Family Child Care Specialist (FCCS) - Somerton, AZ

Location: Somerton, AZ

Effective January 3, 2022, all CPLC Employees and all Service Providers, are required to be Fully Vaccinated against COVID-19. Newly hired employees, who are not Fully Vaccinated at the time of hire, are expected to begin a vaccination series immediately upon hire. CPLC recognizes medical and religious exemptions to the COVID-19 vaccination requirement, in accordance with applicable law and upon approval by CPLC. However, any person approved for an exemption, without exception, is subject to masking, weekly COVID-19 testing at their expense, and other requirements established by CPLC from time to time.

PRIMARY FUNCTIONS
The Family Child Care Specialist (FCCS) under the guidance of the Child Care Partnership Service Manager (CCPSM) establishes a working relationship with the local resource and referral agency of each county to obtain names of licensed providers that will provide childcare for eligible low income Migrant and Seasonal Head Start families. Maintains and provides a list of potential providers from which families may select and screen. The FCCS must be familiar with Arizona Department of Health Services Child Care Licensing and Department of Economic Security rules and regulations. The FCCS monitors providers in their service area and conducts regular site visits to the childcare center providers and the various family childcare providers that have contracted with Migrant and Seasonal Head Start Early Childhood Development Program (CPLC ECD). The FCCS, under the guidance of the CCPSM, supports, coordinates and assists with the training and workshops in conjunction with other CPLC ECD Coordinators/Specialists for the providers and parents. The FCCS will provide support and guidance for family childcare providers, childcare center partnerships/teaching staff and must have the academic background necessary to ensure sound knowledge of child development and early learning as well as strong relationship building and interpersonal skills such as coaching, mentoring, and home visiting. Promotes school readiness by preparing children and families for school and life success as it relates to this position. Actively supervise children by sight and sound at all times and in all environments. Maintain all health and safety regulations to create an optimum learning environment. Facilitate health practices to keep children safe in the school bus, outdoor and indoor environments.

SPECIALIZATIONS
Initial employment physical, TB test or Chest X-ray, Tdap vaccination, a valid Arizona Drivers License and vehicle insurance are required. Must pass a Criminal Background check to include a Child Abuse and Neglect register check and obtain a level one Fingerprint Clearance card. Must be First Aid and CPR certified, or obtain certification within the first 6 months of employment. Certification as an Inter-rater reliable in My Teaching Strategies. Center of Social & Emotional Foundation Early Learning Center (CSEFEL) Positive Behavior Support, Environmental Rating Scale (ECERS), Infant Toddler Environmental Rating Scale (ITERS), Ages & Stages Questionnaire (ASQ) is helpful.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
Minimum qualifications for the Family Child Care Specialist position are as follows: Applicant must have basic keyboard skills and be able to use computer, computer software programs (e.g. Microsoft Office, Adobe) and web based systems. Must be bilingual and bi-literate in English and Spanish Minimum education qualifications (one of the listed below):

A. A baccalaureate degree in early childhood education (ECE)
B. A baccalaureate in child development (CD)
C. A baccalaureate in a related field Preferred qualifications:

1. One year teaching experience with children ages 0-5 (1) .
2. Previous experience in public relations is highly desirable, including public contact and liaison activity, giving presentations, training, and workshops.
3. Strong relationship building and interpersonal skills such as coaching, mentoring and home visiting.
(1) Experience may be in a licensed day care center, comparable home day care, or group childcare program for children ages 0-5 under the supervision of a person who would qualify as a Center Supervisor. College internships and labs served in a licensed daycare center will count as experience.

JOB RESPONSIBILITIES AND COMPETENCIES
Promotes parent engagement and participates in program orientation in conjunction with content area coordinators/specialists.
Works closely with the Child Care Partnerships Service Manager, Family Service and Engagement Worker, Office Manager, Regional Operations Manager, ECD Vice President, coordinators and specialists on day-to-day operations as needed.
Assists in identifying children with special needs. Maintains educational information needed for documentation for children with special needs on childs file.
Implement ECD case management process with support and guidance of CCPSM and representative interdisciplinary team.
Organizes with coordinators and specialists to provide comprehensive services for children.
Implements My Teaching Strategies (MTS) and Child Outcome Planning Administration (COPA).
Conducts regular site visits, some of which are unannounced, not less than once every two weeks per HSPPS.
Assists with recruiting licensed childcare providers to provide child care services for eligible children in the CPLC ECD MSHS Program and Child Care Partnership (CCP).
Provides program orientation, on-site training and technical assistance for all childcare providers in their assigned areas.
Ensures home provider/teaching staff conducts a regular child observation and documents on anecdotal record in service areas. Documentation is entered into My Teaching Strategies (MTS).
Ensures Family Child Care Provider complete and submit the Infant/toddler Weekly Plans to FCCS weekly for review and approval. Upon approvalprint & post.
Observe and document child observations, 2 per child, into My Teaching Strategies (MTS) biweekly. For children with disabilities FCCS will be asked to complete one additional observation related to IFSP/IEP.
Develops and provides educational materials and curriculum activities for all childcare providers, which includes child nutrition, child abuse detection and mandatory reporting procedures, and health and safety information in conjunction with content area coordinators and specialists.
Train providers on curriculum implementation, ongoing monitoring system of MTS and implementation of using MTS to facilitate weekly planning and ongoing observations.
Performs developmental, sensory and environmental screenings for each child enrolled and asses the family care provider environment using Family Child Care Environmental Rating System (FCCERS).
Distributes supplies and equipment during the program year. Maintains a log of all equipment lent out, and picks up all equipment at the end of the program year.
Assists in conducting the yearly compliance review as it pertains to the Family Child Care and Center based options.
Ensures that providers are trained on program standards, Head Start Program Performance Standards and Revised Head Start Act requirements.
Performs other duties as needed. Maintains enrollment and attendance reporting for the Family Child Care Program.
Reviews Classroom Attendance Point of Service Meal Count Sheet.
Calculates hours and rate of payment and gives check requests to CCPSM for review and approval.
Conducts childcare parent and provider orientation and training.
Attends training (statewide meeting, regional meetings, etc.) to improve program delivery and quality.
Provides education and/or represents the CPLC ECD programs at appropriate workshops, conferences, and meetings, as needed.
Promotes, participates and engages families in nutrition activities to make healthier choices that relates to wellbeing and Farm to School initiative.
Communicates the status of progress of work, responsible for ensuring data quality and provides suggestions based on the review of data to promote efficiency.
Performs other duties as needed.

OTHER RESPONSIBILITIES
Must have knowledge of Department of Economic Security Licensing AZ Child Care Regulations & Department of Health Services Child Care Group Homes, Title 9 Chapter 3.
Must demonstrate strong organizational skills, time management and documentation skills.
Must have (basic, strong, excellent) written and verbal skills.
Must maintain confidentiality at all times. Must be able to work evening hours and travel out of county as necessary.
Must be able to work with minimum supervision.
Conduct self in a professional manner with fellow employees, clients, and children.
Must be able to provide professional leadership in developing childcare resources.
Must be computer literate with knowledge of MS Office, MS Word and MS Excel.
Must have dependable, insured transportation and valid AZ Drivers License, and proof of insurance is required.
Develop relationships to encourage trust and respectful, environments that incorporate the unique cultural, ethnic, and linguistic backgrounds of families in the program and community.
Must use reasonable precautions in the performance of ones duties and to adhere to all applicable safety rules and practices; and act in such a manner as to ensure at all times maximum safety to ones self, fellow employees, clients and children.

JOB DEMANDS
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform essential functions of the job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. The employee frequently is required to sit and use hands and arms, along with fingers, to handle and feel. The employee is occasionally required to stand, walk, reach with hands and arms, climb or balance, stoop, kneel, bending at the waist, crouch or crawl. The employee must frequently lift and/or move up to 40 pounds. Must have dependable transportation and able to travel (in state/out of state). Ability to communicate clearly and effectively both verbally and in writing. Able to present operational information to personnel at all levels. Must be well organized and able to handle multiple tasks.

CONTINUOUS EDUCATION
Employee will be expected to participate in continuous learning, competency building and maintenance of competency skills. Ongoing professional development as identified in AZ Child Care Licensing, Head Start Act and Head Start Program Performance Standards is required annually.

TYPICAL WORKING CONDITIONS
Work is performed in structured environments. The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those encountered while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.

ACCOUNTABILITY
Reports to and is supervised directly by the Child Care Partnerships Service Manager. Employee is also accountable for understanding and complying with CPLC policies and procedures. Office of Head Start Initiatives, Program School Readiness Goals and Arizona Department of Health Child Care Licensing.