Early Childhood Specialist- Mercer County

Description

Position Summary:

The Early Childhood Specialist performs a variety of duties both clerical and administrative in nature. The Specialist will work with local partners and families with developmental concerns and/or child welfare involvement, in the respective County, to ensure positive service linkages that improve outcomes for vulnerable families of infants and young children with a focus on birth to three years.

Disclaimer:

This job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties and responsibilities that are required by the employee.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities include the following:

The primary function of the Early Childhood Specialist is to work as part of the Connecting NJ Hub to address all child welfare referrals and those needing infant mental health support. They attend DCPP Early Childhood/Plans of Safe Care case conference and other relevant community-based meetings. Promote developmental health by engaging families in community spaces regarding early childhood social, emotional, and physical developmental screening. Manage the county Hub family access portals (ASQ developmental screening). Key Responsibilities Include:

• System Collaboration – Works closely with Early Childhood Systems of Care program in order to help link families to the most appropriate (based on need and eligibility) and available services including local county-level Connecting NJ, Home Visiting, Early Head Start/Head Start, Early Intervention, Family Success Centers, Health care providers, and resources to include the voice and input of parents/families as partners (County Councils for Young Children, Family Support Organizations, and more).
• Developmental Health Promotion – Provide developmental guidance and education to families; promote and facilitate developmental screening using the Ages & Stages Questionnaires (ASQ); review screening results with caregivers; and provide appropriate follow-up, resources, and referrals, with a minimum expectation of five developmental screenings per month.
• Family Care Plans –  Collaborate with families and multidisciplinary partners in the development of Family Care Plans for substance-exposed newborns. Identify family strengths and needs, provide developmental guidance, and connect parents/caregivers with community-based resources and supports that promote infant safety, caregiver well-being, and family stability.
• Family Support & Care Coordination –  Maintain an active caseload of at least 20 families per month, including referrals received through child welfare, Connecting NJ, community partner agencies, and outreach efforts. Provide individualized support, developmental guidance, resource navigation, referrals, and follow-up based on each family's identified needs.
• Oversight and Technical Support – Strengthen and align the local-level infrastructure to ensure coordination and collaboration in delivering effective community-based services for the infants, children, parents, and families identified through intake. Work collaboratively across CP&P and county-level Central Intake, and with community systems partners (including parents/families).
• Reporting and Data Collection, CQI and Evaluation – Submit monthly/quarterly progress reports addressing process and outcome indicators that will help determine strengths and areas needing improvement, participate in DCF quality improvement and evaluation activities. 

Working Conditions:

There are no unusual work conditions associated with this position. Noise level in the office is moderate. Professional/business attire is required. Employees are required to attend meetings at external locations and will therefore experience external weather conditions.

Requirements

Education: 

Master’s degree preferred in social work, counseling, child development and family studies, child advocacy or similar from accredited college or university. Or Bachelor’s degree required in social work, counseling, child development and family studies, child advocacy from accredited college or university. Infant Mental Health Endorsed (IMH-E) or pursuing preferred.

Experience: 

At least two (2) years of experience in maternal-child health (MCH), infant/early childhood mental health, parent/family support, and/or related fields and settings. Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to develop trusting relationships with families and partners. Fully understands the roles of core MCH and early childhood partners. Ability to translate complex MCH and early childhood concepts into parent-friendly language. Experience with case management, developmental screening, and Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) activities and evaluation strongly preferred.

Computer proficiency required with Microsoft programs, strong interpersonal, public speaking and written communication skills required.

Valid Driver’s license with the ability to provide proof of ongoing automobile insurance coverage is required. This position will entail reimbursable local and statewide travel utilizing personal vehicle.

Physical Requirements:

Employees are required to occasionally lift up to twenty pounds of materials or equipment.