Parent Educator

IRCO • Portland, OR

1d • Hybrid

About The Position

The Immigrant and Refugee Community Organization (IRCO) is a non-profit organization established in 1976 to serve immigrants, refugees, and the broader community in Portland, Oregon. Our mission is to welcome, serve and empower refugees, immigrants and people across cultures and generations to reach their full potential. The Parenting Education (PE) Program is a home visiting program focused on early childhood relational health – partnering with families to help the children thrive. Parenting Education Program is a free, home-visiting program to support families with young children. It promotes healthy child development, strengthens parent Child interaction and family bonds. Parenting Education Program provides home visits twice a month, 5 monthly group meetings/ field trips during the year. Parent Educator brings child development information and activities to do with the parent and child at each home visit using Parent as Teachers (PAT) Curriculum. PE Program will help children to become ready for kindergarten and will help to enroll them into kindergarten. The PE Program accomplishes these goals through a combination of home visits, parent-child groups, developmental screenings, and referrals provided by committed and professional staff. The Parent Educator is a trained early childhood professional that provides home visits to enrolled families in Multnomah, Clackamas and Washington Counties. The Parent Educator provides parent education and developmental screenings to families with children prenatal to 5 years old. A Parent Educator (PE) will come to the family’s home to provide home visits twice a month. During the home visit, the PE will share child development information and activities for promoting positive parent-child interaction using the Parent as Teachers (PAT) Curriculum. The Parent Educator prepares and delivers age-appropriate parenting education and activities to meet the different needs of enrolled families through in-person home visits, provide developmental screenings to children using Ages and Stages Questionnaires (ASQ/ASQ SE), connect families to resources in the community according to their needs and goals. The Parent Educator will need to complete the required paperwork on time. The Parent Educator provides services that meet IRCO and ECEF Program goals and objectives.

Requirements

• Fluent in English.
• Must pass a background check.
• Must possess a valid driver’s license, verification of current auto insurance, and full use of automobile during work hours for home visits.
• High School Diploma/GED or any combination of education and experience that demonstrates the ability to perform the duties of the position is qualifying
• Experiences in early childhood services, parenting education and assessment, child development, nutrition, preventive health care and/or home visiting
• Professional level experience providing outreach, information, referrals, and follow-up to clients
• Experience working with young children and their families
• Must be familiar with service providers involved with parenting education, social services, health care, emergency services, and childcare
• Must be able to work in a fast-paced work environment meeting deadline

Nice To Haves

• Bilingual in Dari, Farsi, or Asian/African language preferred.
• Knowledge of child development
• Skilled in building trust with families
• Competent at working with people who may speak another language other than English
• Remarkable computer skills including proficiency in Microsoft outlook, database, Apricot 360 and Word
• Strong ability to work in a team environment
• Capable to utilize and keep track of assigned budget
• Determined and willingness to learn new skills
• Ability to use initiative and judgment in completing tasks and responsibilities
• Experience in courteously meeting and dealing effectively with other employees, agency representatives, the public, families and others
• Adept at functioning in a positive manner in a demanding work environment, to demonstrate a high degree of flexibility, to respond to priorities and schedules that change frequently, and to meet commitments
• Well-versed with communication in a positive manner verbally, in writing, and by phone to individuals and groups
• Competent to communicate with a variety of personality types within the organization as well as with people outside of the organization
• Ability to listen for understanding and assist in problem solving
• Skilled in preparing clear, accurate and concise reports
• Be punctual, maintain a good attendance record, and able to work flexible hours to meet the availability of clients
• Maintain a high level of confidentiality
• Capable to meet multiple, sometimes conflicting deadlines
• Significant analytical and decision-making abilities
• Proficient in dealing with distressed and/or demanding clients and employees in an effective manner
• Work effectively in a fast-paced environment and make good judgments as it pertains to clients
• Exceptional skills in intercultural, interpersonal and organizational communication skills

Responsibilities

• Perform outreach within Multnomah, Clackamas, and Washington Counties and enroll families into Parenting Education Program.
• Prepare and provide one-on-one home visits to parents and the target children enrolled in the program.
• Prepare and bring children activities, according to their age and stage of development, during home visits.
• Ability to work with children of different ages, from prenatal to 5 years old.
• Guide and support parents to create their Family Goal Plan twice a year.
• Engage families to actively participate in the program and perform 2 HV per month, per family.
• Plan and develop 5 group meetings and/or field trips throughout the year.
• Perform developmental screenings ASQ-3 and ASQ SE and coordinate referrals for early intervention as necessary.
• Provide role modeling to parents on how to make appointments, to advocate for the needs for themselves and their children, and to become self-sufficient in accessing services and resources in the community.
• Maintain accurate and confidential records on each Family.
• Coordinate activities and services with IRCO staff.
• Complete and submit monthly reports to supervisor at the end of each month.
• Participate in Early Learning Service/IRCO all staff meetings, monthly team meeting, one-on-one reflective supervision, training, committees, and volunteer activities to support IRCO and Program goals and objectives.
• Provide referrals to community services and resources such as parenting skills, health and dental clinics, family planning, low-income housing, nutrition services, rental and energy assistance, and childcare as needed.
• Provide interpretation services to parents and assist them with better access services and providers such as hospitals, clinics, WIC, DHS and social service programs.
• Translate materials and brochures/flyers as necessary.
• Follow up on counseling, referral, and support as needed for clients and their families.

Benefits

• 3 to 6 weeks of PTO per year
• 401k match of over 100% on first 5%, immediate vesting
• 3% match for student loans or college savings
• 12 Paid Holidays and 1 Floating Holiday
• Medical & Dental insurance options with 90% coverage for employee AND Families, no deductibles
• Employer Paid Life, Short term, and Long-term Disability Insurance
• Flexible spending accounts

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: High school or GED