Child Development Specialist

Summary:

This position is a core component of the Family Resource Center, designed to help families identify their strengths, meet their needs, and achieve their goals. It is not a stand-alone task - it operates in collaboration with all other Center staff and is driven by the expressed needs and priorities of the participating parents.

Key Responsibilities:

• Oversee the health, safety and well-being of all the children.
• Plans and implements a developmentally appropriate program for infants and toddlers, including screenings, assessments and development of children's individual classroom plans.
• Demonstrates a sound knowledge of good teaching practices and of child growth and development.
• Participates in program staff meetings and training provided by MFN or sponsoring agency.
• Reports directly to Center Director concerning Child Development Program and other job responsibilities.
• Functions as member of the Center program management team.
• Provides parents with information and support in their parenting role.
• Ability to lift to 50 lbs.
• Ability to get up and down off the floor.
• Complete all required paperwork.

General Qualifications:

• Understand and be committed to the overall philosophy of Family Support.
• Maintain respect for confidentiality of information divulged by or on behalf of participants.
• Possess the ability to relate to people of diverse educational, cultural and economic backgrounds.
• Be willing and able to do aggressive outreach and recruitment.
• Model appropriate interaction with young children and parents.
• Have the ability to work independently and as a team member and leader.

Specific Qualifications:

• Have a thorough knowledge of child growth and development of the first years of life from birth to three years of age.
• Have a thorough knowledge of community resources related to the needs of young children and willingness to help families access them.
• Demonstrate sensitivity and understanding when relating to parents' situation and feelings.
• Possess basic management skills to include: o Effective written and verbal communication skills. o Knowledge and ability to design and maintain an appropriate environment for infants and toddlers. o Ability to plan and implement activities for children individually and as a group. o Ability to maintain records and reports on young children. o Ability to reinforce health and safety standards in the child development room.
• Possess supervisory skills related to childcare management which include: o Demonstrated ability to supervise and evaluate child development personnel and volunteers. o Ability to make sound decisions related to interactions between staff, parents and children. o Ability to provide guidance and direction to staff in curriculum planning and implementation and planning children's activities. o Ability to model team leadership skills on issues of child development. o Ability to model/teach parents and staff how to nurture and interact with babies and young children.

Education/Experience:

· Master's degree in Early Childhood Education preferred. · Bachelor's degree in Early Childhood Education, Special Education, Child Development or related field accepted. · Must have experience working with young children from birth to three years old. Minimum of 1-year supervisory experience required.