Home Visitor-EHS/Family Partner Position Available In Caledonia, Vermont

Home Visitor-EHS/Family Partner North East Kingdom Community Action 61 Church Street, Hardwick, VT 05843

Description:

Job Title:

Home Visitor-EHS/Family Partner Department:

Head Start FLSA Status:

Non-exempt Hours/Weeks:

Full Year, Full Time Bargaining Unit Position:

(Y/N):

Yes Hiring Range :

$18.43 – $23.22

NEKCA Mission Statement:

To empower all generations in the Northeast Kingdom to grow, prosper, and thrive.

SUMMARY:

Home Visitor/Family Partner at NEKCA supports families in goal setting, child development, and holistic family well-being. Recognizing that families are their child’s first teacher, NEKCA utilizes a strengths-based approach to help families thrive. Home Visitor utilize a variety of strategies, including home visiting and offering enrichment activities like community playgroups. Home Visitor/Family Partners are part of a larger Early Childhood Team at NEKCA that collaborates to provide seamless services that put families at the center.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

Carry out duties in compliance with HS Performance Standards, Content Area Plans, Vermont Child Care Licensing Regulations for Center-Based Child Care and Preschool Programs, NAEYC, Vermont Parent Child Center Quality Standards, and NEKCA Standard of Conduct. Complete NEKCA Performance Evaluations, Professional Development Self-Assessment, and in partnership with supervisor, Individualized Professional Development Plan

• Be aware of indicators of child abuse and neglect and comply with Vermont Mandated Reporter Law and program Child Protection Protocol
• Participate in center staff meetings, monthly content area meetings, pre-service, and in-services and incorporate relevant knowledge and skills into practice

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Identify and recruit Head Start-eligible families and children, including children with disabilities and underserved populations;
• Complete the Family Assessment based on the Parent, Family and Community Engagement Framework, develop a plan that responds to the family’s needs; deliver and/or coordinate the delivery of needed social services for each family; Develop individualized Family Partnership Agreements (FPA) that describe the family’s goals, strengths, responsibilities and timetables, and strategies for achieving these goals; review and revisit with families so the FPA remains current and useful; Provide comprehensive community resource information to families, individualizing to respond to the family’s needs and concerns to the maximum extent possible; Establish and maintain ongoing collaborative relationships with community organizations responsive to the concerns of the families of children birth to age 5, pregnant women, and their families; participate in community awareness events; Identify crisis situations, such as child abuse and lack of basic needs, making referrals and follow-up; • Implement the parent engagement and education program, supporting the parents in their role as the primary influence in their children’s lives; • Encourage parent volunteerism throughout the program; plan and implement parent meetings; encourage and assist parents with Policy Council involvement; document in-kind contributions.

• Assist parents with the process of transition into Head Start/Early Head Start Program and from Head Start to other educational settings;
• Encourage, aid in monitoring and recording the timely delivery of medical, dental, mental health and nutrition services to children; seek assistance on assisting families as needed;
• Promote child and family wellness and support the establishment of a medical and dental “home” for each enrolled child;
• Collect child and family data and accurately enter into program software in a timely manner; Cooperate with other staff and classroom groups to maintain the smooth functioning of the center, which at times may require changes to meet the needs of the children.

Maintain accurate, up-to-date files on all enrolled children Offer weekly home visits to enrolled families that last at least 1.5 hrs. and provide a minimum of 46 visits per year (make-up visits are an hour) Plan 22 playgroup opportunities in partnership with parents/guardians enrolled in EHS and offer over the course of the year Provide services to expectant families according to the program performance standards and curriculum Provide orientation to the program with review of the Family Partnership Handbook, the Guide to Community Resources, and with the completion of the Parent Engagement Survey and Family Interest Checklist Provide a monthly newsletter to all enrolled families Assist parents/guardians in co-planning for home visits, child development activities and playgroups per parent/guardian and child interests and goals Promote regular attendance in EHS activities and document Follow program protocol in documenting home visits, missed home visits, offer make-up visits, playgroup and parent attendance for all program offerings and all family contacts Write a minimum of one observation in each developmental domain per child per month for home visits and playgroups Put no less than 9 observations per child per assessment period in TS GOLD Conduct annual developmental and behavioral screenings in partnership with parent/guardian within 45 days of enrollment and review results with parent/guardian according to program protocol Contact Early Head Start Children’s Services Manager if screening score shows a concern Implement the EHS Curriculum to fidelity Complete DRDP Assessment 4 times a year according to the timeline In partnership with parents/guardians develop child goals using multiple sources of data, including but not limited to screening/assessment results, parent/ guardian home visitor observations and One Plan/IEP Goals Complete Family Conference Form within 3 working weeks after the assessment is completed and put in the child’s file Offer copies of screenings, family conference forms, home visit plans, child observations, child health data, health service summaries and referrals after reviewing with parent/guardian and documenting on home visit plan In partnership with parents/guardians, based on developmental concerns, initiate and document referral process to appropriate agencies/providers Assist in implementing One Plan or Individual Education Plan (IEP), for children with special needs In partnership with families and appropriate community agencies/providers, participate in and ensure documentation of team meetings, evaluation process, and development of individual plans Staff will document all child development, health, and disability delivery of services and follow-up Complete all registration paperwork with enrolled families within program timeline Complete a strength-based family assessment twice a year with all enrolled families according to timeline; update as needed Identify and describe family goals; document follow-up and progress Assess family resources, provide and record all referrals given to families Initiate and complete, in partnership with parent/guardian, child transition activities according to program policies Actively participate in program and family/child staffing Participate in development and implementation of community partnership activities

Core Competencies:

Work effectively as a team member Sufficient transportation to meet job requirements Obtain CPR and First Aid Certification within two months of employment Effective written and oral communication skills Ability to work flexible hours Maintain confidentiality Commitment to be actively engaged in a continuing process of professional development Experience working with adults

WORKING CONDITIONS

Employees in this position work in an office environment with moderate noise levels and controlled temperature conditions.

Physical Demands:

The work involves sitting for extended periods of time, using a computer and other office equipment, and may require occasional lifting of up to 25 pounds.

Travel:

Home visits involve travel to clients’ homes. This can vary from local travel to covering a larger geographic area, depending on the nature of the job.

Client Diversity:

Professionals conducting home visits often work with a diverse range of clients, each with unique needs, backgrounds, and living conditions.

Safety Considerations:

Safety is a crucial aspect of home visits. Professionals need to be aware of their surroundings and take precautions to ensure their safety, especially if they are visiting unfamiliar or potentially risky environments.

Environment:

Employees in this role work in an office and may visit client residences. An office environment with moderate noise levels and controlled temperature conditions. Professionals conducting home may need to work in varying temperatures hot and cold, especially if a task involves outdoor assessments in extreme weather. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. _____________________________________________________________________________ NEKCA is a proud equal-opportunity employer. We work diligently to recruit a broad pool of candidates and to hire and promote qualified individuals whose personal experiences, characteristics, and talents reasonably reflect the diversity of the communities served by NEKCA. Our equal employment opportunities apply to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training. We encourage applications from women, minority groups, veterans, and people with disabilities. Qualifications for positions within NEKCA are determined by the duties and responsibilities of the position itself.

Requirements:

Education and Experience:

Bachelor’s Degree in Human Services or related field 2 years relevant experience

Background Checks:

Employees in this role are required to undergo a background check in accordance with NEKCA policy, which may include verifying education, employment history, and criminal records.

Transportation Requirements:

This position necessitates that employees possess a valid driver’s license and have access to dependable transportation.