Child Development Specialist Ii

Wayfinder Family Services ensures that children, youth, and adults facing challenges always have a place to turn.

Wayfinder is committed to advancing IDEA (Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Accessibility).

Wayfinder believes inclusion, diversity, equity, and accessibility are essential to our excellence and our mission's execution. We value differences in the pursuit of inquiry and knowledge, mutual understanding, respect, trust, transparency, and cooperation. We are committed to creating a diverse and welcoming workplace that reflects the diversity of the communities we serve and includes individuals with diverse backgrounds and experiences. Individuals of color, women, LGBTQIA+, veterans and differently-abled persons are encouraged to apply.

In exchange for your talent, Wayfinder offers an excellent benefits package, which includes the following:

• This role is eligible for Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF)
• Competitive salary - Sign-on bonus for eligible roles
• Flexible schedules depending on the position (some offering hybrid)
• Medical insurance with a $30 premium per paycheck coverage plan (employee-only)
• Dental insurance 100% employer paid for HMO coverage plan (employee-only)
• 401(k) retirement plan with an employer match up to 4%
• 11 paid holidays per year and a generous paid time off policy
• Five paid winter holidays (between Christmas Eve & New Year's Day)
• Education Reimbursement Program
• Robust training opportunities: Shared Core Practice Model, Trauma-Informed Care, Evidence-based Practices
• Clinical Supervision for licensure

Compensation:

In accordance with California law, the expected salary range for this position is posted with this position.  The actual compensation will be determined based on experience and other factors permitted by law.

Role Summary:

The primary purpose of your position is to provide specialized services to families of young children with vision impairments and/or with multiple disabilities from birth through five years of age. The Child Development Specialist provides home instruction, lesson plans, resource information and referrals to local community-based organizations, advocates on behalf of the client’s family, and partners with parents and caregivers to empower them as advocates for their child.

Primary Duties and Responsibilities:

Listed below is an outline of the primary duties and responsibilities you will be required to perform. As a Child Development Specialist, you are delegated the authority, commitment, and accountability to carry out your duties.
Every effort has been made to make this job description as complete as possible. However, we must emphasize that you may be required to perform other related duties and activities.

Direct Services

• Provide direct intervention in the child's natural environment; home, at a center-based site or hospital. Coordinate your schedule to meet the needs of the family, ensuring the weekly visits are met as authorized by the Regional Center or School District.
• Engages in family-centered and culturally responsive practices.
• Conduct a family interview using motivational interviewing.
• Conduct functional vision assessment and or developmental assessment, assessments using observation, parent interviews, authentic assessment strategies, and formal assessment tools. Per the frequency of the Regional Center, assessments include but are not limited to the following: Oregon, DAYC-2, HAWAII (HELP). Frequency includes but is not limited to every 3, 6 or 9 months.
• Evaluate the child and family needs and implement or assign developmentally appropriate intervention strategies to meet those needs.
• May conduct telehealth visits based on Department of Developmental Services/Regional Center recommendations and/or family need as applicable.
• Works with families to develop a curriculum appropriate for the unique learning needs of their child with vision impairment or multiple disabilities within natural daily routines.
• Provides a family with information about a visual diagnosis, early development, and effects of vision loss on early childhood development.
• Participates in the development and implementation of each child’s Individual Family Service Plan (IFSP) and outcomes in collaboration with the family and education team, providing progress reports as required by each Regional Center or Local Education Agency.
• Provides social/emotional and crisis support to families as appropriate.
• Helps parents advocate effectively for themselves and their children.
• Plans and implements family events, quarterly playdates, and parent-to-parent support.
• Assists in the development of new services and materials.
• Assists and supports family in the transition process to the public school system or appropriate preschool setting (Birth to 3 children).
• Assists families in identifying and accessing appropriate community activities, i.e., outdoor recreational activities, seminars, trainings, etc.
• Assists the family in identifying and accessing appropriate community resources and submits a referral.

Outreach Services

•  Actively collaborates with community-based providers of related services, including medical and educational providers, to help identify children with vision loss and developmental delays and provide access to services as part of Child Find.
• Attend community outreach events.
•  Consults with the professional community on behalf of children and families (attend medical visits; IFSP, IEP sessions; program visits, etc.).
•  Provides workshops and training for parents and professionals.
• Serves as public relations representative of the agency, as necessary.
• Case Management Responsibilities
• Completes and maintains client case files and client database, including
• Face Sheet, Home Visit Log Notes, intake forms, Developmental Profile, Family Program Plan, Physician Reports, Correspondence, Reports of Medical Visits, IFSPs, IEPs, assessments, and Medi-Cal documentation.
• Follows agency guidelines for participation in the National Registry of Early Childhood Vision Impairment Project.
• Provides monthly accounting of client contract hours and maintains ongoing communication with Regional Center and LEA Case Managers for timely submission of documentation for contract renewal.
• Provides a monthly report on productivity and plans for follow-up visits for children/families receiving only some of their service hours.
• Completes daily time studies for CMAA and attends trainings.

Training and Support

• As needed, provide training to staff and parents on VI and the different activities to support VI.
• Train partners and or contracts on an ongoing basis on VI topics they see fit for their staff.
• Provide support to staff and parents who have questions regarding VI.
• Attend and present at conferences
• Support staff with questions and support during visits, in-person or virtually

Agency Responsibilities

• Participates in regional meetings, staff meetings, in-service training, and professional development and implementation. Meetings and or trainings may be held on Wayfinder Family Services’ main campus and attendance is mandatory.
• Attend quarterly on campus file review/filing day.
• Contributes to Wayfinder Newsletter and provides information regarding program services to Development Department on request.
• Promotes Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) by identifying quality indicators and opportunities for departmental and organizational process improvement.
• Reports any incidents/accidents according to incident reporting procedures and protocols within designated timelines as outlined in the reporting processes. Immediately informs immediate supervisor of incidents, accidents, unsafe or hazardous conditions.
• Maintains confidentiality of all client information and their families and follows appropriate HIPAA and Mandated Reporter guidelines.
• Must be able to utilize phone and computer software to provide telehealth visits (zoom, conference calls, etc.).
• Maintain written records as outlined in CDS procedure manual.
• Communicate through verbal/or written reports with the client’s family and Service Coordinator at Regional Center/Case Worker at School District.
• Exercises good judgment with financial resources.
• Drives an average of 1000-3,500 miles/month.
• Willingness to work beyond normal working hours when needed.
• Performs other job duties as necessary or as directed by the supervisor.

Qualifications:

B.A., B.S. degree required or M.A. degree in Special Education, Social Work, Child Development, Orientation and Mobility, Infant or Early Childhood, or Social Work or another related field and Teaching credential in Vision Impairment, Orientation & Mobility, Early Childhood Special Education, and/or a Certificate in Early Childhood Education preferred.

Experience:

• Professional preparation in the education of children with vision impairments, orientation, mobility, infant or early childhood development, and/or social work.
• Experience as a home teacher.
• Experience working in multi-cultural situations preferred.
• Experience/training in Active Learning techniques of Lilli Nielsen preferred.
• Child and Family Counseling background.
• Bilingual (Spanish preferred)

Specific Requirements:

• Willingness to work beyond regular hours: evenings, nights, and weekends

Employee Wellness & Safety

Wayfinder is committed to creating an environment where employees and clients are safe. To meet this goal, we ask that employees be fully vaccinated (including boosters, where applicable) against the COVID-19 virus as a condition of employment. All staff must demonstrate evidence of complete vaccination, including booster, on or before their employment start date. Wayfinder will consider requests for exemption based on religious beliefs or medical accommodations. Must be able to show proof of immunity to vaccine-preventable diseases transmitted by the respiratory route if working directly with Unaccompanied Children, including Varicella, MMR, TDap or Tdap, and Influenza. Wayfinder requires a thorough background screening process, including fingerprinting and a health screening.

Trauma-Informed Care

Wayfinder practices Trauma-Informed Care (TIC) principles which recognize the signs, symptoms, and widespread impact of trauma. Employees integrate the knowledge of Trauma-Informed Care into policies, procedures, and practices to prevent re-traumatization which promotes the healing of families, youth, individuals, and communities.

Wayfinder is an Equal Opportunity Employer.