OVERVIEW OF BABY STEPS PROGRAM:

The Baby Steps Program serves pregnant women and other parents/caregivers of children ages 0-3. The program promotes child social-emotional and developmental growth/ parental resilience and social/community connection. The program consists of: Baby Steps Home Visitation Services and Case Management.

POSITION SUMMARY:

The staff under the Children’s Initiative model will leverage learning, share knowledge and best practices and practice across programs, undergo continuous program improvement processes to support the client centered delivery of service within each resource centers community and work to leverage agency and partner resources to better support families.

Under the Baby Steps Program, the Early Learning Specialist will serve pregnant women, and other parents/caregivers of children ages 0-3. The Early Learning Specialist conducts home visits to strengthen the parent-child bond through developmental guidance, parent coaching, and guided parent-child interactions. The Early Learning specialist will coach and help families develop SMART goals. The Early Learning Specialist supports the recruitment of participants based on program guidelines. The Early Learning Specialist will engage in network opportunities with internal and external organizations and other programs to promote and disseminate information to parents, and community groups.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES & RESPONISBILITIES:

• Deliver services through a culturally sensitive, relationship-based, development-informed, caregiver/child and reflective practice model

• Provide home visits as assigned by supervisor

• Facilitate/Observe, model play, reading, and verbal interaction behaviors/activities between parent/guardian and child

• Outreach within the community and support in the recruitment of program participants through ongoing engagement and collaboration with other staff within the agency as well as external organizations

• Understand and model age appropriate expectations

• Maintain confidential, accurate, and up-to-date client electronic records and complete program-required documentation, assessments, service planning, and monthly reporting

• Support parent/child interactions, early literacy, and social-emotional development of the child

• Curriculum planning; implement educational activities

• Prepare information to be provided as resources in the community and ensure that this information is culturally, linguistically, and developmentally appropriate and relevant to the family

• Complete required assessments and collect data as assigned including ASQ and ASQ:SE, Protective Factor Survey, and Parent Self-Assessment

• Participate in trainings related to Early Childhood development

• Practice Reflective Practice, strength-based approach, and continuous improvement practices

• Attend required CCSCC meetings, trainings, and events

• With the support of the Supervisor, refer and connect families (through warm handoff and/or the use of the Intra-Agency referral system or other mode) to community resources, and serve as a facilitator in linking participants to social, educational, and health services

• Follow directions from program supervisor/manager/ or director in completing duties as assigned verbally or in the work plan

• Understand agency guidelines and policies and procedures and act in alignment with the CCSCC core values of Service, Compassion and Justice for all

• Other duties as assigned

EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE

• BA in Early Childhood Education, Child Development, Psychology, Sociology or Related Field. A minimum of 1 year experience working with families, and previous experience working with FRCI a plus (equivalent experience may be considered)

• Bilingual Spanish/English Required

REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS & ABILITIES

• Ability to work with diverse workgroups and serve families with diverse economic, social, racial, and cultural backgrounds

• Knowledgeable about local community resources

• Ability to establish and maintain personal and programmatic boundaries while providing supportive services

• Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to relate to individuals who may not share basic commonality, including value systems and behavior norms

• Demonstrate effective writing, communication, and organizational skills

• Maintain a professional, confidential work environment

• Knowledge of child development and behavior

• Ability to plan, organize, prioritize, and multitask

• Serve effectively as a member of a team internally and externally

• Be flexible, proactive, adaptable and able to work in a fast-paced, changing environment

• Be professional, trustworthy, respectful of others, and display a positive attitude

• Knowledge of modern office methods and practices, including filing systems, business, correspondence, presentations and report writing

• Knowledge of the Internet and computer programs including Microsoft Word, Outlook, PowerPoint, Excel, etc.

• Must be able to work a flexible schedule; hours are scheduled on the basis of client availability and agency operation which includes some evenings and weekends

PREFERRED KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS & ABILITIES:

• Early childhood development and behavior, including foundations of infant-family early childhood mental health

• Core principals of Brazelton’s Touchpoints Model

• Infant and Family Early Childhood Mental Health (IFECMH) knowledge domains and requirements for endorsement

• Advocacy and outreach strategies

• Trauma-informed practices

• Child abuse reporting mandates

• FIRST 5 System of Care

• Group Facilitation

OTHER QUALIFICATIONS:

• Clearance of fingerprint background check

• Must have valid TB screening

• Provide proof of COVID-19 vaccination and booster(s) status

• Must possess a valid California Driver’s license, reliable transportation and current auto insurance

TO APPLY: Please submit resume to jobs@catholiccharitiesscc.org and use the job position title as the subject line.

This position description intends to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by people assigned to this job. It is not intended to include all duties and responsibilities. The order in which duties and responsibilities are listed is not significant. Because of a need to remain responsive to the needs of our clients and our Agency’s operations, responsibilities may be modified at any time.

Catholic Charities is a non-profit, non-discriminatory service organization and employer. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, age, sexual orientation or disability. Persons seeking employment are entitled to freedom from harassment and retaliation and reasonable accommodation for qualified disabilities.

***When applying, please note that you saw the job posted on the NOVAworks Job Board. If you need help with your resumé, please see a NOVAworks Career Advisor.