JOB SUMMARY:

SUPERVISES:  None

POSITION REQUIREMENTS

Education, Experience and Credentials

• High school diploma or equivalent required.
• Infant Toddler CDA and a Preschool CDA or Family Service Credential, or willingness to obtain within the first year is required.
• Growing Great Kids / Growing Great Families certification or willingness to obtain
• Bachelor’s Degree in Early Childhood Education, Nursing, Social Work, Psychology or closely related field of study preferred.
• One or more years’ experience working with children and parents, preferably in a home based program.

• CPR/First Aid certified preferred
  
  KNOWLEDGE, ABILITIES, AND SKILLS:

• Familiar with available community resources.  Able to establish cooperative referral relationships with other agencies.

• Knowledge of state and federal laws related to family services and government programs.

• Able to understand and follow facility safety and emergency procedures.

• Able to adapt to diverse situations rapidly and creatively resolve issues as they arise.

• Able to be flexible and productive in an environment with regular interruptions.

• Knowledge of pre-school screenings.  Have a clear understanding of Birth-5 year old child development.

• Able to plan, prioritize, coordinate, and manage own work.  Able to work unsupervised, make decisions and solve routine problems independently, effectively and creatively.

• Excellent interpersonal skills to interact effectively with a variety of people and personalities inside and outside the organization.  Able to effectively handle interactions at all levels and to respond appropriately in sensitive situations.

• Communicate clearly and effectively both orally and in writing to all levels of people inside and outside the organization, including possessing good English speaking skills, fluency and understandability. Bilingual positions-also fluent in speaking and writing in Spanish.

• Detail-oriented, organized and applies effective time management skills in order to meet all deadlines. 

• Able to effectively present information in one-to-one and small group situations to families, volunteers and staff.

• Diplomacy to handle and resolve difficult issues.

• Familiar with computers and software, including using the Internet, Microsoft Office, Outlook and other applications.

• Able to maintain data privacy, confidentiality and professional boundaries.

• Able to utilize self-awareness/personal safety skills for home visits (i.e. ice, dogs, family dynamics, etc.).

   

  PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:

  Incumbent must be able to:

• This position includes medium work, lifting up to 50 pounds, with frequent lifting/carrying of objects weighing up to 25 pounds.

• Able to tolerate a variety of odors, family living conditions, lifestyle choices, and other behaviors encountered during home visits.

• Hear and speak in order to use telephone and/or communicate with people inside and outside the organization.

• Able to effectively verbally and orally communicate in the English language including following oral and written instructions.

• Sit at a desk for extended periods of time and perform work sitting at a computer.

• Stand and walk around the organization and client homes repeatedly throughout the day.

• Apply manual dexterity, visual acuity and ability, for computer keyboarding, office equipment use, reviewing detailed reports, information, and fine print.

• Able to work a flexible work schedule, nights and weekends on occasion including attending events/meetings as needed.

• Must possess valid MN driver’s license and proof of insurance and be able to travel to family homes regularly throughout the week.

  TOOLS AND EQUIPMENT USED

  Incumbent must be able to use telephone, calculator, copy/scan/fax machine, computers, printers, and other office equipment.

  WORK ENVIRONMENT

  The work environment is primarily indoors.  There is frequent exposure to a variety of weather conditions in traveling between the office and visiting families in their homes. The incumbent must be flexible about spending days in and out of the office, attending to the needs of families. There is exposure to odors, clutter, interruptions, emergency situations, and challenging family situations.

  
  OTHER: 

  Means of transportation available for assigned work area, and access to internet and telephone. 

   

  ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

1. *    Provide early, continuous, intensive, and comprehensive child development and family support services that will enhance the physical, social, emotional, and intellectual development of children ages birth to five through weekly home-visits and semimonthly socializations.

   1. Ensure children receive all appropriate screenings and that referrals are made as necessary.

   2. Promote good nutrition and hygiene.

   3. Provide services to parents to support their role as parents including parenting skills and child development education as well as services to help families move toward self-sufficiency.

   4. Promote positive parent/child interactions with the understanding that the parent is the child’s primary teacher.

   5. Ensure children and parents are successfully transitioned from Early Head Start to Head Start or other community based programs.

   6. Plan, conduct and document semi-monthly socializations.

2. Promote nurturing and responsive care during early childhood.

   1. Promote involving primary caregivers in the lives of their children.

3. Work with administrative staff to coordinate agency and community services to ensure a comprehensive array of support for the family and to eliminate overlapping of resources.

   1. Ensure that the level of services provided to families is appropriate for their needs and circumstances.

   2. Recruit families from the communities we serve.

      • Participate in recruitment and promotion events (i.e. open house, county fair, community action, etc.).

      • Distribute information including flyers, brochures and posters to local businesses (i.e. gas stations, laundry mats, public health, etc.).

      • Communicate with agency/program staff.

4. Maintain up-to-date documentation on each family in compliance with state, federal and grant requirements.

   1. Complete required documentation within pre-established timelines.

   2. Ensure family interactions (home visit reports) are complete and accurate.

   3. Record, assess and rate ongoing observations of each child’s development.

   4. Develop individual learning plans with families.

   5. Complete monthly reports as needed per grant guidelines.

   6. Manage site budget and ensure appropriate documentation of in-kind services and CACFP requirements are met.

5. Provide interpretation and translation services to families as needed including but not limited to (Bilingual positions only):

   1. Translate documents and letters.

   2. Assist with scheduling of dental and medical appointments as needed.

   3. Educate in primary language as well as English.

6. Establish cooperative referral relationships with other agencies and continually be aware of available community resources.

   1. Develop connections with appropriate community and government resources by maintaining knowledge of other systems, making referrals, and identifying unmet needs (i.e. Lutheran Social Services, Salvation Army, energy assistance, county social services and public health, mental health services, etc.).

7. Conduct monthly parent meetings and ensure parent representation on Policy Council.

8. Handle emergency phone calls from families in need of resources and referrals. 

OTHER DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

*          Participate in FOCUS meetings tri-annually or as requested

*          Participate in training, in-service, orientations, and Community of Practice workgroup

*          Complete Professional Development Plan and update regularly

*          Document and report in-kind support as required

*          Follow all procedures of the Minnesota Data Privacy Act

*          Be a part of the Head Start team, accepting and performing duties as assigned

*          Promote positive community awareness of Head Start and Southwestern MN Opportunity Council

*          Meet and interact with local school-based early childhood program staff as appropriate, necessary or requested. 

This job description is not intended to be all-inclusive, and employee will also perform other reasonably related business duties as assigned by supervisory personnel.