JOB SUMMARY

The Child Development Specialist works under the supervision of the Director of Early Care and Education and with the guidance of the Head of Educational Excellence. The Child Development Specialist (CDS) partners with a team of CDS’s to ensure comprehensive, high quality early education experiences for children/families enrolled in Allies’ network of contracted licensed family child care home providers (Providers). The Child Development Specialist plays a critical role in client and Provider recruitment, ongoing training, health/safety monitoring, comprehensive family services and lesson plan processes.

QUALIFICATIONS & EDUCATION

• Bachelor’s degree in child development or early education, or in a related field with two years’ of post-graduate experience in early childhood education (related fields include elementary education, early childhood special education, psychology, family consumer sciences, home economics, social work, social services)
• Infant/toddler units, a plus
• Two (2) years’ experience working in Early Education programs as a lead or supervisor a plus
• One (1)-year experience providing services to low-income families as a case manager
• Knowledge of Head Start Early Learning Child Outcomes Framework preferred
• Ability to plan, organize and oversee high quality early childhood programming and comprehensive services
• Ability to communicate effectively – verbally and in writing
• Strong organizational skills
• Commitment to teamwork
• Basic computer skills required – Word, Excel, Software applications
• Experience working with diverse groups and populations
• Bilingual in English and Spanish preferred
• Passionate about learning and possesses curiosity about issues affecting children and families
• Align with Allies for Every Child’s mission and philosophy
• All employees, regardless of position, serve as role models for children and families who are served by our agency
• Fingerprint background clearance (DOJ, FBI & Child Abuse Clearance Index), or approved exemption
• Successful completion of pre-employment physical, PPD risk assessment, proof of immunizations for pertussis (Tdap), measles (MMR) and influenza (can decline)
• Class “C” driver’s license, proof of automobile insurance and access to reliable transportation

Family Child Care Home Education Providers

• Mentor, coach, model, and provide individualized training and technical assistance for Providers and their staff in child development, and other areas identified; Ensure monthly meetings, semi-monthly home visits, telephone consultations as needed, and support monthly responsive trainings
• Provide curriculum support (age and developmentally appropriate activities for children; strategies to individualize activities; strategies for English Language Learners, etc.)
• Emphasize effective teaching practices and learning environments with parents and providers
• Monitor ratio, health and safety, child’s files; contract/licensing compliance; attendance sheets; nutrition observations, etc.
• Conduct home visits, coaching, and individualized follow up to ensure the appropriate resources and emotional encouragement is there for each child and family as needed and to ensure proper implementation of federal regulations
• Visit EHS family childcare homes to both ensure that family goals are fully supported by providers as well as to support comprehensive services for each famil

Other

• May be required to work evenings and weekends as needed.
• Perform other relevant responsibilities as required by the agency and as assigned
• In accordance with our “team” philosophy, the person filling this position may occasionally be required to carry out or assist with other tasks in addition to the duties listed on this job description
• Model the Standard of Conduct Policy when interacting with parents, community members and Colleagues
• Ensure safety is a priority in performing all job responsibilities
• Staff must believe in and act in accordance with both the Agency’s and the program’s mission/vision statements, adopted theoretical frameworks, and philosophy

ESSENTIAL JOB DUTIES

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skills and/or abilities required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

EARLY EDUCATION DUTIES

Children

• Schedule and perform observations and developmental assessments of children (include parent and provider input); responsible for completion of Desired Results Developmental Profile assessments for children in the FCCHEN and EHS Program.
• Complete semi-annual developmental screenings (Ages and Stages Questionnaires- 3 and Social-Emotional) with parents during home visits; assist in referring children to inclusion team and or local agency, if needed; partner with parents and families through the formal evaluation process

Families

• Conduct two home visits per fiscal year for each family on your caseload to ensure appropriate resources and provide emotional encouragement
• Identify child social or health needs and provide referrals to parents regarding public assistance, health, housing, counseling, etc. as needed
• Support completion of semi-annual 5 protective factors surveys, annual family survey, etc.
• Confer with parents on an as-needed basis, offering them resources and mediating parent/provider conflict, as well as discussing children’s assessments, needs and interests, and strategies to use in facilitating children’s growth and development
• Actively support parental involvement by planning and facilitating responsive and directed parent activities
• Facilitate opportunities for parents and families to participate in program’s education services and trainings
• Participate in implementation of program-wide parent advisory group
• Support Family and Community Specialist in assisting, guiding and educating each family during transition process to a preschool, Head Start Program and or Kindergarten.
• Assist in planning parent activities, encourage parent participation in program activities, and obtain feedback from parents regarding the level of satisfaction with the services they received
• Provide support in the follow-up and retrieval of health, nutrition, mental health and disability requirements
• Collaborate with Health Services Coordinator, Family and Community Specialist, Mental Health Specialist and/or Inclusion Specialist to ensure the health, nutrition and special needs of children are addressed
• Working closely with each family on caseload to support goals identified and provide needed referrals to community agencies and effectively communicate with Family and Community Specialist or other relevant team members
• Supports families in completion of paperwork and documentation requirement for Early Head Start and CDSS and provides follow-up
• Provides support and strategies to address any attendance concerns

Family Child Care Home Education Providers

• Mentor, coach, model, and provide individualized training and technical assistance for Providers and their staff in child development, and other areas identified; Ensure monthly meetings, semi-monthly home visits, telephone consultations as needed, and support monthly responsive trainings
• Provide curriculum support (age and developmentally appropriate activities for children; strategies to individualize activities; strategies for English Language Learners, etc.)
• Emphasize effective teaching practices and learning environments with parents and providers
• Monitor ratio, health and safety, child’s files; contract/licensing compliance; attendance sheets; nutrition observations, etc.
• Conduct home visits, coaching, and individualized follow up to ensure the appropriate resources and emotional encouragement is there for each child and family as needed and to ensure proper implementation of federal regulations
• Visit EHS family childcare homes to both ensure that family goals are fully supported by providers as well as to support comprehensive services for each family

Quality Assurance/Programmatic

• Maintain records of home visits, parent conferences, children’s assessments, family referrals, corrective action plans
• Maintain comprehensive child records in hard copy and/or ChildPlus database and ensure an effective system of tracking
• Review outcomes of assessments with family childcare home education providers
• Document all parent, provider and community referrals including health documentation
• Participate in internal audits and quality assurance file review
• Perform annual and ongoing assessment of each provider using the Family Child Care Environment Rating Scale to ensure that services are of high quality and are educationally and developmentally appropriate
• Creatively assist in recruitment of prospective client families and Providers
• Attend child development conferences, interagency meeting and community events as appropriate and assigned
• Conduct annual evaluation for all Providers on caseload

Other

• May be required to work evenings and weekends as needed.
• Perform other relevant responsibilities as required by the agency and as assigned
• In accordance with our “team” philosophy, the person filling this position may occasionally be required to carry out or assist with other tasks in addition to the duties listed on this job description
• Model the Standard of Conduct Policy when interacting with parents, community members and Colleagues
• Ensure safety is a priority in performing all job responsibilities
• Staff must believe in and act in accordance with both the Agency’s and the program’s mission/vision statements, adopted theoretical frameworks, and philosophy.