EHS Home Visitor

Casa Central•Chicago, IL

137d•$0 - $44,998

About The Position

Casa Central’s Early Learning Academy provides comprehensive early childhood services for children from prenatal to age five and their families. The EHS Home Visitor delivers home-based services that support parents as their child’s first and most important teacher, promote holistic development, and prepare children for kindergarten and beyond. The role builds rapport with parents and works within the program’s philosophy and objectives. The Home Visitor collaborates with parents on individualized lesson plans, conducts developmental and social-emotional screenings, observes and documents children’s development, and supports referrals and inclusion. The position includes weekly home visits and group socialization activities, family advocacy and case management, health-care follow-up, and support for children transitioning out of Early Head Start. It also involves maintaining confidential records and databases, completing required administrative documentation, supporting quality improvement and program compliance, participating in training and meetings, and contributing to recruitment and enrollment efforts. The role requires local travel throughout Chicago for home visits and community-based work. It is eligible for remote work, requires use of a personal mobile phone, and requires reliable personal transportation. A monthly cell phone stipend and mileage reimbursement are provided. The employee may work evenings, weekends, or holidays as needed.

Requirements

Associate degree in child development, early childhood education, or a related field defined as at least 21 child-development/early-childhood-education-related credits; alternatively, a Gateways Infant/Toddler and/or Early Childhood Education Credential at Level 3 or above, or a Home Visiting CDA credential.
Applicants who do not meet the stated education or credential requirements may follow an agency-supported professional development plan and agree to attain the required credential or education level within 12 months of hire.
Bilingual and bicultural proficiency in English and Spanish, both written and verbal.
Data-entry skills and ability to use Microsoft applications, including Outlook, for communication.
Basic mathematical skills.
Sensitivity to cultural diversity.
Ability to work cooperatively as part of an interdisciplinary team and establish relationships with families from diverse backgrounds.
Understanding of community resources and how they can address the needs of children and families.
Demonstrated ability to establish helping relationships with families from varying educational, experiential, and socioeconomic backgrounds and to handle emergency and crisis situations.
Ability to exercise discretion and independent judgment in executing tasks.
Strong people skills and ability to communicate clearly and effectively; must be tactful, mature, and flexible.
Ability to sit, talk, engage in in-person and telephone conversations, and frequently use hands; must be able to lift a 50-pound child.
Valid driver’s license, car, insurance, and reliable personal transportation for home visits and community-based work.
Personal mobile phone capable of adding applications for communication with participants and agency staff.
Subject to drug and alcohol screening, aptitude testing, and skills testing.

Nice To Haves

Knowledge of ChildPlus or other online database systems.

Responsibilities

Work jointly with parents to develop weekly lesson plans based on each child’s assessment and identified family needs, including education, mental health, dental health, nutrition, parent involvement, and social services.
Conduct developmental and social-emotional screenings in collaboration with parents or caregivers.
Identify children with special needs, support referrals, and promote meaningful inclusion of children with disabilities and diverse learning needs.
Observe, assess, and document each child’s health, skills, behavior, growth, and development.
Travel throughout Chicago to serve families from diverse backgrounds.
Plan and implement developmentally appropriate home-based activities using the Parents as Teachers (PAT) curriculum.
Collaborate with colleagues to provide children with group socialization experiences.
Advocate for participating families in collaboration with internal partners and external supports.
Schedule and conduct 90-minute weekly home visits for each parent and child, and schedule make-up visits when visits are canceled.
Participate in case management screenings and staffing.
Assess and support children’s transitions out of Early Head Start.
Ensure families complete a Needs Assessment and establish a Partnership Agreement.
Follow up on family goals, referrals, and supports, and enter them into ChildPlus.
Ensure enrolled children are current with age-appropriate preventive and primary health care, providing support as needed.
Approve timesheets and ensure compliance with agency and funder guidelines and allowable activities.
Maintain confidential family files and online databases; complete and update data entry by assigned due dates.
Prepare and submit records, including timesheets, weekly schedules, mileage, in-kind, home visits, and socialization lesson plans.
Apply the agency’s mission, philosophy, and core values; follow agency policies; support a professional and respectful work environment; and participate in Performance Quality Improvement.
Maintain collaborative relationships with agency staff, stakeholders, and partners.
Comply with Early/Head Start Program Performance Standards and applicable federal, state, city, and accrediting or licensing requirements.
Use Active Supervision strategies to promote children’s safety, well-being, and appropriate oversight.
Follow program Standards of Conduct, build respectful relationships with families, honor parents and caregivers as children’s first teachers, and maintain strict confidentiality.
Participate in trainings, staff development, supervision, staff and education meetings, and other gatherings.
Encourage parent participation in home-visit activities, socialization, parent meetings, Parent Committee Meetings, events, and training.
Maintain regular communication with support staff, the Home Visitor Supervisor, and the Program Director.
Support recruitment efforts to help keep the program fully enrolled year-round.
Work cooperatively within an interdisciplinary team, establish relationships with diverse families, understand community resources, and handle emergency and crisis situations.
Use reflective practices to support volunteers, interns, and team members.
Make home visits to current, prospective, and former clients in their homes.