Parent Educator

Location: Phoenix, AZ

OBJECTIVES AND POSITION SUMMARY

Parent Educator (PE) conducts in-home visitation services in the form of Parents as Teachers to the South Phoenix Region in Maricopa County. Under direct supervision of the Program Coordinator and observation provided by the Senior Parent Educator, this role provides in-home educational services to families, as well as information/referrals to support and assist parents with the tools to promote healthy child development in the early years of life. Under direct supervision, a PE will provide guidance by helping a parent to become their childs first teacher. This involves teaching the parents developmentally appropriate evidenced-based curriculum customized for the specific needs of their family to promote optimal growth and brain development. A PE will encourage meaningful interactions between parent and child, while supporting a parent to feel empowered and an advocate for their family.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS AND COMPETENCIES

• Bachelors Degree or must be actively enrolled in degree program in early childhood education, social work, family studies, psychology or related field of study or proof that completion of the preferred degree. A professional plan must be in place to complete degree within approximately 12 months.
• Minimum of 2 years of experience working directly with culturally & economically diverse populations of parents, infants, and children.
• Must be at least 21 years of age.
• Must have a valid drivers license.
• Must have access to safe, reliable transportation with valid automobile insurance.
• Must have a valid Arizona Level One Fingerprint Clearance card.
• Must be able to pass Department of Child Safety Central Registry Background Check.
• Complete Foundational and Model Implementation Training with Parents as Teachers within 3 months of hire and maintain their Parents as Teachers certification throughout employment as a funder requirement.
• Complete CPR and First Aid certifications within 90 days of hire and maintain the certifications throughout employment.
• Minimum of 20 hours per Fiscal Year of continuing education and competency building, including but not limited, to Relias Learning, Conference, Workshops, and/or Outside Training.
• Knowledge and/or experience with infant & child development, parent-child attachment, possible behavioral health dynamics of caregivers, as well as the dynamics of child abuse & neglect.
• Knowledge and/or experience with strength-based and family-centered provision of primary prevention services.
• Able to assist in identifying individual/family strengths and planning/advocating around individual/family goals.
• Knowledge and/or experience with community resources as well as how to navigate/access these resources for families (some examples of services include Social Service Agencies, Provider Systems such as behavioral health, and division of developmental disabilities.)
• Possess strong communication and interpersonal skills (e.g., nonjudgmental, objective, reflective, empathic, patient, tactful).
• Possess strong written and verbal communication skills to promote clear understanding.
• Ability to be self-motivated and work independently, cohesively within team dynamics, and under direct supervision to effectively meet program requirements/objectives.
• Ability to plan, organize, schedule, keep appropriate records, and develop effective programmatic communications with supervisory guidance.
• Knowledge and/or experience in cultural diversity, substance abuse, sexual abuse, family violence that may have an impact of child abuse and neglect on child development, preferred.
• Demonstrate interest and ability to advocate with and on behalf of low-income, diverse families, preferred.
• Previous experience in In-home visitation services, preferred.
• Bilingual (English and Spanish), required.

PRIMARY DUTIES AND ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Assist with providing services focused on positive parent-child interaction, effective parenting and overall family well-being using curriculum, methods of service delivery, and documenting accurate information of all participants whom are provided service within the In-Home setting.
• Assist with identifying factors that determine the safety of a child with caregiver and others living in the household to make a determination if a Child Abuse Report is mandated to report to DCS hotline due to any suspected abuse, neglect, and/or safety concern, or reportable incident.
• Provide appropriate and timely services as indicated in the service plan and optional services as agreed upon by supervisor, agency and contractor. Assist with carrying out activities in annual work plan and agencys strategic plan.
• Ensure communication between program staff and families is neutral and in regard to arranging services, obtaining information to address familys needs, or for communicating issues that may endanger the safety of the children.
• Under direct and in-direct observation by Program Coordinator and/or Senior Parent Partner, conducts monthly/bi-monthly personal home visits based on funder requirements and focused on parent-child interaction, development-centered parenting, family well-being, and risk/care; including planning, delivering & documenting visits
• Maintain a case weight of 40 or less points until 12-months post Foundational Training 1 (F1). At 12-months post F1 training, case load will be evaluated after completed 2 home visit observations for increase in capacity.
• Assist with and conduct Intake/Assessments and provide progress on goals. Maintain program requirements based on the funders Scope of Work as well as evaluating progress of assessments.
• Assist with conducting independent client-based risk assessments for assigned families.
• Assist with developing treatment plans and processes for assigned families, including but not limited to curriculum, resources, and skills training.
• Promote positive, strength-based interactions between staff, participants, potential participants, community service providers/members, and internal/external key partners to maintain retention in regards to participation and collaboration.
• Assist with appropriate developmental/educational activities, including but not limited to delivering evidenced based information via curriculum to parents regarding child development, related parenting topics, family health, engaging in interactive play, promotion of literacy, and implementation of protective factors within the family.
• Assist with conducting mandatory developmental, hearing and vision screenings with children.
• Assist with designing and coordinating Group Connection activities with assigned caseload.
• Attend Program social events, including but not limited to, group connections to support families on assigned caseload.
• Track progress for assigned families to determine level of program completion.
• Assist with family discharge based on completed services.
• Connect families to resources that help them reach their goals and address their needs.
• Provide educational evidenced-based printed materials to parents regarding child development and relative parenting issues.
• Track participants needs, activities, visits, and procedures that are required for program sustainability.
• Prepare and submit timely documentation and reports, maintain client records in accordance to professional standards and funder requirements.
• Testify in court regarding cases according to Parenting Arizona policy when subpoenaed.
• Responsible for reporting incidents and/or emergencies to their direct supervisor within 12 hours.
• Serve as mandated reporter of child abuse if disclosed in any form and must immediately report the incident to their supervisor and make a DCS Hotline report
• Attend regular meetings with supervisor to review case history and implement service plan; attend staff meetings and staffing as requested.
• Maintain healthy professional boundaries with staff, participants, potential participants, community service providers/members, and internal/external key partners to maintain effective quality services.
• Display respect, dignity, and diversity to any participant, potential participant, child, funder, and internal/external key partners in a non-judgmental manner that will honor the participants rights to privacy and confidentially.
• Adhere to all contractual agreements between Parenting Arizona and funding sources as well as agency policies and procedures.
• Responsible for understanding and complying with CPLC, DCS and any other funder/contract policies and procedures.
• Responsible for successful completion of specified and program required trainings.
• Other duties as assigned.

Other Requirements

(to be maintained until caseload is full)

• Will be responsible in reviewing data trends in relation to meet PAT Essential Requirements and Quality Standards in order to remain in good standing as a Blue Ribbon Program
• Will report major trends and errors to QA specialist, program supervisor and program coordinators.
• Will maintain and create relationships with community partners to increase recruitment into the program. This will include attending networking meetings and will send out program flyers and calendars to shareholders in Phoenix South.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS AND TYPICAL WORKING CONDITIONS

This position is both a mobile and a sedentary position with periods of light physical activity, and is performed mostly in office and residential settings based on the areas assigned. Positions typical in nature require regular walking or standing; sitting, lifting and carrying up to 20 pounds; climbing stairs, bending, reaching, holding, grasping and turning objects; and using fingers to operate computer keyboards. This position will require the ability to speak normally and to use normal or aided vision and hearing.

Position works a full-time, shift-based schedule determined by family and funder needs. Must anticipate frequent schedule changes and be available to work mornings, days, evenings and weekends as needed because home visits occur based on the familys availability and times that are convenient for them to meet.

Significant local and interstate travel will be required, including but not limited to, client residences and community locations, as well as to Chicanos Por La Causa, Inc., locations, its affiliates and/or subsidiaries. Some interstate and intrastate travel for training purposes may be necessary. Technology will be utilized to minimize travel whenever feasible. The travel requirements for this position are anticipated to be approximately 75 percent.