Disabilities Coordinator

HEAD START - Join an exciting team of professionals making a difference in the lives of children and families! Head Start has been improving the lives of low-income children and families in Santa Cruz County since 1965 through high quality, comprehensive child development, and family support services. Head Start supports school readiness and promotes healthy families through delivery of education, health, and social services. Head Start also provides quality training and support to employee’s individualized professional growth and development.

Position works in the Child & Family Development Programs (CFDP) service area. This service area provides early childhood education, social services, and parent education to 1,000 families with young children each year via Head Start/Early Head Start and State Preschool. Offering this support as early as possible promotes healthy families and encourages parents to nurture their child’s physical, social and cognitive development.

Position Overview

Under the supervision of the Comprehensive Services Manager, the Disabilities Coordinator is responsible for the day-to-day implementation of services that support the planning, administration and ongoing assessment of services and partnerships in the area of disabilities and other individualized needs. The position has a key role in the coordination of disabilities related services with other content areas, service providers, and community agencies, in order to promote high quality, individualized services to children with diverse needs. The position provides staff training and development including on-site consultation, coaching and mentoring to staff.

Position is regular, full-time, Non-exempt, 40 hours per week. Salary is dependent on education and experience ($27.00 - $30.00/ hour). Pay differential for bilingual skills awarded upon qualifications.

Our total compensation package includes a comprehensive medical and dental insurance plan, 403(b) retirement plan, paid vacation, holidays and sick time.

Primary Responsibilities/Essential Function

• Link children and families to an ongoing source of continuous, accessible early intervention services, as appropriate.
• Work with the ERSEA Manager to recruit, select, and enroll children with disabilities.
• Ensure that developmental screening plays a role in child development and health services planning for children.
• Ensure the timely assessment of special education/related services needs to children with disabilities, conducted in coordination with the Part C agency and/or LEA.
• Provide parents with information and assistance in understanding and advocating for services and support needed to address their child's special needs.
• Provide staff with the information, guidance, and resources needed to help children and families meet the individualized goals and objectives in the IFSP/IEP.
• Assist in modifying activities; removing barriers; and providing support, as needed, for inclusion of children with disabilities in the full range of program activities.
• Coordinate with the Health Manager to ensure that children with suspected or diagnosed health disabilities, including children with special feeding/dietary needs, receive individualized services.
• Track provision of all child disabilities services and ensure that follow-up services are received in a timely manner
• As needed, recruit, hire and orient new volunteers, consultants and interns.

Physical Requirements

Job duties will be performed in an office and child development center environments. The physical requirements below are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential duties of this job.

• Regularly required to sit; stand; walk; use hands to finger, handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms; stoop, kneel, or crouch
• Occasionally required to climb or balance.
• Occasionally required to lift and/or move up to 20 plus pounds.
• Occasionally job may involve moderate exposure to high/low temperatures, dirt, dust, fumes, smoke, unpleasant odors and loud noises.
• Frequent repetitive use of computer keyboard/mouse, I-Pad, and extended time viewing a monitor.

Qualification Requirements

• BA degree in a field closely related to Disabilities or Early Childhood Education with coursework and/or experience related to developmental differences & diagnosed disabilities.
• Bilingual English/Spanish
• Computer competence; knowledge of Microsoft Windows, Word, Excel, and Power Point.
• Effective verbal and written communication skills.
• Self-motivated; ability to work both independently and within a team successfully.
• Ability to prioritize tasks, be detailed oriented, exercise good judgement and multi-task.
• Flexibility; must be able to work evenings/weekends as needed.

Experience Requirements

• Three plus years’ experience working with families and children ages 0-5 (Head Start/Early Head Start experience is preferred).
• Knowledge of early development and work experience in-group settings for children.
• Experience with assessment of young children’s development.
• Experience supervising, mentoring, training, or in a leadership role.
• Experience with electronic record keeping systems and reporting.
• Experience working with diverse populations.
• Experience in mentoring/coaching, and training early childhood staff (preferred).
• Experience in data analysis, presenting findings and creating action plans (highly desirable).
• Experience with regulations of IDEA part B and Part C, as well as parent’s rights.

Additional Requirements

• Proof of citizenship or right to work in the United States.
• Fingerprint clearances from the Department of Justice (DOJ), the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), and the Child Abuse Index.
• Physical exam and TB clearance.
• Provide proof of Tdap, MMR and Influenza vaccinations.
• Valid Driver’s License
• Use of an automobile with valid vehicle insurance coverage and good driving record.

Encompass Community Services is committed to racial equity and standing against discrimination of all kinds. We believe that having a diverse workforce, representative of the many communities we serve, is a tremendous strength for our agency. We are committed to providing staff development and advancement opportunities that support and foster a strong and diverse workforce that supports excellence in services.

At Encompass, we provide our community with a wide range of services related to family & social well-being, early childhood education, behavioral health, housing and more. Every day through these services, we work to make health, education and housing more equitable for all people in Santa Cruz County. For more than 40 years, our work has touched generations by helping people have access to education, rebuild relationships, restore their health and regain dignity.

Encompass Community Services is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, or protected veteran status. We are committed to excellence through diversity and strive to establish a climate that welcomes, celebrates, and promotes respect for the contributions of all clients and employees. Candidates from diverse backgrounds are encouraged to apply.
If we find that your qualifications are a good fit with our current needs, we will contact you with further instructions. Thank you for your interest in Encompass!