Position Summary:

Casa Central’s Early Learning Academy provides high-quality, comprehensive early childhood services for young children (prenatal to age five) and their families. The Home Visitor is responsible for providing quality home-based services to parents that support the parent’s role as their child’s first and most important teacher. Home Visitors support the children’s and families’ holistic development across domains, supporting their readiness for success in kindergarten and beyond. The Home Visitor will develop rapport with parents and work within the framework of the program’s philosophy and objectives.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

Lesson Planning

Work jointly with parents to develop weekly lesson plans based on each child’s assessment and identified family needs, including education, mental health, dental health, nutrition, parent involvement, and social services.

Child Screening & Observation

Conduct developmental and social-emotional screenings, in collaboration with parents/caregivers.

Assist in identifying children with special needs and support the process of necessary referrals, including meaningful inclusion of children with disabilities and diverse learning needs in all program activities. Observe, assess, and document each child’s health, skills, behavior, growth, and development.

Participant Service Delivery

Travel throughout the city of Chicago to reach families of diverse backgrounds. Plan and implement developmentally appropriate home-based activities following the Parents as Teachers (PAT) curriculum. Work collaboratively to provide children with group socialization experiences in conjunction with peers and supervisors. Serve as an advocate for families in the program, working in collaboration with internal partners and external supports. Schedule and conduct 90-minute weekly home visits for each parent and child; schedule make-up visits when visits are canceled. Participate in case management screenings and staffing. Assess and assist with children’s transition out of Early Head Start. Ensure all families have completed a Needs Assessment and established a Partnership Agreement. Ensure goals, referrals, and support to families are followed up on and entered on to ChildPlus. Ensure all children enrolled are current with their schedule of age-appropriate preventive and primary health care and provide support as needed.

Administrative Tasks

Approve timesheets and ensure compliance with agency and funder guidelines, ensuring that daily activities are within the allowable activities approved by the agency. Maintain and preserve a confidential family file and online database. Complete data entry into database systems, per assigned due dates, and update as needed. Prepare and submit records including, but not limited to, timesheets, weekly schedules, mileage, in-kind, home visits, and socialization lesson plans.

Performance & Quality Management

Implement the agency mission, philosophy, and core values to direct daily work and decision-making; adhere to agency policy. Cultivate a professional and respectful work environment. Be actively involved with, and knowledgeable about, the agency’s Performance Quality Improvement (PQI) structure and process.

Program-Specific Activities

Nurture positive and collaborative working relationships with other agency staff and outside stakeholders and partners. Ensure compliance with all Early/Head Start Program Performance Standards, including as interpreted by Start Early, as well as with relevant federal, state, city, and accrediting/licensing body regulations and requirements. Engage in Active Supervision strategies to support the safety, wellbeing, and appropriate supervision/oversight of children at all times. Act in accordance with the program’s Standards of Conduct, building respectful relationships with families, honoring parents/caregivers as their children’s first and most important teachers, and maintaining strict child, family, and staff confidentiality at all times. Participate in ongoing trainings and staff development provided by Start Early, Casa Central Home Visitor Supervisors, and other consultants, as well as completing online trainings and attending workshops and conferences. Attend regularly scheduled supervision, staff meetings, education meetings, and other gatherings. Encourage parent participation in program activities such as parent-child activities during home visits, socialization, parent meetings, in the Parent Committee Meetings as well as other events and training. Maintain regular and on-going communication with support staff, Home Visitor Supervisor, and Program Director

Community Outreach

Actively and enthusiastically support recruitment efforts to ensure that the program is fully enrolled year-round.

General Requirements:

Sensitivity to cultural diversity is required. Will be subject to drug and alcohol screening, as well as aptitude and skills testing. To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to perform the essential functions.

Education/Experience:

A.A. Degree in Child Development, Early Childhood Education, or a related field (defined as at least 21 CD/ECE-related credits); a Gateways Infant/Toddler and/or Early Childhood Education Credential at a Level 3 or above is also accepted, as is a Home Visiting CDA (Child Development Associate) Credential. If an applicant does not meet the above education/credentialing requirements, a Professional Development Plan can be implemented, supported by the agency, with an agreement to achieve the required credential/education level within 12 months of hire.

Language Skills:

Bilingual/Bicultural in English and Spanish in both written and verbal formats.

Computer Literacy & Knowledge Skills Abilities:

Data entry skills and skills in managing Microsoft applications (i.e., Outlook) to facilitate communication. Preferred knowledge of ChildPlus or other online database systems.

Mathematical Skills:

Basic mathematical skills are required.

Operating Environment and Working Relationships:

Ability to work within an interdisciplinary team as a cooperative and supportive team member. Ability to establish relationships with families from diverse backgrounds. Must understand the scope of community resources and how they can meet the needs of children and families served. Must be able to make home visits to present, prospective and former clients in their own homes. From time to time, may be required to work weekends and/or holidays. The Home Visitor must have demonstrated the ability to establish helping relationships with families of varying educational, experiential, and socio-economic backgrounds and to handle emergency and crisis situations.

Decision Making Authority:

Exercises discretion and independent judgment in executing tasks.

People Management:

Ability to utilize reflective practices to provide support to volunteers, interns, and team members. Strong people skills, ability to express oneself clearly and effectively. Must be tactful, mature and flexible.

Remote Work/Technology (WIFI)/Mobile Phone Usage:Eligible for remote work and requires the use of personal mobile phone. Reference Casa Central’s Flexible Work Arrangement Policy for reimbursement information.

Physical Demands:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit, talk, and engage in conversation in-person and via telephone. The employee frequently is required to use hands. Must be able to lift a 50 lb. Child.

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. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate. Will work evenings and weekends, as needed. Local travel required for meetings, trainings, home visits, and family advocacy and engagement activities; reliable personal transportation required.

Other:

Must have a valid driver’s license, car, and insurance—reliable personal transportation is essential for conducting home visits and community-based work (mileage reimbursement provided by the agency). Must have a cell phone with the capability to add applications to communicate with participants and agency staff (monthly cell phone stipend provided by the agency).

Disclaimer:

The statements herein are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by the employee in this position. The content of this job description is not intended to be constructed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills required of a person in this position.