Early Head Start Educator

Division: Clinical Services/Infant and Toddler Services
Department: Early Head Start
Supervised By: Early Head Start Parent Involvement Program Manager
FLSA Status: Non-Exempt/Regular/Full-time & Part-time
Effective Date: March 2010

Provide educational and supportive services to children 0 - 3 years, their families and expectant families who are enrolled in the Early Head Start Program. These services will include 11/2 hour weekly home visits and monthly family socialization group activities.

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Establish a trusting relationship with families by initiating and maintaining regular client contact.
• Provide evaluation and assessment to children and families, including developmental, family and social/medical assessments.
• Develop the Family Partnership Agreement with the family; demonstrating respect towards family differences and building on family strengths. Modify the agreement as needed.
• Assist parents and expectant mothers/fathers in their understanding of their children’s growth, development and individuals needs.
• Model appropriate interactive behaviors with young children and demonstrate alternative methods of dealing with children’s behaviors in the home setting.
• Assist families in understanding and taking responsibility for the physical and mental health and nutritional needs of their children and themselves. Provide transportation and emotional support as necessary to ensure appointments are kept.
• Assist parents in planning for and maintaining a safe stimulating home environment for their children.
• Routinely monitor children‘s development. Refer those with developmental delay to First Steps services.
• Serve as client advocate, maintain familiarity with community resources and provide case management services to facilitate referral and successfully link client families with community resources.
• Plan and participate in family socialization group activities.
• Establish and maintain accurate, timely, and complete records of client contact, referrals and interventions utilized. Maintain quality assurance standards related to these records.
• Maintain productivity at assigned level and participate in reaching program goals and objectives.
• Assist in providing transportation services to children and parents during scheduled activities as needed.
• Participate in administrative staff meetings and center committees as assigned.
• Participate in staff development activities.
• Maintain high level of ethical conduct regarding confidentiality.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university in early childhood education, child development, child and family life or related field.
• Knowledge and skills in areas of child growth and development, parent education, interpersonal skills and written and oral communication.
• Willingness to use reliable personal transportation in a work capacity.

• Completion of American Red Cross CPR/First Aid certification
• Obtain CDL driver’s license within the first three months of employment.
• Re-certification of American Red Cross CPR/First Aid as required.
  

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Health and physical ability to stoop, climb and lift and to visually and audibly observe and interact with infants and toddlers.
• Ability to manage job stresses including performance and paperwork expectations and unexpected situations.
  

Home-Based - Approximately 65% of work is completed working directly with the children and their families either in the homes, in community based settings or in child development activity groups. Home conditions such as cleanliness, comfort and safety vary widely. Also requires driving throughout Vigo County in all types of weather. Possible exposure to communicable diseases, body fluids and head lice is common. Approximately 35% of work is completed in office working environment.

• Completion of tuberculin screening no later than three days prior to first day of employment and annually thereafter
• Completion of a pre-employment drug screening and completion of post-employment drug or alcohol tests upon reasonable suspicion of use.
• Completion of Center-wide orientation and ALL required paperwork prior to reporting for work
• Demonstrated computer literacy through successful completion of pre-employment testing may be required.
• Completion of HCI Commitment to Quality training
• Attendance at all mandatory staff development and training
• Successful completion of a six month on the job orientation period
• Participation in payroll electronic deposit
• Adherence to Compliance Program Plan
• Satisfactory reference and standard criminal and driving background investigation checks (including Child Protection Services).

Job descriptions are not intended, and should not be construed, to be exhaustive lists of all responsibilities, skills, efforts or working conditions associated with a job. They are meant to be accurate reflections of the principal job elements essential for making fair pay decisions about jobs.

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