Family/Educator Specialist - Early Head Start Child Care Partnerships

Job Summary and Responsibilities/Duties

The Early Head Start Child Care Partnerships (EHS-CCP) program supports working families and children by enriching center-based Child Care and family Child Care homes in our community with wrap-around child and family services and educational program supports.

MISSION STATEMENT

Increasing the success of children and families by building on strengths

Job Summary

Develops caring and professional relationships with children, families, and childcare partner staff focused on the promotion of positive program outcomes. Provides consultation to families in the planning and achievement of their family goals and success. Facilitates access to social and health services and other community resources for families through routine connections, advocacy, and crisis interventions. Provide support to partner childcare sites in the delivery of nurturing, culturally responsive, and developmentally appropriate learning and care experiences for children. Ensures programs operate within the frameworks of Head Start Performance Standards, state childcare licensing rules, and effective practices in early childhood education.

Essential Duties

1. Develops strong working relationships and partners with families to determine family needs and develop individualized support plans that describe family strengths, goals, resources, and needed services related to their health and wellbeing.
2. Provides home visits and routine connections with families throughout the school year as well as home visits with pregnant or parenting teens through the summer quarter.
3. Engages parents as full partners in the education of their child and age appropriate school readiness, including providing resources for interactive activities with their child at childcare, at home, and in the community.
4. Facilitates, develops content, and plans for parent engagement activities with families and childcare partner staff. Encourages and maintains active parent leadership in the center, providing parents opportunities to be involved in group activities, including Policy Council, Parent Center Committee meetings and educational activities, based on interest and need.
5. Develops and maintains awareness of community resources, health, and mental health agencies in collaboration with CDFS staff.
6. Assists families in crisis. Provides crisis intervention supports to families to help them quickly achieve stability and safety, including referrals or resources as appropriate.
7. Completes ongoing documentation of services within the program data base and end-of-year program information reporting (PIR).
8. Follows up on referrals and completes applications with eligible families.
9. Builds relationships with partner staff through regular planning and reflection that ensures respectful and intentional strategies around program practices and family engagement.
10. Develops awareness and maintains knowledge of current and effective coaching strategies, evidence-based observation and program tools, self-assessment activities, and expectations around curriculum to promote successful outcomes.
11. Supports job-related skill development in partner staff, and serves as an on-site educational resource through regularly scheduled site meetings, classroom observations and coaching sessions.
12. Assists EHS-CCP Program Manager in coordinating procurement of quality improvement related classroom materials, equipment, and resources for partner staff.
13. Maintains child assessment database with timely documentation regarding learning, developmental and health related assessments, conferences, and referrals.
14. Participates in Individual Family Service Plan (IFSP) process for children and ensures that IFSP goals are integrated into weekly curriculum plan.

Additional Duties

1. Reports suspected cases of child abuse or neglect in accordance to state law and agency policy.
2. Represents agency on various committees and projects.
3. Maintains center facilities, equipment and materials as needed.
4. May be assigned other related duties as appropriate. This job description describes the general nature and level of work, but is not intended to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities and duties that may be required

Minimum and Desired Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications

• Baccalaureate (BA or BS), or advanced degree (M.A., M.S., Ed.D.) in early childhood education, social services, or related degree and a Step 10 or higher in the Oregon Registry
• Three (3) years of experience teaching children birth to three and/or providing family services with parents of children birth to three
• Demonstrated experience working with diverse backgrounds of the College's community, students and employees; demonstrated commitment to promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion.
• Must be able to work evening hours as needed to accommodate program and family needs. (i.e., parent meetings, home visits, etc.);
• Basic skills in Microsoft Word, Outlook, and Excel

Desired Qualifications

• Bilingual skills in English and Spanish or another language that meets community needs

Additional Requirements:

• Must be enrolled in the Oregon Central Background Registry prior to beginning employment. Enrollment must be continuous in order to maintain employment.
• Current driver's license, insurance, and access to a reliable automobile during work hours for transportation to off-campus sites. Must have at least three (3) years of driving history.

Additional Qualifications and/or Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSAs)

Additional Requirements:

• Must be enrolled in the Oregon Central Background Registry prior to beginning employment. Enrollment must be continuous in order to maintain employment.
• Current driver's license, insurance, and access to a reliable automobile during work hours for transportation to off-campus sites. Must have at least three (3) years of driving history.

EMPLOYMENT CONTINGENT UPON

• Post-offer fitness for duty evaluation, must be obtained within 30 days of hire date:
  1. TB screening
  2. Health appraisal
• Must complete Oregon Department - Education Early Learning Division Self-Study Trainings within 30 days of hire.
• Current Infant/Child First Aid/CPR certification within 60 days of hire
• Must obtain Food Handler's certification within 30 days of hire

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES

• Excellent interpersonal, verbal, and written communication skills
• Knowledge of and ability to apply developmentally appropriate activities for children
• Ability to meet and promote the social-emotional, physical, and cognitive development needs of children
• Ability to lead, train, and coach staff
• Ability to be organized, flexible and resolution oriented
• Ability to multi- task, make sound judgments, and demonstrate appropriate role modeling
• Ability to work as a team member and to be self-directed.

Interactions, Professionalism, Participation

Interactions with Children, Families, Childcare Staff, and Co-workers

• Integrates the MHCC CDFS (Child Development and Family Support) Mission Statement and program goals into daily work.
• Relates in a positive, nurturing way, both verbally and physically, and is sensitive to the needs of children, families, partner staff, community partners, and co-workers.
• Works to understand issues of difference, privilege, and social justice, to eliminate racial and ethnic disparities and to cultivate a respectful, inclusive, and accessible learning and working environment.

Professionalism and Education

• Reports suspected cases of child abuse/neglect in accordance with state law and agency policy.
• Complete all Oregon Department of Early Learning and Care required training.
• Maintains and increases competencies in this role through active participation in program meetings, ongoing professional development, and training.
• Keeps current on effective practices and trends in child development and areas relating to infant/toddler childhood care and education through ongoing education and training opportunities.
• Supports partner staff in meeting Office of Head Start qualifications through CDA/Degree related materials and guidance and monitor partner staff use of Oregon Registry Online.
• In collaboration with EHS-CCP Program Manager and partner Directors, supports access to ongoing professional development opportunities for partner staff.

Participation and Communication

• Works assigned schedule and exhibits regular and predictable attendance, and participation in related work activities, staff meetings and program-wide training.
• Maintains calendar schedule of regular meetings with families, partner staff, and co-workers, and communicates timely when changes occur in scheduled events.
• Routinely communicates, reflects, and debriefs with EHS-CCP Program Manager, EHS-CCP Mental Health Consultant, partner and other MHCC CDFS staff.
• Utilizes effective communication skills aimed at building trust, partnership, and collaborative engagement with families, partner staff, and co-workers.
• Documents evidence of all services provided to families and partner programs within agency database in objective, accurate, brief and timely manner.
• Maintains confidentiality in matters concerning CDFS families, partner staff, and co-workers.

Working Conditions and Important Information

WORK ENVIRONMENT AND SAFETY

• Maintain a safe and pleasant work environment.
• Follow safety regulations, policies, and procedures.
• Actively contribute towards promoting a safe workplace & environment.

WORKING CONDITIONS

Physical Requirements: Ability to lift/carry up to 50 lbs. 10 feet. Ability to push/pull up to 50 lbs. 10 yards. Sufficient mobility and range of motion to perform repetitive standing, walking, balancing, stooping, bending, crouching, crawling, sitting on the floor, reaching, squatting, kneeling, and twisting for up to 8 hours per day.

Sufficient stamina to perform job duties at frequency required. Ability to react quickly to the physical actions of children. Ability to perform physical requirements of bus monitor duties: Sufficient vision and hearing to perform job duties. Sufficient manual dexterity and eye-hand coordination to perform job duties.

Exposure to Hazards: Unpredictable child and family behavior, hazardous chemicals, contagious conditions, work with office equipment. Driving and riding in motor vehicles. Working conditions include indoor/outdoor environments, preschool center classrooms, playgrounds, offices, frequent local and occasional out-of-town travel.