EHS Home Visitor

POSITION SUMMARY:

Provides culturally sensitive, culturally relevant home-based services to children/families enrolled in the NAPPR Early Head Start program, following EHS performance standards and Parents As Teachers model requirements. Provides positive parent-child interaction support and guidance, links families to available community resources, conducts caregiver and child wellness screenings, and provides child development information on health, nutrition, and the social-emotional well-being of the child and family.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES / ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:

• Conducts weekly/bi-weekly home visits, including preparation and travel time, to visit the families in their homes. Adheres to all standards required by funders, ensuring cultural relevance and model fidelity, and maintains 85% of all scheduled visits.
• Maintains relationships with parents through frequent appropriate communication with families served in person, via phone, email, text, and other written correspondence.
• Completes required documentation and data entry of service into program database and adheres to all standards including required formats and time frames.
• Conducts a minimum of one Socialization per month, including preparation and adherence to program standards.
• Assist EHS Director in recruiting and maintaining active membership in the Parent Committee and Policy Council, attending and participating in Parent Committee and Policy Council meetings as appropriate
• Participates in general program activities such as the community assessment, self-evaluation, recruitment and outreach, promotion of non-federal share opportunities, and other events, initiatives, and activities as assigned
• Conducts required screening for child development and family well-being according to program standards, completes screening documentation, and links families to community resources based on needs identified through the screening process.
• Actively participate in ongoing group and individual Reflective Supervision and Administrative Supervision.
• Actively participate in program trainings, staff meetings, agency meetings, and family service coordination meetings

OTHER JOB RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Collaborate with team to perform outreach and recruitment activities as assigned, including but not limited to staffing outreach tables, visiting community service providers, and serving as an ambassador for the program and agency at a variety of public events.
• Perform all other duties as assigned by the Program Director.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES:

None

POSITION QUALIFICATIONS:

Education Requirements

• An Associate of Arts (AA) degree in Early Childhood Education or related field including Social Work, Family Studies, Child Development, etc. or 2 years of college-level education in the above fields
• Extensive experience (beyond minimum requirement) providing home visiting services may be considered in lieu of education

Experience Requirements

• Minimum 2 years' experience working with infants, toddlers, and their parents in a home-based environment
• Experience with providing culturally appropriate services
• Experience and/or knowledge of Reflective Practices, best practices, parenting education, parenting curricula, and community resources for family supports is highly desirable.
• Current and former Early Head Start and Head Start parents must receive preference for employment vacancies for which they are qualified

COMPETENCIES:

Core Competencies

• Effective Communication – clear and concise verbal and written communication to convey substance/intent
• Customer Orientation – Close to customers, anticipate and meet needs
• Relationship Building – initiate contact readily and devote time to maintain
• Drive/Energy – high level of energy and motivation to sustain over time
• Team Player – Team-oriented, share resources, assist other areas

Position-based Competencies

• Functional/Technical Expertise – knowledge, remain current, serve as resource
• Sensitivity – Communicate empathy, respect, and appreciation
• Organizing and Planning – manage time, maximize productivity, and prioritize
• Problem solving and decision making – balance between studying and solving problems, commit to action and use sound judgment
• Results Orientation – motivated by achievement and maintain appropriate focus on outcomes and accomplishments

Specialized or unique knowledge, skills or abilities

• Ability to self-direct
• Computer experience, knowledge of or demonstrated ability to learn database software, Word, Excel, Outlook and web applications
• Attention to detail with ability to accurately handle large volume of administrative work
• Ability to take appropriate action in an emergency or other atypical situation considering child/family/personal safety, documentation requirements, involving authorities and reporting the incident to supervisor
• Ability to cope with stress and manage multiple priorities
• Patient; able to resolve conflicts, gentle, loving, kind, creative, and resourceful. Demonstrate an ability to work effectively with people. Must be able to cope well with stress and manage multiple competing priorities.

WORKING CONDITIONS:

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions:

• Typical work environment situations include frequent sitting, standing, bending, walking, talking, hearing, using hands to grip, typing, reaching with hands and arms, occasionally standing or walking on uneven surfaces, climbing stairs, and running. 2-4 hours per day of strenuous physical activity, lifting up to 50 lbs. (children), 6-8 times in an 8-hour day.
• The physical environment requires the employee to work primarily inside, in temperature-controlled conditions. Some noise and interruptions are present. Additional physical environments include vehicles, private homes, and occasionally outside.

Special Working Requirements:

• A functional automobile at his/her disposal; a valid, non-suspended NM driver's license and a current automobile liability policy with continuous coverage
• Must pass a pre-employment background check
• No substantiation or criminal conviction of child abuse or neglect
• No conviction of DUI or other moving violations in the past 3 years that would prevent insurability under NAPPR's liability coverage
• May require need for flexible schedules, including occasional evening and weekend work
• Travel within the state and out-of-state required