Home Visitor

Description

Start Early is an energized, future-focused organization devoted to providing quality early learning and care across the country.

Our desire to close the opportunity gap and build more equitable early learning experiences for our youngest learners guides everything we do. As a leader in early learning and care, we scale our deep expertise across program, policy, and research through partnerships across the country.

We are recruiting individuals who want to join us in this mission and share a commitment to our core values of appreciation & respect, empowerment, diversity, excellence, learning, and communication.

Become part of our rewarding, mission-driven culture! We want our employees to feel empowered, motivated, energized, and passionate about the work they do.

The Home Visitor provides comprehensive case management services to enhance the physical, social, emotional, and intellectual development of participating children and families in Head Start/Early Head Start home-based programs. In this role, the home visitor will arrange and provide a variety of educational experiences for parents and children to reduce isolation, integrate them into the larger community, expand social networks, and improve parenting skills. Ensures compliance with Head Start/Early Head Start guidelines and regulations.

Reporting to the Bilingual Home-Based Supervisor, you will be responsible for:

• Using research-based parent curriculum to promote parental success in building parents’ knowledge of child development, supporting positive parent-child interactions and relationships, and promoting the parent’s role as first teacher and advocate for their child’s education.
• Work jointly with parents to develop and implement 90-minute weekly home visit plans based on each child’s assessment and identified family needs that offer a variety of stimulating, creative, and engaging learning experiences for parents and children.
• Engage parents to participate in program activities such as parent-child activities during home visits, socialization, parent meetings, and other training events as appropriate.
• Screen, observe, assess, and document each child’s health, skills, behavior, growth, and development. Participating 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 a confidential family file.
• Participate in ongoing training and staff development provided by Start Early, other consultants, workshops, and conferences. Attend regularly scheduled staff meetings, education meetings, social service meetings, and health meetings. 
• Implements procedures for recruitment and actively recruits for the program, and attends recruitment events.
• Assists in identifying children with special needs and supports the process of necessary referrals. 
• Integrates other components, i.e., health, nutrition, mental health, parental involvement, and special needs/individualization into the home visit.
• Works collaboratively to provide children with group socialization experiences in conjunction with the peer Home Visiting team.
• Frequently moves desks, chairs, tables, easels, and children's toys; at times, it may be required to lift and carry up to 25 lbs. for various program and event needs.
• Frequently moves in outdoor weather conditions.
• Performs other job-related duties as requested.

Requirements

• An Associate’s degree in Social Work, Child Development, or a related field is required. Bachelor’s degree in social work, Child Development, or a related field preferred. 
• A Home Visitor CDA is required at hire or w/in 1 year of hire.
• Minimum of one to three years of experience working in early childhood/family support or home visiting programs.
• Knowledgeable of theories and principles of healthy child growth and development.
• Experience in creating comprehensive developmental activities for parents and children, program development, and assessing the quality of services.
• Ability to establish supportive relationships with children and families from a diverse set of backgrounds.
• Working knowledge of community resources, family welfare, and government assistance programs.
• Knowledge of community resources and the capacity to develop community cooperation to ensure that families receive comprehensive services.
• Communicate effectively and function well with families, children, staff, and various 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.
• Must have strong analytical, communication (written and verbal), interpersonal, and organizational skills.
•  Must have reliable transportation and the ability to travel regularly throughout the Chicago and surrounding suburban areas.
• Ability to perform essential job functions that include walking moderate distances and navigating a variety of environments, including residential and community settings.
• Must be able to safely ascend and descend stairs as part of routine job duties.
• Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of this position.
• The ability to safely and comfortably move between standing and floor-seated positions, as many daily activities are conducted at floor level
• Ability to use cell phones and other similar technology.
• Deep commitment to advancing diversity, racial equity, and inclusion into organizational routines and practices.
• Effectively establish and maintain relationships with colleagues/clients and gain their trust and respect.
• Comfort and experience in handling risk and uncertainty to move work forward.

Salary: $53,000 - $55,000

Our generous benefit plan includes:

Comprehensive Health Plans, Commitment to Diversity & inclusion, Holistic Wellness Program, Professional Development Program, 401k Contribution, Paid Volunteer Days, 6 months paid parental leave, and much more.

Start Early is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to our core values by creating an inclusive environment for all staff.