About this role
Position Summary:
The staff under the Children's Initiative model will leverage learning, share knowledge and best practices and practice across programs, undergo continuous program improvement processes to
support the client centered delivery of service within each resource centers community and work to leverage agency and partner resources to better support families.
The Early Learning Specialist conducts home visits to aid children, families, and child care providers develop their literacy and language skills and their parents/providers to practice strategies that support language development and caregiver child interaction. The Early Learning specialist will coach and help families/providers develop SMART goals. The Early Learning Specialist is trained to follow the protocols, curriculum, and strategies established by SEEDS program and/or ParentChild+ program and follows the evidence based curriculum with fidelity. The Early Learning Specialist supports the recruitment of participants based on program guidelines. The Early Learning Specialist will engage in network opportunities with internal and external organizations and other programs to promote and disseminate information to parents, community groups.
Dual Language Learning Applicants (DLL)
The Early Learning Specialist will reinforce parents' critical roles as their child's first teacher and encourage parents to support both the child's home-language and their english language development.
OVERVIEW Of FIRST5 SANTA CLARA COUNTY (First 5):
FIRST 5 Santa Clara County (FIRST 5) is a local public agency governed by nine Commissioners, individuals representing county government, public health, social services, education, and early care and education. The Commissioners are charged with upholding the intent of Proposition 10 and administering the funds to support and promote programs and services for children prenatal through age 5 and their families.
Vision: FIRST 5 Santa Clara County will be a catalyst for ensuring that the developmental needs of children prenatal through age 5 are a priority in all sectors of the community.
Mission: FIRST 5 Santa Clara County supports the healthy development of children prenatal through age 5 and enriches the lives of their families and communities.
Core Values: Collaboration – We work cooperatively with established systems, services, and the community on common goals to maximize effectiveness for children and families. Innovation – We apply what has been proven to work elsewhere to find fresh solutions to the specific needs of our community. Excellence – We seek to attain the highest quality outcomes, measured against established evidence-based models and best practices and the most credible current research. Accountability – We are responsible and results-driven with the resources the public entrusts to us. Respect – We embrace input and assistance from all facets of the community so we can span all cultures and languages to help every child and family.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES:
1. Provide home visits as assigned by supervisor
2. Facilitate/Observe, model play, reading, and verbal interaction behaviors/activities between guardian/provider and child.
3. Outreach within the community and support in the recruitment of program participants through ongoing engagement and collaboration with other staff within the agency as well as external organizations
4. Uses effective dual language instructional methods/models according to professional standard practice.
5. Understand and model age appropriate expectations, in both targeted languages
6. Complete written reports after each home visit and input data into the database/s on time.
7. Support parent/provider child interaction, dual language development, early literacy, and social-emotional development of the child.
8. Curriculum planning; implement educational activities
9. Prepare information to be provided as resources in the community and ensure that this information is culturally, linguistically, and developmentally appropriate and relevant to the family;
10. Help parents/providers and caregivers identify gaps, barriers, and/or issues that interfere with children's healthy development.
11. Complete required assessments and collect data as assigned including ASQ and ASQ:SE, CBT and PICCOLO.
12. Maintain secure and confidential records and files for each family served. Maintain confidentiality of client information.
13. Participate in trainings related to SEEDS and or ParentChild+ curriculum and developmental materials used for working with families.
14. Attend Catholic Charities of Santa Clara County trainings, meetings, and events as required.
15. With the support of the Supervisor, refer and connect families (through warm handoff and/or the use of the intra-agency referral system or other mode) to community resources and serve as a facilitator in linking participants to social, educational, and health services.
16. Follow directions from program supervisor/manager/ or director in completing duties as assigned verbally or in the work plan.
17. Understand agency guidelines and policies and procedures and act in alignment with the CCSCC core values of Service, Compassion and Justice for all
18. Adhere to FIRST 5 MAA requirements and federal, state, and local requirements to ensure MAA compliance
19. Complete all other duties as assigned.
EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE:
Must possess or working towards a BA in Early Childhood Education or equivalent; Experience in social services in community settings, with families preferred and experience working previously with Literacy Program or FRCI a plus.
REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS & ABILITIES:
• Bilingual Spanish/English or Vietnamese/ English • Ability to work with diverse workgroups and serve families with diverse economic, social, racial, and cultural backgrounds • Knowledgeable about local community resources • Ability to establish and maintain personal and programmatic boundaries while providing supportive services • Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to relate to individuals who may not share basic commonality, including value systems and behavior norms • Demonstrate good writing and organizational skill • Maintain a professional, confidential work environment • Knowledge of child development and behavior • Ability to plan, organize, prioritize and multitask • Serve effectively as a member of a team internally and externally • Communicate effectively • Be flexible, proactive, adaptable and able to work in a fast-paced, changing environment • Be professional, trustworthy, respectful of others, and display a positive attitude • Knowledge of modern office methods and practices, including filing systems, business, correspondence, presentations and report writing • Knowledge of the Internet, computer programs, e.g., Microsoft Word, Outlook, Power Point, Excel, etc.
OTHER REQUIREMENTS: • Fast paced, diverse and dynamic environment • The service is sometimes physical, requiring setting up for events which may require transporting or lifting cumbersome materials, e.g., easels, flip charts, refreshments, brochures, chairs, tables, etc. Must be able to lift 25 pounds. • Must be able to report to a service site on a regular and reliable basis. Maintain different databases based on the program's need. • Must be able to work a flexible schedule, which includes day, evening, weekend, and holiday hours, as appropriate, to coordinate and provide services and activities for families during non-traditional hours • Able to travel between sites and to attend offsite events throughout the county, as appropriate
LICENSES, CERTIFICATIONS, REGISTRATIONS: • Must possess a valid California Driver's license, reliable transportation and current auto insurance
OTHER QUALIFICATIONS:
• Must be at least 18 years of age • Must be a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident • Clearance of fingerprint background check • Must have valid TB screening • Bilingual language capacity in Spanish/English language a plus