Community Educator

Description

Overview of SGA Youth & Family Services  

The mission of SGA Youth & Family Services is to help children, families, and communities facing great challenges realize their potential. SGA creates and implements innovative, tailored solutions based on best practices to continuously improve outcomes for individuals and communities. SGA is committed to fulfilling its mission with respect, integrity, and accountability.   

 Bilingual Community Educator Temporary/Seasonal /Contractual
The Community Educator builds positive relationships with families and connects them with community resources, educational opportunities, and services that promote children’s healthy development, school readiness, and family well-being.The Community Educator works collaboratively with program staff, families, community partners, and service providers to promote meaningful family engagement and ensure that families have access to resources and opportunities that support their goals, specifically focused on nutrition and nutritional options.

Essential Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain positive, respectful, and culturally responsive relationships with families of infants, toddlers, and young children.
• Conduct community outreach and engage families who may benefit from early childhood education and family support services.
• Provide individual and group educational activities on topics related to child development, parenting, health, nutrition, safety, school readiness, and family well-being.
• Support parents in understanding their role as their child's first and most important teacher.
• Facilitate parent workshops, family events, support groups, and community education activities.
• Assist families in identifying their strengths, needs, interests, and goals and support them in developing strategies to achieve those goals.
• Connect families with community resources, including health, mental health, nutrition, housing, employment, education, and other social services.
• Follow up with families regarding referrals and assist them in navigating available community resources when needed.
• Promote family participation in program activities, parent meetings, socializations, and community events.
• Collaborate with Home Visitors, Family Advocates, coordinators, and other program staff to support comprehensive services for children and families.
• Maintain accurate and timely documentation of family contacts, outreach activities, referrals, workshops, and other services provided.
• Protect family confidentiality and follow all agency, program, and applicable federal, state, and local requirements.
• Participate in staff meetings, professional development, trainings, supervision, and program planning activities.
• Establish and maintain relationships with community organizations and partners to strengthen referral networks and services for families.
• Participate in program recruitment, enrollment, and community outreach activities as needed.
• Support families in accessing educational materials, developmental resources, and activities appropriate for their children's ages and developmental stages.
• Promote inclusive practices and ensure that services are responsive to families' cultures, languages, strengths, and individual needs.
•  Valid driver's license, access to a car, and willingness to drive.  
• The schedule may be flexible and may include some evenings and weekends.
• Perform other duties as assigned by the Program Coordinator or Program Director.

Requirements

Education:

• Associate degree in Early Childhood Education, Human Services, Social Services, Health, Family Studies, Education, or a related field, Bachelor's degree preferred.

Experience: 

• Experience working with families with children birth to three years old.
• Experience with Early Head Start, home visiting, or other early childhood programs.
• Experience facilitating parent education groups or workshops.
• Knowledge of community resources and referral systems.
• Experience working with families who may face barriers related to housing, transportation, employment, language, or access to services.
• Bilingual Preferred

Other:

• Sensitivity to cultural diversity is required. Ability to communicate and cooperate with diverse families, various professionals, and community groups.
• The schedule may be flexible and may include some evenings and weekends.
• Ability to write routine reports and correspondence.
• Exercises discretion and independent judgment in executing tasks.
• Must demonstrate the ability to establish helping relationships with families of varying educational, experiential, and socio-economic backgrounds and handle emergencies and crises.

KEY COMPETENCIES:

• Competent in Microsoft Office tools and inputting services in an online database.
• Focus on trauma-informed programming including crisis response and support.
• Effective time management and organizational skills.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:

• Must be able to frequently move inside the office to access file cabinets, office machinery, etc.
• Must be able to transport oneself to and from community events and sites.
• Occasionally ascends/descends stairs.
• At times may be required to lift to 25 lbs. for various classroom and event needs.
• Ability to move in outdoor weather conditions.

This job description in no way states or implies that these are the only duties to be performed by the employee(s) incumbent in this position. Employee(s) will be required to follow any other job-related instructions and to perform other job-related duties requested by any person authorized to give instructions or assignments