Job Title: Early Head Start Home Visitor / Family Partner II Developmental Educator

Department: Early Childhood and Family Services

FLSA Status: Non-exempt 

Hours/Weeks: Full Year, Full Time 

Bargaining Unit Position: Yes -Head Start Home Visitor only

Hiring Range:  $18.43 - $24.83

NEKCA Mission Statement:

To empower all generations in the Northeast Kingdom to grow, prosper, and thrive.

SUMMARY:

Home Visitors at NEKCA support families in goal setting, child development, and holistic family well-being. Recognizing that families are their child's first teacher, NEKCA utilizes a strengths-based approach to help families thrive.

Home Visitors utilize a variety of strategies, including home visiting and offering enrichment activities like community playgroups. Home Visitors are part of a larger Early Childhood Team at NEKCA that collaborates to provide seamless services that put families at the center.

The Home Visitor portion of this position is 40%.

Family Partners at NEKCA support families in goal setting, child development, and holistic family well-being. Recognizing that families are their child’s first teacher, NEKCA utilizes a strengths-based approach to help families thrive. Family Partners utilize a variety of strategies, which may include home visiting, coaching, and offering enrichment activities like community playgroups. Family Partners are part of a larger Early Childhood Team at NEKCA that collaborates to provide seamless services that put families at the center. 

This position is for a Family Partner on our Children’s Integrated Services Early Intervention team. The Early Intervention team works with infants and toddlers who are at risk for or may be experiencing delays in the areas of cognitive, physical, communication, social/emotional or adaptive skills and their caregivers. The Developmental Educator is a family partner who provides play-based interventions to children and their caregivers using modeling and coaching.

The Family Partner II developmental Educator portion of this position is 60%.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

• Carry out duties in compliance with HS Performance Standards, Content Area Plans, Vermont Child Care Licensing Regulations for Center-Based Child Care and Preschool Programs, NAEYC, and NEKCA Standard of Conduct.
• Complete NEKCA Performance Evaluations, Professional Development Self­ Assessment, and in partnership with supervisor, Individualized Professional Development Plan.
• Be aware of indicators of child abuse and neglect and comply with Vermont Mandated Reporter Law and the Child Protection Protocol
• Participate in center staff meetings, monthly content area meetings, pre­ service, and in-services, and incorporate relevant knowledge and skills into practice.
• Home or childcare visiting
• Direct service with child utilizing plan
• Family Coaching for child’s caregiver(s)
• Case management and service coordination
• Understanding of Infant & Toddler development
• Understanding of Part C Early Intervention regulations
• Work toward and maintain Part C Early Intervention State Certification

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES: 

•  Conduct services/visits in child’s most natural environment, typically home or childcare 
•  Provide services to child using play, at their level, sometimes on the floor, at the table or outside. 
•  Coordinate and facilitate initial intake, completing family interview and paperwork 
•  Coordinate and facilitate initial assessment/evaluation  
•  Develop child’s One Plan (IFSP) with caregiver/s 
•  Assist caregiver/s in accessing community supports to address identified needs 
•  Facilitate 6-month and annual reviews of One Plans and other team meetings, providing necessary progress reports and updated assessments. 
•  Facilitate transition planning to EEE (Early Essential Education) services or other community resources. 
•  Maintain a file on each child, ensuring that all documentation, releases, and consents are completed accurately and timely, in accordance with state and federal guidelines. 
•  Communicate regularly with other service providers working with the child to provide continuity of services.  
•  Maintain and submit all billings and documentation requirements weekly. 
•  Seek and attend ongoing professional development opportunities determined by Individual Professional Development Plan. 
• Offer weekly home visits to enrolled families that last at least l.5 hrs. and provide a minimum of 46 visits per year (make-up visits are an hour)
• Plan 22 playgroup opportunities in partnership with parents/guardians enrolled in EHS and offer over the course of the year
• Provide services to expectant families according to the program performance standards and curriculum
• Provide a monthly newsletter to all enrolled families
• Assist parents/guardians in co-planning for home visits, child development activities and playgroups per parent/guardian and child interests and goals
• Put no less than 75 observations per child per assessment period in DRDP
• Conduct annual developmental and behavioral screenings in partnership with parent/guardian within 45 days of enrollment and review results with parent/guardian according to program protocol
• In partnership with parents/guardians, based on developmental concerns, initiate and document referral process to appropriate agencies/providers
• In partnership with families and appropriate community agencies/providers, participate in and ensure documentation of team meetings, evaluation process, and development of individual plans
• Complete all registration paperwork with enrolled families within program 

Core Competencies: 

•   Must have excellent communication and interpersonal skills. Must be able to maintain good relations with participants, other staff, and members of the community.  
•   Must have knowledge of basic computer skills and record keeping, including spreadsheet applications.  
•   Proficiency in Microsoft Office products and database management systems. 
•   This position is considered a mandated reporter.  
•  Commitment to the wellbeing of infants, toddlers, and their caregivers during their most formative years of development. 
•  Ability to work well under deadline pressures without sacrificing accuracy or customer service.  
•  Ability to maintain schedule of daily visits, meetings, and paperwork in an organized fashion 
•  Must be responsible, self-motivated, self-initiated, may need to work flexible hours (program dependent)  
•   Demonstrate positive problem-solving skills in stressful situations.  
•   Demonstrate the ability to work effectively as part of a team. 
•   Demonstrate familiarity with, and sensitivity to the challenges faced by low-income individuals, and some knowledge of the community and available resources to address them. 
•   Maintain confidentiality. 
•   Complete all required trainings and professional development. 

Background Checks: 

Employees in this role are required to undergo a background check in accordance with NEKCA policy, which may include verifying education, employment history, criminal background and driving records. 

Transportation Requirements: 

This position requires that employees possess a valid driver's license, favorable driving record results and have access to dependable transportation. 

WORKING CONDITIONS: 

Employees in this position work primarily in an office environment with moderate noise levels and controlled temperature conditions. The work involves sitting for extended periods of time, using a computer and other office equipment, and may require occasional lifting of up to 25 pounds. Position requires occasional bending, stooping, or reaching for items. Standing or moving around the office area. 

Travel: Home visits involve travel to participants' homes. This can vary from local travel to covering a larger geographic area, depending on the nature of the job.  

Participant Diversity: Professionals conducting home visits often work with a diverse range of participants, each with unique needs, backgrounds, and living conditions. 

Safety Considerations: Safety is a crucial aspect of home visits. Professionals need to be aware of their surroundings and take precautions to ensure their safety, especially if they are visiting unfamiliar or potentially risky environments. 

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. 

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The responsibilities listed in this job description are intended to provide a general overview of the role and its expectations. While this description is comprehensive, it should not be construed as an exhaustive list of duties and tasks that may be required of the employee. The organization reserves the right to assign other tasks or responsibilities as needed, and this role's responsibilities may evolve in response to changes in the organization's goals and priorities. Flexibility and adaptability are key attributes for success in this dynamic work environment. 

NEKCA is a proud equal-opportunity employer. We work diligently to recruit a broad pool of candidates and to hire and promote qualified individuals whose personal experiences, characteristics, and talents reasonably reflect the diversity of the communities served by NEKCA. Our equal employment opportunities apply to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training. We encourage applications from women, minority groups, veterans, and people with disabilities.  

Qualifications for positions within NEKCA are determined by the duties and responsibilities of the position itself. 

Education and Experience:  

•  Bachelor’s Degree in Special Education, Early Education, or Early Childhood Development, Physical or Occupational Therapy, Speech Therapy, Social Work, Nursing, Psychology, or other related Human Services field with a minimum of at least two years of experience providing direct services to children under the age of three with disabilities or special needs and their families, utilizing developmentally appropriate and evidence-based practices. 
•  Early Interventionist responsible for certifying evaluations conducted for the purpose of determining Part C eligibility must hold a current Vermont CIS-EI certification, another State’s equivalent, or Early Childhood Special Education license endorsement. 
•  Home- based CDA credential or comparable credential, or equivalent

1-2 years relevant experience required :

•  Knowledge of healthy infant, toddler, and child development. 
•  Knowledge and understanding of family-centered philosophy and the ability to translate that philosophy into practice. 
•  Experience working with infants and toddlers 
•  Experience working with families utilizing coaching and modeling 
•  Experience working independently and as a member of a multidisciplinary team. 
•  Experience in home visiting. 
•  Experience with meeting facilitation