Child Development Specialist

The Family Tree•Baltimore, MD

12d

About The Position

The Child Development Specialist is a core component of the Family Resource Center. The role helps families identify their strengths, meet their needs, and achieve their goals, working in collaboration with other Center staff and in response to participating parents’ expressed needs and priorities. The specialist oversees children’s health, safety, and well-being; plans and implements a developmentally appropriate program for infants and toddlers; and supports parents in their parenting role. The position reports directly to the Center Director regarding the Child Development Program and other responsibilities and serves on the Center program management team.

Requirements

Thorough knowledge of child growth and development from birth to three years of age.
Knowledge of community resources related to the needs of young children and willingness to help families access them.
Sensitivity and understanding when relating to parents’ situations and feelings.
Effective written and verbal communication skills.
Knowledge and ability to design and maintain an appropriate environment for infants and toddlers.
Ability to plan and implement activities for children individually and as a group.
Ability to maintain records and reports on young children.
Ability to reinforce health and safety standards in the child development room.
Ability to make sound decisions concerning interactions between staff, parents, and children.
Ability to model team leadership on child development issues.
Commitment to the overall philosophy of Family Support.
Ability to maintain confidentiality of information disclosed by or on behalf of participants.
Ability to relate to people from diverse educational, cultural, and economic backgrounds.
Ability to work independently and as a team member and leader.
Ability to model appropriate interaction with young children and parents.
Ability to lift up to 50 pounds and get up and down off the floor.
Experience working with young children from birth to three years old.
At least one year of supervisory experience.
A bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Education, Special Education, Child Development, or a related field is accepted.

Nice To Haves

A master’s degree in Early Childhood Education is preferred.

Responsibilities

Oversee the health, safety, and well-being of all children.
Plan and implement a developmentally appropriate program for infants and toddlers, including screenings, assessments, and individual classroom plans for children.
Participate in program staff meetings and training provided by MFN or the sponsoring agency.
Provide parents with information and support in their parenting role.
Complete all required paperwork.
Serve as a member of the Center program management team.
Supervise and evaluate child development personnel and volunteers.
Guide and direct staff in curriculum planning and implementation and in planning children’s activities.
Model and teach parents and staff how to nurture and interact with babies and young children.
Support families in accessing community resources related to the needs of young children.
Conduct outreach and recruitment.