Child Development Specialist III

State of Oklahoma • Moore, OK

7d • Hybrid

About The Position

Child Development Specialists serve as an active member of the Child Guidance Team and provide direct services across the continuum of care from promotion, prevention, and intervention to families with children birth up to age 8. Child Guidance is a statewide program that promotes and supports healthy family relationships and child development. The Child Development Specialists in the Child Guidance program provide individual and family services to increase parenting skills and enhance the developmental potential of young children. This includes assessing and/or screening development in young children; developing and implementing early childhood prevention programs for parents and young children to enhance their opportunities for cognitive, personal-social, language, and motor development; providing opportunities for parents to come together in a support group, training and/or educational setting and; serving as a member of a multidisciplinary team to monitor the effectiveness of child development services. This position is responsible for providing clients with developmental and educational services in the areas of child development. Services are provided for clients in a clinic-based setting. Services may include developmental screenings, assessments, intervention, and parent education.

Requirements

• 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 any of the following areas: typical and atypical infant and toddler development, parent-child relations, positive guidance/discipline strategies with young children, family systems, family relationships, assessment/evaluation, working with parents of exceptional infants and toddlers, and developmentally and individually appropriate early childhood curriculum and instructional practices.
• Two additional years of post-master’s experience working in the areas of child development, early childhood education, or early childhood special education.
• Applicants must be willing and able to perform all job-related travel normally associated with this position and possess a valid driver’s license.
• If education, certification or licensure is required to meet qualifications, applicants must provide documentation at the time of application.
• All applicants are subject to a background check and must be legally authorized to work in the United States without visa sponsorship.

Nice To Haves

• If certification is not held at time of employment, the Certified Child and Parenting Specialist (CCPS) through the Oklahoma Family Resource Coalition (OFRC) must be completed within one year of employment.

Responsibilities

• Conducts groups and workshops to educate parents and professionals in the area of child development through materials and curricula developed for this purpose.
• Conducts parent support groups
• Provides developmental assessments and screenings of young children; teach parents ways to enhance their child’s developmental potential.
• Maintains confidential records of services including progress notes and evaluation reports in compliance with state and federal regulations.
• 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.
• Provides individuals and families prevention information on topics related to parenting and child development.
• Provides referrals to individuals and families to relevant services to assist in achieving goals and their well-being.
• 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 well-being of young children and families.
• Participates as a member of a Child Guidance Team by staffing individual cases and groups and in developing a service plan pertaining to child development and meeting family goals.
• Being present in the office is an essential function of this job.
• Demonstrates knowledge of and supports mission, vision, value statements, standards, policies and procedures, operating instructions, confidentiality standards, and the code of ethical behavior.
• Works effectively in team environment, participating and assisting their peers.

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 venders.
• Longevity Bonus for years of service

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level