Parent Educator

Job Description

Job Description

About The Village:  The Village was one of the first agencies in the country to provide homes for neglected children. Today, we continue to achieve our mission “to build a community of strong, healthy families who protect and nurture children” by providing a full range of behavioral health, early childhood and youth development, substance use treatment and support services for children, adults and families in the Greater Hartford, Connecticut region.

Named a Connecticut Top Workplace for six consecutive years with national distinction for workplace culture and diversity, equity and inclusion practices, you can be sure you're joining an organization that's just as committed to your success as we are to those we serve.

Starting hourly rate $16.45 

JOB SUMMARY

The Parent Educator is a self-motivated individual, who works directly with families and as part of a team with knowledge of the community services and the experiences the family faces.  This position recruits and engages families and community partners.  The Parent Educator visits the families as program requires, provides information, and uses highly regarded curriculum to improve parenting skills and teaches families about child development, as well as help families' access services from community resources.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

1. Develops strength based service plans to address areas identified as challenges.
2. Maintains a collaborative relationship with the primary care provider and community services.
3. Maintains accurate records of all client contacts.
4. Models Parent-Child interactions with the families.
5. Provides home visits to assigned families where children have been identified through program screening criteria as being "at risk" for abuse and/or neglect.
6. Provides home visits to assigned families where children have been identified as needing services including but not limited to parenting and child development education, advocacy and support, and assistance with accessing community resources.
7. Completes program assessments.
8. Completes Electronic Document per agency standards and funding requirements.
9. Makes home visits based on the need of the family.
10. Provides family with information that includes but is not limited to the child development, safety, immunizations and community resources.
11. Utilizes program-approved curriculum to improve parenting skills and increase the understanding of normal child development.
12. Develops strength-based service plans to address areas identified as challenges. 
13. Assists client in seeking additional services from the community resources as needed.
14. Facilitates required groups, as well as co-facilitates groups with team members.
15. Attends monthly staff meetings.
16. Immediately notifies supervisor of any situation in which a child may be at risk (i.e. physical abuse, sexual abuse, chronic neglect, un-safe home, etc.) and/or other sentinel event.
17. Completes all required program and agency web and paper based documentation.
18. Testifies in court as needed.
19. Makes referrals to appropriate community resources.
20. Promotes the agency's services, programs, image and philosophy.

EDUCATION

• Associate's Degree in early childhood, childhood development, human services or other related field preferred
• Minimum of a High School Diploma or equivalent required

EXPERIENCE

• Three years' experience in a human services, community or child development setting
• Experience working in an urban community and families' homes
• Must be culturally competent; bi-lingual (English/Spanish) strongly preferred
• Proficient with word processing and spreadsheet applications required
• Possess solid general computer skills, including ability to work in a Windows environment; familiarity with specific applications used by the Village a plus
• Must have current valid state issued Driver License; driving to and from home visiting is required
• May require weekend or evening hours
• Must be a team player and able to work in a variety of environments including schools, court, etc.
• Excellent oral and written skills and ability to engage families from diverse social and ethnic backgrounds
• Organized and able to work independently with minimal supervision
• Flexible and able to multi-task
• Demonstrated ability to be creative, innovative and resourceful
• Maintains confidentiality of clients' records at all times