Early Head Start Parent Educator

College Station ISD•College Station, TX

2d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Early Head Start Parent Educator provides intensive, home-based support services to pregnant women as well as to parents of infants/toddlers and their families. The comprehensive services provided include child development, health, nutrition, disabilities, mental health and social services. The Parent Educator facilitates the role of parents as their child’s most important advocate and empowers parents/families to become self-sufficient and school ready.

Requirements

Minimum of a home-based CDA credential or comparable credential, or equivalent coursework as part of an associate's or bachelor's degree (or willingness to obtain).
Current certification for First Aid and CPR (or ability to obtain).
Excellent oral and written skills in English (and preferably) Spanish.
Proficient skills in keyboarding, word processing, file maintenance, and documentation.
Effective communication and interpersonal skills.
Ability to present a positive image of CSISD and Head Start in all relationships with children and their families, peers, local district staff, private providers, and staff of other agencies.
Flexibility and adaptability in working with a wide variety of children, families and settings.
Be able to successfully work with/respect diverse populations with varying religions, languages, cultural norms and traditions.
Ability to form close, caring, non-judgmental relationships with parents/caregivers.
Experience working with infants, toddlers and families from low income and diverse backgrounds or other social services experience preferred.
Must have a reliable automobile for use on the job, as well as a valid driver’s license and automobile insurance coverage.
Availability to work evenings is required to meet the needs of families we serve with special circumstances.

Nice To Haves

Spanish language proficiency.

Responsibilities

Provide one home visit per week for a caseload of 10-12 families lasting a minimum of 1 ½ hours each.
Be available to transport families to and from playgroup and other events as needed.
Be responsible for crisis intervention assistance and follow-up.
Respond promptly to all emails, calls and texts.
Turn in weekly/monthly paperwork by due date on EHS Calendar.
Work with parents, their families and other staff to screen and assess children’s strengths and growth needs.
Assist families in identifying family resources and needs.
Administer required screenings to all children within the first 45 days of enrollment.
Conduct ongoing LAP-BK assessment of each child.
Plan and prepare for each individual visit on a weekly basis.
Evaluate special needs on an ongoing basis and partner with other EHS staff and community providers to meet these needs.
Maintain updated documentation on all children following program protocol.
Maintain an updated calendar of your home visits and other offsite plans.
Implement the program’s curriculum for child development, health and conscious discipline in the context of the home.
Build a collaborative partnership with parents based on respect and mutual trust.
Support parents and expectant parents in their role as primary caregivers.
Model positive communication skills, guidance techniques and nurturing qualities and promote positive attachments between caregivers, children and families.
Provide parenting education, developmental milestones and support services to families.
Support positive attachment by encouraging positive child-parent interactions.
Encourage and support parental involvement in the home visits and socializations.
Increase the family’s knowledge and understanding of the physical, emotional and intellectual development of their child.
Involve the entire family whenever possible.
Stimulate interest and encourage parents to take an active role in planning, implementing and evaluating their child and family goals.
Encourage families to take an active role in activity planning by filling out lesson plans during weekly home visit.
Utilize each family’s home as a learning environment by considering space and materials that are available in co-planning activities with families and by identifying materials in the home that can be used for learning.
Ensure that each family has established an individualized Family Partnership Agreement and has the needed support and resources to work towards their goals.
Ensure that all referrals are initiated and followed up on in a timely manner.
Locate resources in the community that meet the needs of pregnant women, young children and families and act as a liaison between community resources and EHS families.
Empower parents to become advocates for their child and family.
Maintain appropriate goal-oriented boundaries with families.
Help transition families from EHS to the next learning environment in the continuum of early childhood services.
Assist with recruitment, verification of requirements and enrollment.
Assist in contacting parents.
Work in close partnership with EHS Content Area staff in order to ensure that the content area needs of the pregnant women/young children/families are met.
Maintain confidentiality of family records and information.
Participate in the annual self-assessment process.
Attend required meetings, staffing, training, and professional development activities as appropriate.
Be on time for home visits, staff meetings and professional development activities and stay until the end.
Be responsible for information and assignments given at staff meetings and professional development activities.
Attend all program events.
Other duties assigned by the EHS Administrators and the Early Education Director or Executive Director.