Children & Family Development Educator

Position Summary: Primary advocate for families enrolled in the home-base or center -based option. To provide in-home instruction as well as a group socialization experience to parents and children (infants/toddlers) which will enhance the parents’ ability to fill the role of primary nurturer of their child. Maintain on-going contact with families and work with all other components (health, nutrition, family services, mental health, special services, parent education and resource/referral) to integrate services into the family setting. This position will support the center as needed by providing minimal time in the classroom to ensure the safety of children. The center families will be served through home and office visits. This position will provide parents with the necessary tools to become self-reliant through the development of a Family Development Partnership and referral to local resources. Must meet requirements per Federal Head Start Performance Standards and any local, state and or agency policies and procedures.

 

Essential Functions

➢ Recruit families to apply for the Early Head Start and Head Start program within identified service areas. (FA/FE)

➢ Maintain a waitlist of eligible families and maintain contact with the families on the waitlist. (FA/FE)

➢ Submit all required documentation for application approval and enrollment. (FA/FE)

➢ Build rapport with families and create a respectful relationship through the Family Development Partnership with the families. Builds trusting working relationships with families and provide services responsive to each family’s individual living situation, cultures, beliefs, values, languages, practices, and traditions. (FA/FE

➢ (FA/FE)

➢ CFDE work with the teachers to foster child and family wellbeing.

• Using the tiered approach with families identifying their strengths and building goals to improve self-reliance.
• Conduct home visits as the tiered approach identifies and follow up on family centered goals.

➢ All information – case notes, updated goals, 90-minute home visits, lesson plans, etc. will be entered into the database (Apricot). Complete and submit all required documentation according to timelines. (FA/FE)

➢ Give parents a voice and support them in becoming decision makers for the program, recruit for Policy Council. (FA/FE)

➢ Partner with parents and other staff to provide 2 socializations per month, parent meetings per month and parent engagement activities. (FA/FE)

➢ Transport families as per program requirements to support families’ needs and goals. (FA/FE)

➢ Instruct and support parents in using Positive Behavior Support strategies to prevent and defuse disruptive behavior. (FA/FE)

➢ Identify, refer to, schedule appointments and work cooperatively with local community agencies and providers to ensure comprehensive services to meet family needs. (FA/FE)

➢ Assist parents and health staff with collection, tracking, referral, transportation (use community resources first), and follow-up in all health, immunization and dental requirements. (FA/FE)

➢ Assist families to identify their strengths and available resources to work toward their goals for their children’s development and family’s well-being. (FA)

➢ Conduct comprehensive educational 90-minute weekly home visits to families including all components based on curriculum and parent engagement. A comprehensive home visit includes parent engagement, health and safety, nutrition, child development including special needs (as applicable) and social services. (FE)

➢ Provide prenatal mothers with home visits and with information, training, and support to meet both baby and mother’s needs.

➢ Create a monthly newsletter. (FE)

➢ Maintain ongoing assessments for each child, which include Developmental Observations (checkpoint assessments), ASQ-3 and ASQ-SE screenings and parent feedback. (FE)

➢ Provide support in parent and child activities encouraging developmentally appropriate activities for the changing needs of infants and toddlers (FE) ➢ Educate parents and prepare with parents one nutrition activity per month. (FE)

➢ Comply with Head Start Performance Standards.

➢ Respect and support cultural differences and diverse family structures.

➢ Continue Professional Development as required for this position.

➢ Demonstrate good work habits such as arriving on time and adhering to appropriate break times.

➢ Attend mandatory In-Service trainings, staff meetings, and other events as required.\

➢ Maintain a clean and adequately serviced vehicle

➢ Maintain clean resource items, assessment items, etc..

➢ Responsibility to report any suspected abuse or neglect to appropriate authority.

➢ Advocate for SEK-CAP, Inc. in the community.

➢ Maintain and assure confidentiality and privacy of SEK-CAP, Inc. customers.

➢ Uphold and promote the core values and mission statement of SEK-CAP, Inc.

➢ Support management decisions both in actions and words.

➢ Mandatory report of any suspected child abuse or neglect to appropriate authorities.

➢ Other duties as assigned.

 

KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE:

Essential:

✓ Basic computer skills.

✓ Basic operation skills of general office equipment such as photocopiers, faxes, and phone systems.

✓ Superior interpersonal skills. Ability to get along with diverse personalities. Tactful, mature, and flexible.

✓ Ability to meet and deal tactfully with the public and to communicate effectively and clearly both orally and in writing.

✓ Ability to work unconventional business hours to meet families’ needs.

✓ Resourceful and well-organized self-starter, needing minimal supervision.

✓ Ability to establish and maintain positive, effective working relationships with co-workers, community partners, and customers.

✓ Ability to learn and adapt.

Desired:

✓ Familiarity with theories and principles of adult education, child development and early childhood education and social services.

✓ Ability to communicate with 0-3-year-old children and adults on their level and instill trust, confidence, and self-worth.

✓ Commitment to promote self-reliance for all families.

✓ Knowledge of community resources and program resources.

✓ Knowledge of Head Start Performance Standards.

 

EDUCATION AND QUALIFICATIONS:

✓ Bachelor or Associate degree in Early Childhood or field of related degree with Early Childhood Emphasis preferred, State certification in Early Childhood, or CDA credential or obtain CDA after six months of employment.

✓ Have or be willing to obtain Home Visitation Training within the first year of employment.

✓ Obtain First Aid and CPR certification within 30 days.

✓ Successfully complete a physical exam and TB skin test before beginning employment and every three years thereafter, with the exception of a diagnosed medical condition requiring annual exams.

✓ Submit to and pass standard criminal history check and Child Abuse and Neglect check.

✓ Submit to and pass standard drug screen test.

✓ Possess current, valid driver’s license and meet agency insurance underwriting guidelines.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS/WORK ENVIRONMENT: The physical demands and work environment described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

✓ Use hands to finger, handle, or feel

✓ Reach with hands and arms

✓ Sit or occasionally stand; walk and stoop, kneel, or crouch

✓ Regularly lift and/or move up to 30 pounds

✓ Required vision abilities include close vision, distance vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and ability to adjust focus

✓ Occasional exposure to wet and/or humid conditions

✓ Outside weather conditions

✓ Extreme cold and extreme heat

✓ Noise level is usually quiet to moderate