and recognition of the needs of young homeless children, to the benefit of both the children and their families, and ultimately, to contribute to the eradication of child and family homelessness in our community. 

OPPORTUNITIES AND CHALLENGES FACING THE DIRECTOR OF CENTER BASED PROGRAMS

The Director of Center Based Programs will enjoy the opportunity to work within a well-established yet dynamic environment and with individuals who are committed to providing immediate and long term support to young homeless children. As with every opportunity, the Director for Center Based Programs will also encounter challenges and will need to partner closely with the Chief Programs Officer, the office of Human Resources, the center Directors, and their staffs to develop and implement administrative operating plans and policies that are carefully aligned with HHC’s strategic goals. The challenges and responsibilities in which the Director of Center Based Programs will engage in the first 12-16 months of his/her tenure include:

Leading HHC’s Children’s Community Centers in the fulfillment of their services to homeless children and their families;

The Director of Center Based Programs will understand and convey to his/her staff the importance of efficient and seamless operations management in a mission-driven environment. S/he will be a champion and guide to the center Directors and their staff, helping them to implement policies that support rather than inhibit their dedication to outstanding program delivery. In partnership with the Chief Programs Officer, the Director will assist in internal program evaluation and professional development and will foster suggestions for ongoing improvement. S/he will ensure the engagement and ongoing function of the Shelter Advisory Board, a separate advisory group that aids in the oversight and management of HHC’s centers. The Director will attend Board of Trustees meetings and will represent the centers and their programs to the Program and Policy Committee of the Board.

Representing Horizons for Homeless Children to a variety of external audiences including professional associations, advocacy organizations, and programs with partnership potential;
 

The new Director will be an effective representative for HHC externally, participating in relevant professional and advocacy groups and developing mutually beneficial relationships with other institutions, such as universities, Healthcare for the Homeless, the NE Home for Little Wanderers, Jewish Family and Children’s Services, Child Witness to Violence and others to improve services and promote understanding of HHC’s mission.

Overseeing the Centers’ budgets and budgetary management to ensure spending is consistent with HHC’s organizational priorities;

The Director of Center Based Programs will be dedicated to the flawless management of HHC’s Centers’ finances and will partner with the Chief Programs Officer to assist the Directors and their staff in the alignment of budgetary and program priorities. Specifically, s/he will oversee contract compliance, timely billing, and monthly budget development and will draft periodic reports to ensure revenue targets are met.

Clarifying internal policies and procedures to streamline Center operations;

The new Director will utilize professional savvy, administrative expertise, and outstanding communication skills to identify areas for operational improvement. Once these areas are identified, the Director will attend to the development of policy that streamlines and unifies Center procedures and will work closely with Center staff to ensure new policy implementation.

Monitoring the Centers’ ongoing licensing, compliance, and accreditation needs;

The Director of Center Based Programs must not only maintain all ongoing licensing requirements for HHC’s Centers, but must also direct broader efforts toward accreditation for the Roxbury site and reaccreditation for Jamaica Plain and maintenance of Dorchester as necessary to remain in compliance with the National Association for the Education of Young Children’s standards. S/he will be aware of and maintain compliance with contracts with organizations such as DEEC, Head Start, TPCC, and BUNUT.
 

Fostering continuous improvement through effective hiring, training, and professional development;
 

The Director will effectively manage HHC’s three Center Directors in their childcare and family advocacy work to ensure each individual is adequately supported to perform at the highest level. In partnership with them, the Director of Center Based Programs will lead all aspects of hiring, firing, ongoing training, and professional development for the Centers and their staffs. S/he will organize staff trainings that maintain and promote professional growth and staff development and will develop training priorities, create a training schedule, and both identify and hire presenters who can support continuous improvement.

QUALIFICATIONS OF THE IDEAL CANDIDATE

The successful candidate will be an exceptional manager with demonstrated expertise in early childhood development. S/he will utilize extraordinary communication skills and personal savvy to effectively guide administrative activities ensuring that programmatic initiatives are consistent with organizational priorities. S/he will be highly organized and self-motivated with the ability to multi-task and meet multiple deadlines. S/he will hold a bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Education, with a graduate degree preferred, and will be thoughtful and able to lead the implementation and oversight of administrative and programmatic practices in a highly complex and mission-driven environment.

While no one person is expected to embody all of the qualities enumerated below, the ideal candidate would possess many of the following professional and personal abilities, attributes, and experiences:

• An unflinching dedication to the ideal that all young children without homes deserve an equal chance at childhood and the same opportunities to learn and grow as all children. Priority will be given to candidates who have had previous experience working with homeless children and their families or with children-at-risk.

• Seasoned leadership skills developed through a minimum of 5-7 years management experience in a human service environment combined with solid strategic thinking and an ability to manage multiple priorities while leading in a manner that embodies respect, teamwork and collaboration from a diversified and dedicated staff.

• A bachelors degree (Masters preferred) in Early Childhood Education or related field.

• The ability to be a team builder who is participatory and inclusive in style when appropriate as well as a decision maker who is able to successfully implement strategic priorities.

• Experience working with and engaging constituent groups to ensure programmatic success.

• The ability to analyze and understand programmatic strengths and weaknesses and to develop and initiate policy and procedure that can move the programs forward.

• The DEEC Director II qualification.

• Professional savvy and an ability to see the potential for partnerships and joint program development and connections with other organizations serving young homeless children. A willingness and drive to be involved in the community, to listen to what is needed and to act skillfully to achieve it.

• Exceptional oral, written, listening, and interpersonal communications skills. A desire and demonstrated ability to work with and be advised by others including community partners, organization leaders, and staff with various ethnic/cultural and educational backgrounds.

• Basic computer literacy and knowledge of Microsoft Office and Windows 98.

• A valid MA driver’s license and access to a vehicle.

• Enthusiasm, focus, drive, and a good sense of humor.

APPLICATIONS AND NOMINATIONS

More information about Horizons for Homeless Children may be found at http://www.horizonsforhomelesschildren.org/

Due to the pace of this search, candidates are encouraged to apply as soon as possible, but no later than September 29th. Applications including a cover letter describing your interest and qualifications, your resume (in Word format), salary history and where you learned of the position should be sent to: HHC-CBD@nonprofitprofessionals.com.  In order to expedite the internal sorting and reviewing process, please type your name (Last, First) as the only contents in the subject line of your e-mail.

 

Horizons for Homeless Children is an equal opportunity employer.