Child Development Specialist I, II or III

State of Oklahoma • OK

83d • $53,000 - $61,000

About The Position

The Child Development Specialist is assigned responsibilities involving professional work with a high degree of flexibility in providing individual and family services to increase parenting skills and enhance the developmental potential of young children and/or children with developmental and acquired disabilities through the SoonerStart Early Intervention Program. This includes assessing development in young children; developing and implementing individual family service plans and programs for parents and young children to enhance their opportunities for cognitive, personal-social, language, adaptive, and motor development; and serving as a member of a multidisciplinary/interdisciplinary team to monitor the effectiveness of child development services. This is the specialist level where the incumbents are assigned responsibilities involving advanced level technical duties in child development. Incumbents at this level perform duties as consultants to other Child Development Specialists and may be designated lead workers.

Requirements

• Level I: Completion of a master’s degree in child development, early childhood education, early childhood special education, developmental psychology, or family relations/child development or a master’s degree in special education with a minimum of 18 graduate, post graduate, or upper level hours (300 or above) in relevant areas.
• Level II: One year of post-master’s experience working in child development, early childhood education, or early childhood special education and eligible for certification as a Child and Parenting Specialist (CCPS).
• Level III: Two additional years of post-master’s experience working in the areas of child development, early childhood education, or early childhood special education, and eligible for certification as a Child and Parenting Specialist (CCPS).

Nice To Haves

• Knowledge of the principles, practices and ethics of parent education, early childhood education, or early childhood special education.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with others.
• Ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing.

Responsibilities

• Conducts groups and workshops to educate parents in child development through materials and curricula developed for this purpose.
• Provides developmental assessments of children’s birth through kindergarten-age; teach parents ways to enhance their child’s developmental potential.
• Keeps confidential records and writes reports essential to this work.
• Assists in the selection, preparation, and distribution of materials on child development which will further the purpose of this program.
• Provides in-service training in the areas of child development and parenting to staff at Head Starts, day care, preschool programs, or other programs as necessary.
• Counsels individuals and families on topics related to parenting and child development.
• Recruits clients for child development programs through contracts with community organizations such as public health clinics, hospitals, child care centers, civic organizations, pediatricians and the news media.
• Collaborates with other community agencies as well as plans and conducts community wide efforts to promote the health, development, and behavioral wellbeing of young children and families.
• Participates as a member of a multidisciplinary/transdisciplinary team by staffing individual cases and groups and developing treatment plans or Individual Family Service Plan (IFSP) pertaining to child development.
• Supervises the work of subordinate staff.
• Provide services to children and families in the child’s natural environment or the environment determined most appropriate by the child’s early intervention team.
• Initiate and implement steps necessary for smooth transition services from the early intervention program.
• Being present in the office is an essential function of this job.

Benefits

• Generous state paid benefit allowance to help cover insurance premiums.
• A wide choice of insurance plans with no pre-existing condition exclusions or limitations.
• Flexible spending accounts for health care expenses and/or dependent care.
• Retirement Savings Plan with a generous match.
• 15 days of vacation and 15 days of sick leave the first year for full time employees.
• 11 paid holidays a year.
• Student Loan repayment options & tuition reimbursement.
• Employee discounts with a variety of companies and vendors.
• Longevity Bonus for years of service.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: Master's degree