Job: Early Head Start Home Visitor/Family Services Advocate

Summary of Responsibilities:
Provides early continuous, intensive and comprehensive child development and family support services to eligible pregnant women, infants, toddlers and their families through a series of weekly home visits and scheduled socializations. This individual is responsible for advocating on an on going basis on behalf of his/her assigned families. This individual will help identify the family’s needs, set goals, and assist in locating services and resources through out the community.
Primary Duties and Responsibilities:
• Regular and reliable attendance is an essential function of this position
• Establish a trusting and caring relationship with each child and his/her family.
• Serve as an advocate between community resources and Early Head Start families
• Monitor the development of each child assigned to his/her caseload through a series of home visits and socialization experiences.
• Provide supportive services to Expectant mothers to assist them in accessing prenatal care and maintaining a healthy pregnancy
• Work with each expectant mother to complete a postnatal visit, meeting EHS requirements within 2 weeks of delivery
• Work with the family to develop a Family Partnership Agreement for the Expectant mother or child and his/her family. Assist families in setting goals to reach self-sufficiency. Maintain and periodically update these agreements with adequate provisions.
• Work with other Home Visitors to plan, implement and facilitate monthly socialization activities.
• Complete an appropriate screening on each child enrolled in the Early Head Start program within the first 45 days of entry.
• Assist the parent and/or caregiver in planning or implementing activities which focus on the cognitive, social emotional, gross motor, fine motor and expressive language skills that are developmentally appropriate for the infant or toddler.
• Promote positive relationships between the child and parent and other significant caregivers.
• Monitor the schedule established for well child visits and the immunization status of the enrolled child and make referrals as necessary.
• Prepare and submit daily, weekly and monthly paperwork and reports as required.
• Participate in training opportunities that are appropriate to the position.
• Assist with the recruitment of eligible children/expectant mothers for the Early Head Start program
• Work with Component Coordinators and early intervention staff to provide developmentally appropriate early intervention services and participate in IFSP staffing.
• Responsible for case management.
• Conduct regular, case reviews of all Early Head Start files and cases assigned.
• Complete Home Visits, case recording and other responsibilities in case management.
• Establish and maintain a current and accurate record keeping system within program procedures with adequate provisions for confidentiality.
• Ensure all child/family files are up to date and accurate.
• Complete data entry and ensures data entry for all enrolled families.
• Other duties as assigned.

Special Skills:
• Effective oral and written communication skills with internal and external clients.
• Computer experience, knowledge of or demonstrated ability to learn Access, Word, Excel, Outlook, Power Point and web applications.
• Attention to detail with ability to accurately handle large volume of documentation.
• Ability to set and maintain professional boundaries with families
• The skill and willingness to deal with sensitive family situations in a non-threatening and professional manner.
• Ability to solve unexpected problems as they arise while considering programmatic requirements, cultural sensitivity, individual family circumstances and best practices.
• Demonstrated ability to plan, organize and coordinate multiple priorities.
• Ability to maintain effective working relationships with all levels within the organization
• Must be able to balance and prioritize work load and have strong time management skills.

Education and Experience Requirements:
• Infant Toddler Child Development Associate (CDA) or equivalent combination of post-secondary education in early childhood development and successful experience providing services to families with infants/toddlers or expectant parents
• Desirable qualifications include experience specific to Early Head Start, knowledge of Reflective Practices, best practices in home visiting, parenting education, working with expectant mothers, infant/toddler development curriculum and community resources.
• Ability to self direct and establish relationships at all levels within the organization and with external stakeholders and to think creatively and develop strategies for achieving programmatic objectives.
• Priority will be given to current or former Head Start/Early Head Start parents who are otherwise qualified for the position
• Experience with provision of culturally appropriate services in Native American communities is highly desirable.

Special Working Requirements:
• Must have a flexible schedule to accommodate family needs, may include some evening or weekend hours.
• An automobile at his/her disposal; a valid non-suspended NM driver’s license and a current automobile liability policy with continuous coverage.
• Travel throughout the Albuquerque metropolitan area required
• No substantiation or criminal conviction of child abuse or neglect.
• Ability to pass a pre-employment drug test in addition to periodic random or “with cause” drug tests while employed
• Frequent driving for home visits.
• Regular kneeling, bending and sitting on the floor to attend to the child’s needs
• Must be able to manipulate and operate office supplies and equipment.
• Occasionally required to lift objects and infants/toddlers up to 50 pounds. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential responsibilities