Mission Contribution:

Strengthens families by identifying, supporting, and/or providing services to parents with young children.

Function:

To provide and coordinate services, connections to resources and referral information to families with young children participating in the First Teachers Program.

This is position is made possible by funding from The Department of Early Childhood Education.   The position’s establishment and continuance is dependent upon the availability of funding from this and/or other resources.

Essential Functions: (must be able to perform these functions, with or without a reasonable accommodation).

1. Provides world class customer service including effective communication with internal and external customers.
2. Actively initiates the planning, coordination, implementation, and reporting of family visit and parent support services for families participating in the First Teachers Home Visitation program.
3. Conducts individualized home/community visits at least bi-weekly using the PAT curriculum ensuring integrity of the model and the implementation of all essential requirements of the program.
4. Builds and maintains strong rapport with families, encouraging, supporting and promoting healthy parenting skills and relationships.
5. Provides and maintains complete, updated and accurate documentation on each child and family, ensuring program compliance with regulatory and funding partner agencies.
6. Accurately enters all program activities and assignments into the Penelope and ETO database systems within the specified timeframe requirements.
7. Plans, coordinates, attends and leads parent group connections with content focused on parent-child interaction; development-centered parenting, and/or  family well-being;
8. Completes developmental, health, vision and hearing screenings for each enrolled child monthly and annually; as required by PAT and the Department of Early Childhood Education.
9. Actively assists in linking families to community resources and services provided by Goodwill and other community partners to address issues related to education, financial wellness, healthcare, housing and other basic needs. 
10. Provides follow up support on referrals, information and resources provided to families through those linkages.
11. Communicates regularly with supervisor and reports progress, problems and works as a team to help find solutions to achieve positive program outcomes.
12. Promotes program awareness and participation through community networking, involvement with local agencies, parents, other organizations and service providers involved in early care and education of young children.
13. Recruits and enrolls eligible families and maintains a consistent caseload in accordance with agency and program funder requirements.
14. Participates in initial intake interviews, assessments, and other eligibility activities for enrolling new families as appropriate.
15. Communicates regularly with supervisor, First Teacher team members, Goodwill mission services staff and community partners ensuring that all enrolled families are aware of and have access to services according to Goodwill expectations and consistent with the PAT Model.    
16. Maintains accountability of inventory of supplies, materials and equipment essential to the operation of the program and follows proper procedures for new acquisitions and purchases.
17. Participates in planning, developing and coordinating yearly program calendar which reflects a variety of enriching, educational and extracurricular activities for children, families and team members.
18. Maintains effective communications with First Teacher coordinator, parent educators, other Goodwill staff,  parents and community service providers through attendance and active participation in meetings and conferences, use of emails, newsletters, memos, etc.
19. Stays current on issues pertaining to early childhood development and education by participating in on-going training and professional development opportunities including seminars, conferences, in-house training and through personal research.
20. Collaborates with educational, medical and community resource partners to obtain optimal results of First Teacher services.
21. Maintains a positive working relationship with team members, parents, community partners, and collaborating agencies through active listening, open and honest communication, encouragement and shared decision-making.
22. Observes all safety procedures and personnel policies.
23. Regular attendance, as outlined in Goodwill’s policy, is required.
24. Other duties as assigned.

Skills, knowledge and abilities: (these are required to enable job holder to perform the essential functions of the job).

Must be able to interact cordially and productively with a variety of people.                             

Must be able to market Goodwill and explain the mission to the general public.                   

Must possess excellent computer skills for program reporting and data entry.

Must possess excellent organizational and time management skills.

Must be able to take initiative, make sound decisions and work well with little supervision.

Must be able to keep information confidential.

Must be able to read, write and communicate clearly in English.

Must be able to maintain an effective working relationship with, and among team members and co-workers while motivating them to their best

performance.

Must be able to work a flexible schedule, including some evenings and/or Saturdays each month.

Ability to function in a hectic work environment with occasional periods of high stress.

Must have a valid driver’s license for at least 3 years, liability automobile insurance and be insurable through the agency’s insurance carrier.  Must be at least 21 years of age.

Experience and Education Requirements:

• High school diploma/GED required
  • Bachelor’s degree in early childhood education, social service field or other closely related field preferred. 
  • Two years of closely related experience in early childhood education, social work or human services required. 
  • Home Visitation experience a plus. 
  • Strong computer skills, including word processing, required. 

Physical Requirements:

• Must be able to use hands, fingers and wrists, repetitively while using computer keyboard.
• Must be able to sit for prolonged periods of time.
• Must be able to stand, bend, sit on the floor, stoop, walk, talk, hear, use hands to grip, and reach with arms, and carry items weighing up to 20 lbs.

Critical Performance Factors:

Recruitment/Enrollment/Retention of eligible parents and children.

Quality of Services Provided using the PAT model

Effective communication and team building strategies

Proper documentation and reporting for Program Compliance

Results of Program Effectiveness through achievement of program outcomes

Accountability of Resources

Working Conditions:

Adequately lighted and ventilated building, with regular home visitation within rural and/or low-income neighborhoods.  Frequent travel throughout the Gulf Coast area including extended overnight travel.