Home Visitor

Job Summary The Home Visitor is responsible for providing comprehensive, strengths-based home visiting services to expectant parents and families with children aged birth to five enrolled in the Head Start/Early Head Start home-based program option. The Home Visitor partners with families to support child development, promote school readiness, enhance parenting skills, and connect families to community resources. This role requires building trusting relationships, cultural responsiveness, and a deep understanding of early childhood development and family support principles Essential Duties and Responsibilities Home Visiting and Curriculum Implementation: - Conduct regular, structured home visits (typically weekly or bi-weekly) to enrolled families, lasting approximately 1.5 hours. - Implement an approved, child-focused home visiting curriculum that promotes development across all domains (cognitive, social-emotional, language and literacy, physical, and approaches to learning). - Plan and facilitate engaging, age-appropriate learning experiences with parents and children, adapting to individual family needs and interests. - Model effective parent-child interactions and provide guidance on positive parenting practices. - Support parents in their role as their child's first and most important teacher. Family Support and Case Management: - Develop and maintain respectful, culturally responsive, and trusting relationships with families. - Partner with families to assess their strengths, needs, and goals through family resource assessments. - Collaborate with families to develop and regularly update individualized Family Service Plans, addressing goals related to child development, family well-being, economic stability, and self-sufficiency. - Provide information and referrals to community resources, such as health, mental health, oral health, housing, food assistance, and educational services. - Advocate for families and assist them in navigating community systems to access needed support. - Offer support and strategies for families coping with crisis. Child Development and Screening: - Conduct developmental screenings (e.g., Ages and Stages Questionnaires - ASQ) for children regularly to monitor progress and identify potential developmental concerns. - Facilitate health, vision, and hearing screenings for children as required by Head Start Performance Standards. - Collaborate with other program staff and community providers to ensure comprehensive services and address any identified developmental or health needs. - Support parents in understanding their child's learning and development. Group Socializations and Parent Engagement: - Assist in the planning and facilitation of group socializations and parent meetings/workshops to promote peer support, parent education, and community connectedness. - Encourage parent involvement in program planning, design, and feedback. Documentation and Compliance: - Maintain accurate, timely, and confidential records of home visits, screenings, assessments, family goals, and referrals in accordance with Head Start Performance Standards and agency policies. - Participate in reflective supervision and staff meetings regularly. - Adhere to all federal and state regulations concerning confidentiality, ethical considerations, and child protection (mandated reporter). Professional Development: - Actively participate in ongoing professional development and training related to early childhood development, home visiting best practices, family engagement, and Head Start regulations.