Community Action Partnership of North Alabama

Job Description
 
   
REPORTS TO:   Early Care & Program Development Team Leader   
                                                  
SALARY:          $14.69                                                                    SALARY GRADE:  19
 
WORKING DAYS PER YEAR:   215                                                     DATE:          January 2014
   
Position Summary:
 
Responsible for conducting home visits with young children and their families in an effort to provide infants and toddlers with a safe and healthy learning environment, advancing their physical and intellectual growth, supporting social and emotional development, providing positive guidance and discipline, establishing positive relationships with families and encouraging their involvement in the education of their children, ensuring a well-run purposeful program responsive to participant’s needs and maintaining a commitment to professionalism. 
 
 
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:
 
Associates or Bachelors in child development, education, social services or related field preferred.  At least 2 years’ experience working with children and families in a human service setting.  Capacity to problem solve, handle crises, and work with children and families of diverse social and economical and cultural backgrounds.  Approach to working with families that is empathetic, non-judgmental, respectful, and professional.  Willingness to work primarily in homes of families residing in high-risk communities.  Experience working in a pre-school environment preferred.  Qualifications would include a caring and service oriented attitude, resourceful, good interpersonal skills, and ability to communicate effectively.  Must meet all current child care employee regulations, Performance Standards and agency regulations.  Hold or be willing to obtain a current age appropriate CPR/First Aid Certification.  Must be dependable, work as scheduled and be on time.  Ability to communicate in a second language preferred.  Good verbal and written communication skills.  Demonstrate ability to assume primary responsibility for planning and implementing the daily program for a group of young children.  Ability to work well with parents of young children; infants and toddlers up to three years of age.  Has the ability to provide guidance, encouragement, on-going monitoring to the classroom.  Have the ability to work with children and families from diverse social, economical, and cultural backgrounds.  Bilingual in English and Spanish preferred. 
Responsibilities:
 
 

• Conduct weekly home visits with each child and family.
• Carry out “curriculum” for child development in the context of the home and during group “socialization” experiences.
• Facilitate group “socialization” experiences and other family group activities.
• Provide education and support services to families.
• Conduct screening and ongoing assessment of young children’s development.
• Collaborate with families to establish goals, and document this collaborative process in family partnership agreements.
• Promote parental involvement in curriculum planning, program governance, and the overall Head Start program.
• Monitor and educated parents with respect to children’s health status, including medical follow-up, physical health, dental health, mental health, and nutritional intake.
• Provide management, crisis intervention, and resource referral services.
• Act as a liaison and advocate between community resources and Head Start families.
• Complete documentation of home visits, socialization experiences, and other relevant activities.
• Maintain confidentiality of family records and information.
• Participate fully in supervision and training experiences.
• Provide positive guidance, coaching and encouragement in a safe and healthy environment.
• Communicates verbally and in writing with parents.
• Is responsible for building trusting relationships with the child and families.
• Stays current with early child development through provided professional development.

 
 
Additional Responsibilities:
 
 

• Serve on committees as appropriate.
• Assist at other centers if needed to maintain ratios.
• Participate in special projects throughout the year.
• Support and understand the vision, mission and values of the Partnership.
• Other duties as may be necessary to fulfill the responsibilities of this position.

 
 
Work Relationships and Scope:
 
Reports directly to the Early Care and Program Development Team Leader.  Regular interaction with children and their families.  Frequent interaction with all levels of the Program, general public, community activities, and medical professionals. 
 
Measure of Performance: 
 
Exemplifies servant leadership. Excellent communication skills. Accurate, timely, reliable and thorough. Gains the trust and respect of staff. Accepts feedback willingly. Represents the values of the Partnership in action and word. Innovative regarding training techniques, delivery methods and in tracking learning for a variety of positions and roles within the company. Acts with confidence and deliberateness. Ability to use training to resolve complex human resource issues. Self-directed. Ability to work without close supervision. Works comfortably in a team environment. Maintains confidential information.
 
 
Working Conditions:
Work is performed mainly at the families homes and a the school site with moderate exposure to injury.  Functional requirements of the job include: diapering a baby, participate in daily activities, participate in emergency situations/evacuations, and provide care for children with special needs according to our program policies.  Be able to actively participate in a variety of activities with children as required by program standards.  This position requires sitting, standing, bending, and minimal lifting.  This position requires a valid driver’s license and safe driving record. 
 
 
Other Characteristics:
Must possess a valid state driver’s license.  Meet all current childcare employee regulations, Performance Standards and agency regulations. Hold or be willing to obtain a current age appropriate CPR/First Aid Certification.  Must be able to lift up to 35 pounds as needed in daily activities, emergency situations, and providing care for children with special needs. Be able to actively participate in a variety of activities with children and oversee children outdoors in various weather conditions as required by program standards. Work assigned hours. Punctual. Utilize all safety equipment and procedures in daily operation of the classroom including appropriate attire such as non-slip shoes/shoe covers, smocks, and gloves.
 
All selected candidates for positions at Community Action Partnership of North Alabama are required to successfully complete a pre-employment drug screen and a background check. 
 
Benefits:
 
All full-time employees of the Partnership are provided a very generous and exceptional benefits package which includes full medical coverage managed by PEEHIP (BC/BS Plan).  The agency contributes over 10%-11% monthly to the Retirement System of Alabama on behalf of each employee.
Our Vision:  As a comprehensive, unified Agency, to be the premiere and preferred non-profit partner in Alabama.
 
 
Our Mission:  The Community Action Partnership of North Alabama, a results-driven non-profit business, is committed to reducing or eliminating the causes and consequences of poverty. 
 
 
Acknowledgement:
 
This job description describes the general nature and level of work performed by the employee assigned to this position.  It does not state or imply that these are the only duties and responsibilities assigned to the job.  The employee may be required to perform other job-related duties as requested by the Area Team Leader.  All requirements are subject to change over time and to possible modifications to reasonably accommodate individuals with a disability.