Head Start Home Base Specialist

GenerationEd • Greensboro, NC

8d • $0 - $37,371 • Hybrid

About The Position

It is the responsibility of the Home Base Specialist to partner with families to support their child’s cognitive, language, literacy, social/emotional, and physical development in alignment with Head Start Program Performance Standards. This role promotes strong parent-child relationships, school readiness, and family well-being by delivering comprehensive, high-quality home-based services.

Requirements

• Minimum of an Associate’s degree in Early Childhood Education, Child Development, Social Work, Human Services, or a related field; Bachelor’s degree preferred.
• Must meet or be willing to meet requirements outlined in the Head Start Program Performance Standards, including coursework such as EDU 119 and progression toward a degree as required.
• At least 1–2 years of experience working with young children and families, preferably in a home-based, early childhood, or social services setting.
• Knowledge of child development, family engagement practices, and community resources.
• Experience with Head Start or Early Head Start preferred.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills (written and verbal) with the ability to build relationships with diverse populations.
• Ability to work independently, manage time effectively, and handle multiple responsibilities while maintaining attention to detail.
• Proficiency in basic computer skills and data entry systems.
• Ability to work collaboratively as part of a team.
• Reliable transportation, valid driver’s license, and proof of personal vehicle liability insurance required for travel to home visits and community appointments.
• Ability to sit, stand, and walk for extended periods throughout the workday.
• Ability to lift and carry up to 35 pounds.
• Ability to bend and stoop and reach.
• Ability to walk extended periods throughout the day monitoring.
• Ability to hear and respond to children, alarms, and safety signals.
• Specific vision abilities required include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.

Nice To Haves

• Bilingual (English/Spanish) strongly preferred.

Responsibilities

• Establish and maintain respectful, strengths-based relationships with families that support family engagement and trust.
• Partner with families to develop individualized child goals and family partnership agreements that reflect strengths, needs, and priorities.
• Support families in achieving self-sufficiency goals through ongoing communication, encouragement, and follow-up.
• Encourage and support parent leadership and involvement in program activities, including parent meetings, Policy Council, and engagement opportunities.
• Conduct weekly home visits (minimum of 90 minutes) to deliver developmentally appropriate, curriculum-based learning experiences that promote school readiness and parent-child interaction.
• Support parents as their child’s first teacher by modeling and coaching developmentally appropriate practices across developmental domains.
• Provide guidance on home safety, nutrition, positive discipline, and age-appropriate learning activities.
• Complete developmental screenings and ongoing child assessments within required timeframes.
• Observe, document, and analyze child progress to inform individualized planning.
• Share assessment results and progress with families and collaboratively adjust goals and strategies.
• Ensure children are up to date on required health services, including prenatal care (as applicable), well-child exams, immunizations, and screenings.
• Coordinate with health, nutrition, mental health, and disabilities staff to ensure comprehensive services are integrated into the home setting.
• Collaborate with families and community partners to support referrals, evaluations, and services for children with suspected or identified disabilities.
• Plan and facilitate group socialization experiences (minimum twice per month) that promote peer interaction, parent engagement, and school readiness.
• Develop lesson plans that reflect the cultures, languages, and interests of enrolled families.
• Provide ongoing parent education on child development, health, nutrition, and family well-being.
• Assist families in accessing community resources, scheduling appointments, and navigating support systems.
• Provide timely information, referrals, and follow-up to address family needs and goals.
• Maintain accurate, complete, and confidential records in compliance with program, state, and federal requirements.
• Ensure timely data entry, documentation, and reporting.
• Participate in ongoing monitoring, self-assessment, and federal/state reviews, including Program Information Report (PIR) data collection.
• Ensure the safety and well-being of children at all times during home visits, socializations, and program activities.
• Monitor environments to ensure activities are developmentally appropriate and safe.
• Serve as a mandated reporter and follow all procedures related to suspected child abuse and neglect.
• Attend and actively participate in staff meetings, case conferences, trainings, and program committees.
• Collaborate as part of a multidisciplinary team to integrate services and support program outcomes.
• Engage in continuous professional development to maintain credentials and stay current with best practices.
• Model professionalism, positive interactions, and appropriate child guidance techniques.
• Participate in recruitment and enrollment activities to maintain full program enrollment and an active waitlist.
• Advocate for the program in the community and build partnerships that support children and families.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: Associate degree