CCRR Developmental Support Coach

About the Role

CCR&R Developmental Services Coach partners with early childhood professionals across Tennessee to promote best practices in inclusion, provide technical assistance, develop training resources, support family connections to services, and build educator confidence in serving children with diverse developmental needs. This role helps child care centers develop strategies to incorporate and serve children with special needs in their environment. The position requires living in and frequent travel within the Upper East Tennessee Region.

Responsibilities

• Identify best practices, trends, and topics related to inclusion of children with disabilities in the early childhood classroom and share information with the inclusion coach team and other network coaches and coordinators.
• Train CCR&R Network in quality practices related to inclusion of children with disabilities.
• Attend all meetings, conference calls, and on-site visits for Developmental Services Coaches.
• Assist educators in making connections with and referrals to Tennessee Department of Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities/Tennessee Early Intervention System (TEIS) for children up to age 3 to expedite assessments and home-based therapies.
• Assist educators in making connections with and referrals to local school systems for children ages 3-5 to support smooth transitions between early care and kindergarten.
• Collaborate with AIMHi to develop trainings in best practices surrounding inclusion with AIMHiTN for the CCR&R Network, CCDF Partners, and the State.
• Provide specialized technical assistance for CCR&R Network Early Childhood Quality Coaches to support social and emotional behavior aspects of disabilities.
• Create tools and resources for child care agencies as well as parents and families.
• Collaborate with CCDF Partners in activities surrounding inclusion of children with disabilities.
• Develop a Training for Trainers to standardize inclusion training accessible to early childhood educators at basic and advanced levels.
• Develop a coaching system for inclusion providers using best practices.
• Provide coaching on challenging behaviors, developmental delays, and medically identified disabilities.
• Develop a Developmental Coaching Plan to be used in work with child care educators, identifying strategies for providing meaningful care and education including but not limited to:
  • Autism
  • Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome
  • Significant behavior disorders
  • Communication disorders
  • Physical disabilities
  • Developmental delays
  • Medical conditions
  • Co-occurring disorders
• Support the development of Enhanced Quality Improvement Plans (EQIPs).
• Assist parents and families with navigating available resources and services as well as strengthen parents’ understanding of rights and advocacy for the needs of their child(ren).
• Provide support for Regional Children in Disaster Task Force including consultation with child care agencies for emergency preparedness planning related to children with disabilities.
• Provide technical support to the local CCR&R staff around inclusion-related topics.
• Meet with key staff at each CCR&R and its local area.
• Serve as facilitator for Train-the-Trainer Institutes.
• Collaborate with applicable State agencies around inclusion-related topics.
• Positively market the CCR&R Network to the community.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution in Early Childhood Special Education, Early Childhood Education, Special Education, or a related field.
• Minimum of five years of experience in this or a related field.
• Experience working with children with disabilities in an early childhood environment.
• Dependable transportation, valid driver’s license, and insurance required for frequent travel within the service delivery area.
• Physical examination and record of negative TB test results must be on file with Signal Centers.
• Excellent writing, presentation, and communication skills.
• Ability to work from a remote home environment within the state of TN.
• Ability and willingness to travel.
• Ability to train adults using principles of adult learning.

Skills

• Ability to serve as a liaison between Signal Centers, Inc., and the subcontracted Child Care Resource and Referral agencies.
• Ability to maintain and share knowledge and understanding of inclusion of children with disabilities consistent with best practice and apply those within the structure of the Tennessee Child Care Resource & Referral Network agencies.
• Ability to identify issues related to successful inclusion of children with disabilities in the early childhood classroom.
• Ability to train adults using adult learning strategies and provide technical assistance.
• Consistently model core values of Accountability, Community Impact, Compassion, Trustworthiness, and Teamwork.
• Ability to interact with staff, early childhood professionals, Network Management, community partners, and funders in a respectful and professional manner.
• Ability to create and embrace new ideas, creative problem-solving, improve services, and delivery methods.
• Ability to work cooperatively with staff, early childhood professionals, Network Management, funders, and community partners.
• Ability to be wise, accountable, and careful with use of resources and time.
• Ability to conduct oneself with honesty, reliability, and fairness, adhering to the code of ethics.
• Ability to work equitably with staff, early childhood professionals, Network Management, community partners, and funders to support high-quality services.

Benefits

• Competitive benefits package including health, vision, and dental coverage, HSA, Dependent Care FSA, group life insurance, Teladoc (telemedicine), EAP mental health resources, and short & long-term disability options.
• Up to 4% matching 401(k) employer contribution, plus a 3% base contribution.
• Generous paid time off to support work-life balance.
• Employee discounts on paid services.