Description

Join our Human Services Team!

Purpose:

We are hiring one full-time Infant Toddler Specialist in the Early Head Start Program in our Developmental Disabilities and Early Learning Division.

Position Purpose:

The focus of this position is to provide comprehensive child development services for infants and toddlers in partnership with their family. Infant Toddler Specialists provide home-based services that include supporting parents/caregivers to implement learning experiences that promote healthy infant-toddler development and that support families to access community resources for increased stability and well-being. 

About You:

Ideal candidates have demonstrated knowledge and experience related to early learning and family support services, have demonstrated skills related to data collection and entry, collaboration with other early learning providers, and have experience participating in reflective practices, coaching, equitable approaches, and trauma-informed care. Bilingual English/Spanish preferred.

This position requires an Associates, Bachelors, or advanced degree in early childhood education, or an Associate degree or higher in a related field and coursework equivalent to an Associate degree in ECE and two years of experience in early childhood education. 

To Be Considered:

Applicants must electronically submit an application through Snohomish County’s Neo Gov site by 11: 50 p.m. on the closing date. A resume and cover letter are required. When your application is complete, verify the information and make sure there is nothing missing. Be sure to verify your education and/or experience comply with the minimum requirements section of the posting. Click on APPLY & SUBMIT and then click on CHECK APPLICATION STATUS. If you have problems with your application, please contact Neo Gov Application Support at 855-524-5627.

About Human Services:

Human Service Department mission is to help all person meet their basic needs and develop their potential by providing timely, effective human services and building community. The Human Services Department includes 300 diverse, friendly and dedicated employees who benefit from outstanding benefits and competitive wages. Employees are appreciated andhave the opportunity to make a real difference in our community. Snohomish County is thriving and is a great place to live, work, play, and raise a family. We strive to not only provide a meaningful lob, but a life-long career at Snohomish County.

Job Offers are contingent on successful completion of reference and background checks. Snohomish County will not sponsor or take over sponsorship of an employment visa for this opportunity. In compliance with federal law, all persons hired will be required to verify identity and eligibility to work in the United States.

Snohomish County Human Services strives to be an equitable and trauma-informed department. Our department believes every interaction, procedure, and policy provides an opportunity to build a pathway toward a more resilient and restorative Snohomish County.

BASIC FUNCTION

To provide comprehensive child development services for infants and toddlers in partnership with their parents/guardians. Infant/Toddler Specialists work in either a center-based program, home based option, or combination option that includes home visits and socialization experiences. The Infant/Toddler Specialist helps develop appropriate early learning experiences in the home for infants and toddlers and provides family services to their parents. This position may provide services to pregnant women with the support from the Health Coordinator.

Job Duties

1. Develop positive relationships with infants and toddlers and their parents that promote parent-child bonding and nurturing parent-child relationships.
2. Visit parents once a week to support the parent as the child's primary teacher and provide support to enhancing the home learning environment.
3. Partner with the parent in planning home visits to meet the needs and interests of parent and child;
4. Organize two parent/child group (socialization) experiences a month for parents and their child for socialization with other parents and support learning goals.
5. Plan the socialization environment to provide learning experiences for infants and toddlers;
6. Maintain cleanliness and safety of indoor and outdoor play areas;
7. Use program curriculum to support the use of the child's routines and interests to guide activities;
8. Ensure the curriculum and activities meet the physical, social/emotional, health, nutritional safety needs and intellectual needs of the children;
9. Work with parents to plan activities to extend home socialization.
10. Ensure responsibilities in the home based option are met.
     

1. Conduct screenings and assessments of each child in all developmental areas and make referrals as needed;
2. Work with the Mental Health Consultant to ensure appropriate services are provided to children with significant challenging behaviors and their families;
3. Maintain ongoing written documentation of observations/assessments of individual children;
4. Work with the parents to develop individual learning plans from observations and child assessment;
5. Provide curriculum, a learning environment, and learning activities that are culturally sensitive and relevant to the development needs of each child and family;
6. Provide family services to parents through a Family Partnership Agreement process to involve assessing parents needs and interests, working with them to form development goals, and work with them to access resources to meet goals;
7. Support parent involvement in their child's education and in activities that will increase the parents' self-esteem and skills;
8. Work with program staff and community partners to provide services to parents to support their role as parents (including parenting skills training in basic child development) and services to help the families move toward self-sufficiency (including educational and employment services; as appropriate);
9. Partner with parents to develop transition plans when children move within the program or at six months before their third birthday to plan for transitions to preschool programs; 
10. Follow all program policies and procedures including confidentiality policies.

Minimum Qualifications

SPECIAL REQUIREMENT

• Proof of physical exam, including a TB skin test. For those who have tested positive, a statement from a doctor or a chest x-ray must be provided;
• Proof of CPR and Pediatric First Aid certification is required or obtained within 60 days of hire;
• Obtain a Food Handler's permit within 60 days of hiring;
• Completion of the Criminal History Background Check, agency criminal history declaration form, and fingerprinting; 
• Access to a personal vehicle with insurance coverage
• Must have a valid Washington State Driver's License, unrestricted except as to vision;
• Ability to lift up to 40 pounds.

Additional Information

Knowledge of:

• family services and working with low-income families
• infant/toddler development and early childhood education practices for children birth to three
• natural and formal child assessment methods
• reflective practice techniques
• group leadership and facilitation processes
• computer operation

Ability to:

• develop positive relationships with parents that supports nurturing parent/child bonding and attachment
• use good written and oral communication skills and basic computer skills
• bilingual in English and Spanish is highly preferred
• accept personal responsibility for the quantity and timeliness of work
• adapt easily to changing program needs, conditions, and work responsibilities
• plan and manage time effectively and coordinate activities, services, and schedules to ensure smooth and efficient operation of work
• demonstrate an ongoing commitment to learning and self-improvement
• earn the trust, respect and confidence of staff, children, and community partners by consistent honesty, forthrightness with professionalism in all interactions
• contribute to any environment that embraces diversity and uses diverse perspectives to enhance the attainment of organizational goals

SUPERVISION
This employee reports to the Early Childhood Education Supervisor.  Work is performed with considerable independence and is reviewed for quality, adequacy of professional judgment and compliance with established goals and policies through conferences, case records narratives, reports and appraisal of results obtained.

WORKING CONDITIONS 
Work is performed in the usual office environment, in client's homes and in a variety of community settings.

Snohomish County is an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) employer.Accommodations for individuals with disabilities are provided upon request. 
EEO policy and ADA notice