Parent Child Educator

Job Overview

Heartland Head Start is seeking a passionate individual to fill the Parent Child Educator (PCE) position. The successful candidate will provide child development services, social services, health services and parent involvement services to families including home visits, socializations, advocacy, and crisis intervention in accordance with federal, state, and program guidelines. The PCE will use the home environment to help parents create rich learning opportunities that build on everyday routines and support their child’s development. The PCE is responsible for delivering prenatal education and home-based services as defined by Head Start Performance Standards.

Education Functions

• Use the home environment to help parents create rich learning opportunities that build on everyday routines and support their child’s development. Provide child development, parent education and family support on home visits to families of infants and toddlers and expectant mothers. Provide support in parent and child activities that encourages developmentally appropriate activities for the changing needs of infants and toddlers.
• In partnership with the parents, assess each child’s developmental needs and develop individual goals according to their interests, abilities, traits, and development.
• Provide developmentally appropriate curriculum and a caring, nurturing, soothing environment for infants and toddlers.
• Create an individual development plan for each child. Help ensure parents can recreate the child development experiences provided during the week.
• Provide appropriate screenings and assessments of infants/toddlers as required by Head Start Performance Standards, DCFS Licensing regulations and Heartland Head Start curriculum.
• Collaborate with the supervisor and team to provide Early Intervention services and participate in Individualized Family Service Plans (IFSPs) as required.

Family Functions:

• Assist families in accessing community resources and scheduling appointments.
• Build partnerships with local agencies to improve delivery service.
• Advocate for families and train parents to self-advocate.
• Collaborate with families to develop and monitor Family Partnership Agreements and goals.
• Document all communications and interactions in Child Plus Family Services.
• Organize and facilitate bi-monthly socialization events for enrolled families.
• Collaborate with home-based team and parents to facilitate Parent and Child Connection (PCC) events. Coordinate the PCC parent meeting, training, event meal, parent/child activities, childcare, and Policy Council Representative elections as required by the Head Start Performance Standards.
• Encourage parent engagement and participation with Heartland Head Start programs and activities. Document in Child Plus and case notes parent participation and volunteer efforts regularly.

ERSEA Functions: (Eligibility, Recruitment, Selection, Enrollment, Attendance)

• Assist ERSEA as needed for all activities, including applications, eligibility, recruitment, selection, enrollment, and attendance.
• Recruit eligible children according to the Head Start Performance Standards, DCFS Licensing regulations, and Heartland Head Start service and recruitment plans.
• Assist with recruitment outreach events and activities within the communities and social service agencies in the assigned area. Participate in summer recruitment events and activities for center- and home-based programs.
• Meet and maintain a pre-determined caseload, waitlist, and new applications recruitment goals. Notify the ERSEA Specialist when openings in classrooms become available.
• Ensure completion and accuracy of all new incoming applications and enrollment forms. Assist parents/families as needed with obtaining required child documents for enrollment.
• Collaborate with the ERSEA Specialist to maintain full enrollment and attendance in the home-based program and provide follow-up services when families consistently miss appointments.
• Assist with Recruiting Policy Council members and attend 1 Policy Council meeting annually.

Health, Fiscal, Child-Plus documentation Functions:

• Provide family support services by partnering with assigned families, monitoring child health requirements, and documenting all family services (including health & transitions).
• Ensure all information is accurate and timely by utilizing the Child Plus database and/ or Heartland Head Start Network Drive.
• Conduct case reviews and home visits, maintain accurate child/family files, ensure confidentiality, perform data entry, and manage documentation to meet program standards.
• Maintain all health requirements.

Other Functions:

• Attend family events, especially those planned for EHS families.
• Assist with all aspects of developing child and family outcomes as assigned.
• Participate in special projects as assigned.
• Provide registration/orientation information to families that enroll during the year.
• Attend meetings and trainings as required.
• Foster positive relationships between Heartland Head Start and Early Head Start, infants/toddlers, their families, staff, outside agencies, civic groups, and the public.

Qualifications and Job Requirements:

• Associate degree in Early Childhood Education, Child Development, or a related degree with a minimum of 21 college credit hours of documented Early Childhood Education or Child Development coursework from birth to age 6.
• Attain within 18 months of hire, the Gateways Family Service Credential.
• Must successfully complete CPR and First Aid certifications within 11 months of employment.
• Must successfully complete Illinois Food Handler’s card within 30 days of hire and maintain every 3 years.
• Valid Illinois driver’s license, automobile insurance, and reliable vehicle transportation.

Environment:

This position requires the employee to handle a fast-paced, changing environment. Employee is regularly required to respond quickly, lift children, walk, and stand, have the use of arms and hands, sit on the floor, reach, and climb stairs, crouch, crawl, stoop, bend, and squat. Employee will be regularly required to safely operate a vehicle and drive long distances during the workday, as well as transfer objects to/from vehicles. Employee must be able to lift a minimum of 50 pounds regularly and carry 30 pounds occasionally.

Performance Standards:

Success in this position will include:

• Regular attendance, including promptness to all meetings, events, appointments, etc.
• Maintaining a positive, professional appearance and attitude, both in person and on the telephone.
• Cooperate with all supervisors, colleagues, parents, and staff.
• Communicate precisely, objectively, positively, and appropriately.
• Participate in community and program events to promote and provide information about program and recruitment options.
• Be conscientious in looking for non-federal match (NFM) opportunities. Extend a request for NFM in-kind donations, including goods, services and/or cash, to enhance our organization’s fiscal opportunities.
• Preserve confidentiality of all program staff, and parent/child information.
• Complete all tasks in a timely manner.
• Not make derogatory comments about program, staff, and parent/child.
• Resolve program concerns and conflicts within program guidelines.
• Routinely participate in approved program-related training.
• Perform any other duties necessary to the smooth operation of the agency and its programs.

Disclaimer:

This document only summarizes the typical functions of the job and is not an exhaustive or comprehensive list of all the possible job responsibilities, tasks, and duties. The actual responsibilities, tasks, and duties of the employee might differ from those outlined in this description and all other duties, as assigned, are part of the job. This is not an employment contract. Heartland Head Start reserves the right to modify job duties or job descriptions at any time.

Equal Employment Opportunity

Heartland Head Start provides equal employment opportunities to all qualified employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, marital status, amnesty or status as a covered veteran in accordance with applicable federal, state, and local laws governing non-discrimination in employment in every location in which the company has facilities.

If you are passionate about making a difference in the lives of children and families, we invite you to apply today to join our dedicated team at Heartland Head Start!

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $22.00 - $25.00 per hour

Expected hours: 40 per week

Benefits:

• 401(k)
• Dental insurance
• Employee assistance program
• Health insurance
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Vision insurance

Schedule:

• 8 hour shift
• Monday to Friday

Work Location: In person

Salary : $22 - $25