Home Visitor - Bilingual

Open Positions at Start Early•Chicago, IL

About The Position

Start Early is an organization focused on providing quality early learning and care, closing the opportunity gap, and building equitable early learning experiences. The Home Visitor provides comprehensive case management services to support the physical, social, emotional, and intellectual development of children and families participating in Head Start/Early Head Start home-based programs. The role provides educational experiences for parents and children to reduce isolation, connect families with the broader community, expand social networks, and strengthen parenting skills. The Home Visitor ensures compliance with Head Start/Early Head Start guidelines and regulations and reports to the Bilingual Home-Based Supervisor. The role uses a research-based parent curriculum and works jointly with parents to develop and deliver weekly 90-minute home visits based on child assessments and family needs. It supports parent participation in program activities, screens and documents children’s health and development, coordinates follow-up on health needs, maintains confidential family files, and assists with referrals and recruitment. The Home Visitor integrates health, nutrition, mental health, parental involvement, and special needs into home visits, and collaborates with the peer Home Visiting team to provide group socialization experiences. The position requires regular travel throughout Chicago and surrounding suburban areas, reliable transportation, and use of cell phones and similar technology. Physical duties include walking moderate distances, navigating residential and community environments, using stairs, moving between standing and floor-seated positions, frequently moving furniture and children’s toys, and occasionally lifting and carrying up to 25 pounds. The position also involves frequent movement outdoors. Pre-employment and/or employment-related health assessments and required screenings and documentation apply. Salary is $53,000–$55,000.

Requirements

Associate’s degree in Social Work, Child Development, or a related field.
Home Visitor CDA required at hire or within one year of hire.
Bilingual Spanish/English; ability to speak, read, and write effectively in both languages.
One to three years of experience working in early childhood/family support or home visiting programs.
Knowledge of theories and principles of healthy child growth and development.
Experience creating comprehensive developmental activities for parents and children, program development, and assessing service quality.
Ability to establish supportive relationships with children and families from diverse backgrounds.
Working knowledge of community resources, family welfare, and government assistance programs.
Knowledge of community resources and ability to develop community cooperation so families receive comprehensive services.
Ability to communicate effectively and function well with families, children, staff, and professional community groups.
Analytical and problem-solving skills.
Ability to work within a team.
Basic knowledge of computer software and functions commonly used in general business settings.
Strong analytical, written and verbal communication, interpersonal, and organizational skills.
Reliable transportation and ability to travel regularly throughout Chicago and surrounding suburban areas.
Ability to use cell phones and similar technology.
Commitment to advancing diversity, racial equity, and inclusion in organizational routines and practices.
Ability to establish and maintain relationships with colleagues and clients and gain their trust and respect.
Comfort and experience handling risk and uncertainty to move work forward.
Ability to walk moderate distances and navigate residential and community settings.
Ability to safely ascend and descend stairs as part of routine job duties.
Ability to move safely and comfortably between standing and floor-seated positions.
Ability to frequently move desks, chairs, tables, easels, and children’s toys and at times lift and carry up to 25 pounds.
Ability to frequently move in outdoor weather conditions.
Completion of required health screenings, assessments, and documentation within designated timeframes.

Nice To Haves

Bachelor’s degree in Social Work, Child Development, or a related field.

Responsibilities

Use a research-based parent curriculum to build parents’ knowledge of child development, support positive parent-child interactions and relationships, and promote parents’ roles as their children’s first teachers and advocates.
Work with parents to develop and implement 90-minute weekly home visit plans based on child assessments and identified family needs.
Provide stimulating, creative, and engaging learning experiences for parents and children.
Engage parents in program activities, including parent-child activities during home visits, socialization, parent meetings, and training events.
Screen, observe, assess, and document each child’s health, skills, behavior, growth, and development.
Participate in case management screenings and staffing.
Ensure children have a complete schedule of well-child visits and follow up on identified health conditions; create medical or health needs for families and children as appropriate.
Maintain and preserve confidential family files.
Participate in ongoing training and staff development, including training provided by Start Early and external consultants, workshops, and conferences.
Attend regularly scheduled staff, education, social service, and health meetings.
Implement recruitment procedures, actively recruit for the program, and attend recruitment events.
Help identify children with special needs and support necessary referrals.
Integrate health, nutrition, mental health, parental involvement, and special needs or individualization into home visits.
Collaborate with the peer Home Visiting team to provide group socialization experiences for children.
Move furniture and children’s toys and carry items weighing up to 25 pounds as needed for program and event activities.
Perform other job-related duties as requested.