Early Head Start Home Visitor

Bethany Christian Services•Johnson City, TN

69d•$23 - $25

About The Position

At Bethany Christian Services, we believe families provide the strongest foundation for care and connection. That's why we focus on strengthening and empowering families, always advocating for family-centered solutions to keep children safe. Our work began in 1944 with the care of a single child. Today, inspired by our faith, our aim is to demonstrate the love and compassion of Jesus in our services for children, youth, and families. Working at Bethany means joining a team of nearly 2,000 dedicated professionals with diverse skills, serving communities across the country. Together, we're united in our mission and these shared values: we're motivated by our faith, we support one another, we champion justice, we pursue excellence, and we're in it for the long haul. The primary function of this role is to provide in-home instruction as well as a group socialization experience to parents and children (infants/toddlers), which will enhance the parents' ability to fill the role of primary nurturer of their child. Maintain on-going contact with families and work with all other components (health, nutrition, family services, mental health, special services, parent education and resource/referral) to integrate services into the family setting. Must meet requirements per Federal Head Start Performance Standards and any local, state and or agency policies and procedures.

Requirements

An Associate degree in ECE or higher is preferred;
Must have knowledge and at least 1 year experience in child development and early childhood education, adult learning and family dynamics including knowledge of community resources and skill to link families with appropriate agencies and services;
Infant Toddler CDA and/or a combination of knowledge and experience that cover the areas listed above is required;
Must have flexible schedule to accommodate family needs, may include some evening or weekend hours;
Excellent written and verbal communication skills;
Must provide own vehicle for home visits;
Within 30 days of employment must be Pediatric CPR & First Aid certified and have a current Food Handler's Card;
Health Appraisal Questionnaire is required at hire and will be updated annually;
At time of hire must be currently enrolled in Childcare Division-Central Background Registry and must renew every two years;
Frequent significant decision and problem-solving abilities;
Ability to work as a team member collaborating with parents and community resources;
Ability to supervise and monitor children at all times to ensure a safe environment. This includes the physical ability to monitor and move quickly in order to respond to children who are very active and may need restraint or redirection in order to ensure their safety or the safety of others;
Ability to respond appropriately to an emergency or a crisis situation;
Frequent driving for home visits sometimes in outlying areas;
Regular kneeling, bending, and sitting on the floor to attend to child's needs;
Occasional lifting up to 50 pounds;
Computer skills sufficient to perform essential functions including knowledge of Microsoft Office Suite;
Must be 21 years old with a valid driver's license with at least 3 years driving experience in the U.S. to operate a vehicle on behalf of Bethany;
Must pass a Motor Vehicle Records (MVR) check and maintain a reliable vehicle with proof of adequate coverage;
Pass a criminal history screen, including state and local child protection agency registries;
Subscription to and integration of the agency Statement of Faith, Mission Statement, and Commitment to Unity.

Nice To Haves

Bilingual English/Spanish skills highly desirable;

Responsibilities

Conduct weekly 90-minute home visits with each family;
Create and maintain respectful partnerships with families;
Drive to family home and deliver health, educational, nutritional and child growth and development information to parents via weekly meetings;
Coordinate with parents to ensure that prenatal, well-child exams, immunizations, health screenings, and nutrition assessments are complete, and that necessary follow up occurs;
Complete family partnership agreements, developmental screenings, and all other required assessments with families in a timely manner;
Assist and support families in locating resources and scheduling appointments with community resources that best meets their needs;
Provide support in parent and child activities that encourages developmentally- appropriate activities for the changing needs of infants and toddlers;
Provide bi-monthly socializations for infants/toddlers and their primary caregivers;
Meet the needs of all children, including those at risk, those with special needs, those who are gifted, and those who are culturally diverse;
Develop and utilize lesson plans which reflect both mandated elements and parental and cultural influences, and which promote the social emotional, physical, and cognitive development of Head Start children;
Individualize one-to-one and group activities to reflect the unique needs and strengths of all children;
Work with appropriate agencies and other resources to develop Individual Family Service Plans (IFSP);
Coordinate special needs staff and develop a collaborative approach that benefits all children and meets the needs specified in the IFSP;
Review each child's goals and write comprehensive individual plans designed to promote current learning and attend to nutritional, health, and social issues;
Develop and utilize teaching methods and materials for use in the home;
Maintain accurate written/electronic records including health information, assessments, IFSP documentation, screening instruments, anecdotal observations, and other required forms;
Plan and facilitate group meetings which provide education and information on current Head Start policy and curriculum development;
Coordinate parent volunteer schedule, assuring adequate involvement and an appropriate adult to child ratio;
Communicate frequently with other staff and parents; serve as liaison among medical and social services in the community; act as advocate for Head Start families;
Meet regularly with consultants and community collaborators to assure quality services;
Attend meetings, staffing, training, and professional development activities as appropriate;
Essential job responsibilities may vary based on the specific needs of each program/department;
May be required or asked to participate in a Bethany sponsored event;
Complete other duties as assigned.