Home Visitor

About the role

SGA’s Early Head Start Home-based program serves children 0-3 years within the city of Chicago through weekly home visits engaging both the caregiver and the child. Additionally, families participate in bi-monthly group socializations, parent trainings, governance, and field trips. The Health & Mental Health Specialist plays a crucial role in ensuring the healthy development and success of the children and their families.

Responsibilities

• Provide and maintain 90-minute home visits for 10 children and/or pregnant women on a weekly basis.
• Conduct at minimum 46 home visits for each child during the program year.
• Plan and implement developmentally appropriate home-based activities based on child’s assessment and identified family needs.
• Complete weekly child observations and enter into COR.
• Absorb and implement the Family Partnership Agreement with parents.
• Complete developmental and social-emotional screenings using the ASQ-3, ASQ-SE and ESI-R tools according to screening schedule.
• Complete hearing and vision screenings according to program schedule.
• Complete Family Assessment, Nutrition Assessment and Family Goals according to program timelines.
• Update Family Goals according to program schedule.
• Follow up with family goals monthly and enter notes in Child Plus.
• Refer and link parents to needed services in cooperation with the ERSEA Coordinator.
• Implement protocols to address and follow up on chronic absenteeism.
• Plan for child’s transition to Head Start or Chicago Public Schools in cooperation with parent, completes all transition activities, documentation and data entry.
• Serve as an advocate for families and as a liaison between families, the program and the community.
• Avoidance of child abuse or neglect.
• Encourage parent participation in the Parent Policy Committee meetings as well as group socializations and other events or trainings.
• Complete required Child Plus and COR data entry, Parents As Teachers (PAT) lesson plans, Personal Visit Records and in-kind on a weekly basis.
• Maintain and preserve a confidential family file.
• Participate in monthly reflective supervision with the Home Based Supervisor.
• Participate in staffings and Family Child Reviews according to the program schedule.
• Assist in planning and implementation of socializations.
• Participate in agency and grantee trainings, meetings and other events.
• Contribute to the Agency’s efforts related to prevention and integrated service delivery with other community providers.
• Illustrates knowledge of the Agency’s Continuous Quality Improvement Activities.
• Complete other duties as assigned.
• Participate in on-going training and staff development provided by the funding source, agency, consultants, workshops and conferences.
• Support and contribute to inter-system collaboration with other service providers to improve social service delivery systems.

Requirements

• Education: Associate’s degree in Early Childhood Education, a minimum of 12 ECE credit hours and/or a Home Visitor CDAGateways ECE Level 4.
• Experience: At least two years of experience in the Early Head Start program is preferred.
• Bilingual Spanish/English is preferred.
• Other Sensitivity: Cultural diversity is required.
• Skills: Communication and cooperation with diverse families, various professionals and community groups.
• Physical Requirements: Must be able to remain stationary 50% of the time, move frequently, lift up to 25 lbs., and work in various weather conditions.

Benefits

• Health Insurance HMO and PPO options
• Dental Insurance
• Vision Insurance
• Short & Long-Term Disability
• Flexible Spending Account
• Employee Life Insurance
• 403b Retirement Plan
• RTA Commuter Benefit
• Time Off Eligible after 90 days
• 10 days accrued vacation
• 10 days accrued sick
• 2 Personal days