Early Head Start Family Child Care Specialist (Child Care Specialist I)

Looking for a self-motivated and organized individual with early childhood experience who is ready to apply that knowledge to the family child care setting by coaching and mentoring family child care providers, working with families to achieve their goals, and helping children and families be school-ready.

In this position, you will:

• Recruit and enroll Early Head Start eligible families and provide comprehensive services (i.e., education, health, nutrition, and family services) in accordance with federal Head Start Program Performance Standards,
• Establish family partnership agreements that identify family goals to connect families to community resources that move them toward self-sufficiency,
• Provide case management by helping families negotiate educational, health and social services systems (e.g., basic needs assistance, employment resources, financial assistance, and healthcare),
• Encourage families to take a leadership role in the Early Head Start program and in their child's education, health, and development (e.g., support families to maintain a comprehensive and preventive health care program for their children as outlined by the Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnostic and Treatment [EPSDT] schedule),
• Implement parenting curriculum that strengthens positive parent-child relationships,
• Provide support through bi-weekly visits to family childcare provider homes that serve infants and toddlers,
• Individualize support to fit provider's unique strengths, needs, and learning style, focusing on such areas as Creative Curriculum implementation, positive adult-child interactions, and healthy and safe environments ensuring that providers follow the Head Start Program Performance Standards, and
• Document the provision of all services to children and their families using the ChildPlus data management system.
• Duties are performed under the supervision of the Head Start Coordinator.

• Assists providers with improving the quality of their child care environments by providing them with information on child development and child care issues;
• Provides training and technical assistance to family day care providers and day care centers;
• Monitors education screening and assessments of children;
• Educates parents on types of available care and assists with placements in family day care;
• Prepares monthly reports for assigned geographic area.

• Knowledge of the basic principles, concepts, and methodology of assigned area of accountability;
• Ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing;
• Ability to keep current on the latest theories of early childhood development and education;
• Ability to work independently and as a member of a team.

• Graduation from an accredited college or university with a baccalaureate degree in one of the following disciplines:
  • Child and Family Studies
  • Early Childhood Development
  • Early Childhood Education
  • Human Services
  • Psychology
  • Social Work