Family Development Specialist

at  UPMC

The Children’s Advocacy Center of Lawrence County is hiring a Family Development Specialist to join the Parents as Teachers Team! This full-time role will work Monday through Friday day shift with some evenings and weekends possible based upon client schedules with no holiday or on call required. This home visiting position requires travel within Lawrence County.

PURPOSE:

Family Development Specialist is responsible for curriculum planning, family goals development, and implementation of the Early Head Start or Parents as Teachers program with a caseload of infants/toddlers and their families.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Provides supervisor with accurate, complete and timely information as it relates to clients and other program activities
• Participates in service coordination meetings
• Establishes positive partnerships with community resource providers
• Understands the eligibility requirements and screening procedures of community resources
• Promotes parent involvement in working with their children
• Refers families to needed resources
• Works with parents to ensure that all immunizations and other medical and/or dental follow-up are completed
• Plans/conducts small group meetings/socializations for enrolled infants/toddlers and/or families
• Works with parents, infants or toddlers, and families individually and in small groups on age-appropriate activities that promote language, cognitive, social, emotional and physical development
• Leads parents in conducting and interpreting assessments of child’s developmental needs
• Assists families in identifying strengths and needs and develops individual plans to meet their needs
• Builds nurturing relationships with families and regularly helps family members to evaluate their growth and development
• Provides direct service to identified families and their Infants/toddlers including children with disabilities through home visits and organized small group meetings/socializations
• Provide research-based home visitation with the schedule dictated by the program funder. Visits may require evening or weekend hours
• Participates actively in ongoing staff development activities taking related courses when necessary. Maintains confidentiality of records and information
• Obtain certification in the foundational training and maintain certification requirements
• Enter data into electronic data collection system
• Completes forms, maintains written records and prepares program reports as directed
• Attends continuity meetings to promote a positive working relationship and mutual understanding among local providers. Meets with designated staff or affiliated organizations as needed to maintain and promote a continuing spirit of cooperation
• Assists with training and consultation to potential referral sources
• Identifies problem areas and makes suggestions and recommendations to resolve problems or enhance development. Assists with recommendations based on best practice standards, financial feasibility and existing resources
• Assumes personal responsibility for professional development and continuing education; discusses personal goals for continued development with the Executive Director/Early Head Start & Parents as Teachers Supervisor
• Recognizes and evaluates personal strengths and weaknesses and requests assistance in situations that exceed abilities or authority
• Participates in reflective supervision
• Adapts to and supports changes in the agency functions, management styles, or unit operations. Demonstrates the ability to independently solve problems in a proactive and creative manner
  Bachelor’s degree in education, child development, family relations, social work, guidance counseling or related field.
  Minimum of one-year direct service experience working with infants, toddlers, children and/or families.
  Experience working with low income and high-risk families of diverse cultures.
  Knowledge of adult learning processes. Desirable knowledge of childhood home visitation program philosophy(s), guidelines and performance Standards, and child abuse reporting laws.
  Ability to develop and maintain supportive, respectful, and empowering relationships with families, children and co-workers.