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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:
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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:
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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.
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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.
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A
bachelors degree (Masters preferred) in Early Childhood
Education or related field.
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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.
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Experience working with and engaging constituent groups to
ensure programmatic success.
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The
ability to analyze and understand programmatic strengths and
weaknesses and to develop and initiate policy and procedure that
can move the programs forward.
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The DEEC
Director II qualification.
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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.
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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.
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Basic
computer literacy and knowledge of Microsoft Office and Windows
98.
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A valid
MA driver’s license and access to a vehicle.
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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.
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