Parent Educator

Position Overview

The Head Start/Early Head Start Parent Educator (PE) provides comprehensive early childhood development, parent education, and family support services through a home visitation model to families with children birth to five, and expecting mothers. The primary focus of the Parent Educator is to develop a collaborative relationship with families to support them in being their child's first and primary educator. The Parent Educator collaborates with families and content area experts to address health, nutrition, and disabilities services for children and pregnant moms. The Parent Educator ensures comprehensive services are provided within the context of Next Door policy and procedure, Office of Head Start Performance Standards, and Parent Child at Home Program requirements.

Responsibilities/Duties/Functions/Tasks

• Recruit, enroll and maintain a caseload of 10-12 families.
• Conduct weekly (90-minute) home visits with all enrolled families to improve parenting skills and to help them provide learning activities that enhance their child's growth and development.
• For families duly enrolled in Parent Child Home Program (PCHP), conduct an additional 30-minute weekly visit.
• Ensure home visits meet all Head Start/Early Head Start Performance Standards, Next Door policies and procedures, and PCHP requirements.
• Facilitate positive parent/child interactions.
• Ensure the delivery of services is respectful of families' culture.
• Ensure at least one parent is on Parent committee and/or Policy council.
• Assist in providing childcare for policy council and parent committee meetings.
• Provide transportation for families as needed to program related activities and services.
• Assist parents in accessing quality childcare services, health services, and social services.
• Document all contacts and information in ChildPlus.
• Ensure each child's file is current and meets all Head Start Performance Standards.
• Act as an advocate for parents and children in the community.

Curriculum

• Provide parenting and child development information relevant to their child's growth and development level.
• Provide enhanced learning experiences that focus on integration of the Wisconsin Model Early Learning Standards and the Head Start Early Learning Outcomes Framework that focus on:

Early Head Start

• Language and Communication
• Approaches to Learning
• Social and Emotional Development
• Cognition
• Perceptual, Motor, and Physical Development

Head Start

• Language and Communication
• Literacy
• Approaches to Learning
• Social and Emotional Development
• Mathematics Development
• Scientific Reasoning
• Perceptual, Motor, and Physical Development
• Submit weekly activity plans to the Parent Educator Supervisor that include individualization (use of Individual Curriculum Plans/IEP/IFSP goals), parent involvement, and content aligned with the Head Start Early Outcomes Framework and Wisconsin Model Early Learning Standards.

Assessment

• Observe, document, and assess children's development using the Hawaii Early Learning Profile, ASQ - 3, ASQ - SE, by prescribed due dates.
• Create Individual Curriculum Plans (ICP) for each child using all relevant child data in collaboration with the child's parent. Monitor ICP and update as necessary.
• Use assessment data to guide curriculum and weekly activity decisions.
• Conduct family assessments with each parent to determine strengths and weaknesses.
• Communicate results of assessment the family and collaborate to plan for next steps.
• Assist with program data collection, and data analysis (HOVERS & HOME).

Home/School Connection

• Develop effective partnerships with parents by encouraging input into weekly home visit plans.
• Solicit input from each child's family when creating Individual Curriculum Plans and update regularly in response to each child's progress.
• Assist parents in the development and achievement of Family Partnership Agreements.

Interdisciplinary Work and Collaboration

• Participation in interdisciplinary work and collaboration among the education program/staff and other program areas/staff, including:
• Collaborate with other Parent Educators to plan and implement bi monthly socializations.
• Function as a team member in the planning, implementation, and evaluation of Next Door programs.
• Coordinate referrals for children with suspected special needs or behavioral concerns with guidance from the Parent Educator Supervisor, and the Disabilities Manager.
• Participates in other workgroups to support the vision of One Next Door (Keep Committee, Family Engagement Committee, Safety Committee, etc)

Professional Development

Being a life-long learner is critical to the field of early learning and care. Parent Educators are expected to be informed of current research relating to child development, trauma informed care, and issues within the community that impact children and families in Next Door's service area. Additional, Parent Educators are required to:

• Attend and participate in weekly group and individual reflective supervision, and other meetings as needed.
• Participate in video observations of home visits.
• Earn 15 hours of continuing education annually.
• Attend and participate in weekly group and individual reflective supervision, and other meetings as needed.

Accountability and Performance Requirement

In the performance of respective tasks and duties all employees are expected to conform to the following:

• All staff members are accountable for knowing and performing the responsibilities associated with their individual position in an efficient and effective manner, understanding that each of us plays an integral role in the success of our mission. All staff will support the agency mission, vision and strategic directions and support administrative decisions. This is demonstrated by maintaining a positive work environment by behaving and communicating in an appropriate manner with children, families, coworkers, supervisors and the public while achieving performance expectations.

• Associate's degree in Early Childhood Education, Nursing, Education, Social Work, or other related fields with an infant and toddler concentration.
• Bilingual - fluency in Spanish or Hmong, Karen or Burmese (oral and written communication) if applicable. Language in Karen, Hmong, Burmese, Chin or Spanish and/or 3+ years of experience in home visiting may be evaluated if candidate does not have educational requirements.
• Previous parent and child activity coordination (in home) experience preferred.
• Must be willing to obtain a first aid/CPR certificate.

Special Position Requirements

• This position requires weekly home visits to participant's homes. The incumbent must have access to a personal vehicle to use on a daily basis, maintain a valid driver's license and automobile insurance with liability limits of $300,000 (bodily injury) and $25,000 (property damage for each occurrence). The position demands a flexible work schedule including nights, weekends and possible overtime.

Preferences

N/A

Work Requirements

• Other duties as assigned.
• Strong oral and written communication skills.
• Computer literate.
• Effective time management skills.
• Ability to work effectively with a diverse population and low-income individuals.
• Ability to work independently while meeting deadlines and maintaining a schedule.
• Ability to write clear, professional reports.

Safety and Health

Next Door is committed to providing a safe work environment and to foster the well-being and health of its employees. An essential part of all employees' job is the development of safe working practices and the observance of safety rules, including:

• Following safety warnings and directions at all times.
• Using personal safety devices when required.
• Reporting any unsafe conditions to their supervisor.
• Following process for reporting suspected child abuse and neglect.
• Reporting unsupervised children, after ensuring child's safety.
• Implement active supervision practices at all times, including transitions.

• Ensure knowledge of each assigned child's location at all times.

Physical Demands

• Primarily active work; occasionally lifting up, holding or moving up to 50 lbs.

Physical Activity

• Bending, stooping, kneeling, sitting on the floor, walking/transporting, handling, reaching, climbing, balancing, crouching, crawling, talking and speaking clearly, hearing conversation level, smelling, and seeing; ability to interact daily with children outdoors in varied weather condition.

Work Environment

• Mainly classroom/office/home setting and travel to various sites/family homes for meetings.

Personal/Physiological

• Ability to make frequent, significant decisions to understand and react to the development process of children.
• Ability to respond quickly and competently to an emergency or crisis situation in order to keep children safe.