Parent Educator

About the role

Provides group-based education, individual consultation, and support services to caregivers and children in office, community, or home-based settings. Direct service activities include developmental screening, service planning, teaching, resource and referral, supporting parent/child interactions, crisis management, developing informal and formal support networks, observing and documenting parent/child interactions, and fielding telephone warm line calls. Community outreach and collaboration with stakeholders, active engagement in internal and external teams, and staff training are required. In some offices, assists with grant writing, program development, and serves as a service leader for the organization and/or the Health System.

Responsibilities

• Provides services with awareness and sensitivity to clients’ cultural values and beliefs, maintaining fidelity to program models and seeking innovative practices to support outcomes.
• Plans and implements appropriate curricula, offering information on child-rearing, child development, behavior management, and family communication to promote safety and well-being.
• Recruits participants through formal marketing and agency collaboration, processes intake, and maintains records of activities, attendance, and services.
• Collaborates with data staff and program leaders to design implementation processes and evaluate programs using evidence-informed materials.
• Administers pre- and post-testing for parents, collects data, and prepares reports.
• Provides feedback and evaluation opportunities for participants, incorporating results into program improvement.
• Assists with activities before, during, and after multiple family group sessions, including shopping, obtaining supplies, and setting up/cleaning equipment.
• Participates in community prevention activities through collaborations and teams; may assist with grant writing and program development.
• Assesses participant needs and provides educational and supportive activities for children and caregivers according to program protocols.
• Refers families to community services for needs outside the parent educator role and coordinates services across systems.
• Completes necessary paperwork, including progress notes, pre/post-testing, and file maintenance; provides regular reports as requested.
• Establishes rapport and supportive relationships with caregivers, modeling and teaching child-rearing skills.
• Facilitates educational workshops/groups or meets with caregivers one-on-one in homes or offices.
• Fields warm line calls and may travel regularly for outreach activities.
• Maintains continuing education requirements and participates in agency-sponsored meetings.

Requirements

• High School graduate or Certificate of General Educational Development (GED) or High School Equivalency Diploma (HSED) required.
• Bachelor’s Degree preferred.
• 1+ years of experience working in community programs with families of diverse ethnic, cultural, and socioeconomic backgrounds required.
• Experience working with children and families required; experience with diverse families strongly preferred.
• Must complete one of the following within 2 years of hire:
  • PAT certification training, OR
  • Nurturing Parenting Program, OR
  • Triple P, OR
  • Technical College Infant Toddler Credential, OR
  • PIWI SEFEL Training, AND
  • SEFEL Solutions for Parents Training, AND
  • SEFEL Pyramid Model (WI modified), AND
  • 16 hours of Child Development Training (covering physical/cognitive development, emerging literacy, and language development for children 0–5 years).

Skills

• Bilingual in Spanish/English or Hmong/English is a plus.
• Commitment to improving cultural competence, valuing diversity, and recognizing personal limitations.
• Accepting of individual differences and demonstrated knowledge of psychosocial, economic, and cultural determinants of healthy growth and development.
• Working knowledge of current trends in prevention and family support, ecological theories, and family support principles.
• Ability to establish trusting relationships and work with families and children facing safety issues or related problems.

Location

This role works across all Northwoods locations, including Rhinelander, Antigo, and Merrill, based on scheduling and program needs.