Family Educator - Head Start - Bilingual Required

MWVCAA invests in people and their futures to reduce the impacts of poverty. We envision a community where all people are respected for their infinite worth and supported to reach a positive future. Working at MWVCAA means becoming part of a mission-driven community dedicated to equity, dignity, and opportunity for all.

About the role

As a Family Educator (Spanish bilingual required), you will work with families in a home-visit setting to provide resources and referrals, assist with family goal setting, and support self-sufficiency. You will collaborate with team members to deliver services in education, health, nutrition, disabilities accommodation, family services, and parental involvement. This role supports families in becoming advocates for their children’s education and active members of their communities. The position offers growth opportunities and professional development through hands-on experience.

Responsibilities

• Health:
  • Support families in obtaining children’s physical and mental examinations.
  • Assist families with obtaining and maintaining health insurance, medical homes, and dental homes.
  • Support program activities regarding health.
  • Use the ChildPlus system for collection and tracking of child and family data.
  • Assist in planning, organizing, and conducting child hearing, vision, and growth screenings.
• Family Services:
  • Utilize the Parent-Family Community Engagement (PFCE) framework to provide home visits, goal setting, assessments, resources, referrals, community engagement, parenting education, and follow-up support.
  • Conduct at least 2 family service home visits per year, totaling 3 contact hours.
  • Assist families in establishing and coordinating family goals and action plans.
  • Maintain ongoing documentation of communication with families.
• Parental Involvement and Meetings:
  • Partner with families to organize monthly site parent meetings.
• Eligibility, Recruitment, Selection, Enrollment, and Attendance (ERSEA):
  • Monitor children’s attendance, including requests for extended leave.
• Perform other reasonably related business duties as assigned by supervisors.

Requirements

• Education and/or Experience:
  • Level 1: Associate’s degree in Social Work, Behavioral Health, or a related field with a minimum of 18 credit hours in Social Work or Behavioral Health.
  • Level 2: Bachelor’s degree in Social Work, Behavioral Health, or a related field with a minimum of 18 credit hours in Social Work or Behavioral Health.
  • One year of experience in social service delivery or case management.
• Certificates, Licenses, Registrations:
  • Valid driver’s license, auto insurance, and satisfactory driving record for the past 3 years.
  • Successful registration with the Central Background Registry of the Child Care Division.
  • Pass pre-employment physical examination (renewable every two years).
  • Pass pre-employment and random drug/alcohol screenings.
• Skills and Abilities:
  • Bilingual English-Spanish is required; must pass a bilingual exam demonstrating fluent speaking, reading, and writing in both languages. Bilingual staff receive a pay differential based on test results.
  • Experience working with families and children preferred.
  • Proficiency in Microsoft Office (Teams, Outlook, Word, Excel) and videoconferencing platforms.
  • Effective communication skills with individuals and groups.

Work Environment

• Indoor office work environment with frequent interruptions and demands.
• Close quarters in family’s personal home settings.
• Frequent driving to agency and family home sites in Polk and Marion counties.
• Frequent interactions with vulnerable populations, including children.

Physical and Mental Demands

• Reasonable accommodations may be made for individuals with disabilities.
• Specific vision abilities required, including close vision and ability to adjust focus.
• Occasional lifting up to 10 pounds and/or moving up to 50 pounds.

Benefits

• 401k with matching after 1 year.
• Employee Assistance Program.
• Life insurance.
• Health, vision, and dental insurance.
• AFLAC coverage.
• Pet insurance through MetLife.
• Eligibility for company-sponsored continuing education (for some positions).