EARLY HEAD START PRENATAL EDUCATOR Job Opening

LOWER ELWHA HEAD START

JOB DESCRIPTION

EARLY HEAD START PRENATAL EDUCATOR

OVERVIEW: The Early Head Start Prenatal Educator must be professionally prepared and qualified to work with expectant families in a culturally relevant manner. Must have knowledge of fetal development, infant/toddler development, Head Start requirements, and sensitive to families and their individual needs.

WORK LOCATION: Lower Elwha Head Start

SUPERVISED BY: Head Start Director

POSITION STATUS: Full Time

SALARY LEVEL: Level 9 $16.61

WORK SCHEDULE: Monday thru Friday, 8?4:30, may require some evenings and weekends

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS OF JOB:

• Plan and implement bi-monthly home visits which are individualized for each expectant family and meet the requirements in the Head Start Performance Standards and the Head Start Act.
• Plan and implement bi-monthly prenatal education/socializations that are individualized for the expectant families and meet the requirements in the Head Start Performance Standards and the Head Start Act.
• Ensure that all Early Head Start component areas are included in planning of lessons and adapted to the families? unique needs: physical, cognitive, social/emotional development; health; safety; nutrition; and culture.
• Prepare materials and supplies for all prenatal education activities.
• Ensure that expectant mothers have access to comprehensive prenatal care and are attending all prenatal appointments.
• Use appropriate screening tools to screen for depression and postpartum depression.
• Work in collaboration with Olympic Medical Center?s New Family Services to ensure that expectant families receive child birth education classes.
• Work in collaboration with Lower Elwha Health Clinic, WIC, and MSS to ensure families are receiving WIC and are offered MSS services.
• Establish a working relationship with the clinics that see prenatal clients in town and the Lower Elwha Health Clinic to assist in the recruitment of expectant families.
• Stay up-to-date on the new developments of breastfeeding, car seat safety, fathering, postpartum development, nutrition, SIDS, promoting first relationships, and risks of alcohol and substance use during pregnancy.
• Maintain ongoing communication and collaboration with all managers at all times.
• In collaboration with Head Start Director, ensure referrals for all component areas are processed as needed.
• Responsible for maintaining a safe, healthy environment appropriate for infants/toddlers, and cleanliness of the facilities for monthly socialization activities.
• Work in collaboration with families to develop individual goals for all families
• Gearing the program to the needs of individual families with concern for their developmental level, interests, special needs, special talents, and individual style and pace of learning.
• Treat children and families with dignity and respect.
• Provide ongoing information with families on all areas of prenatal development and child birth
• Possess knowledge of the Early Head Start program and be able to communicate the information to families and community.
• Assisting the Education manager and Family Community Partnership Manager in planning a smooth transition of newborn infants to EHS, ensuring family participation in the decision making process.
• Encourage and support family involvement in all aspects of the Early Head Start program.
• Attend all staff meetings, in-service trainings, and required trainings (CPR, First Aid, CA/N, Food Handlers?, etc.) each school year.
• Actively participate in recommended trainings/classes for ongoing professional development and be able to share new information with staff.
• Maintain client files and data to monitor services provided and compliance.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES REQUIRED BY POSITION:

• Ability to interact with families in a professional and respectful manner in the classroom and in their home environment.
• Ability to assist and supervise infants/toddlers and ensure a safe learning environment including the ability to monitor and respond at all times. This includes the physical ability to move quickly, keeping in visual contact, and assesses situations with good judgment.
• Ability to model to families teaching methods for infants and toddlers that will enhance their learning and development.
• Ability to respond appropriately (both mentally and physically) to an emergency or a crisis situation.
• Knowledge of pregnancy issues in all component areas.
• Knowledge of Birth-to-Three Early Childhood Education and Development
• Ability to be a sensitive and mature individual who is able to relate well to infants, toddlers, and adults.
• Ability to provide professional leadership and stability for program continuity.
• Maintain program documentation in a timely manner as required by management and regulations.
• Collaborate with Head Start Director to handle any staff and/or family issues that develop in a professional manner.
• Follow chain of command for all conflict situations.
• Ability to use a computer, word, excel, and other databases proficiently.
• Maintain confidentiality at all times.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

• BA degree in Early Childhood Education, Certified Childbirth Educator, or related field and two years of classroom teaching as a family educator, or in pre-school setting, or any Head Start program preferred or;
• AA in Childhood Education, Certified Childbirth Educator, or related field and two years teaching experience as a family educator, or in an early childhood setting, or any Head Start program preferred
• Experience working with expectant families.
• Valid Washington State Drivers license, must be insurable
• First Aid/Infant and Child CPR required. Must keep current.
• A physical exam with results in letter form that states person is free of communicable diseases (Negative TB test) within 30 days of hire
• Communication skills: both verbal and written is necessary
• No prior convictions of child-related offenses or any felonies. Background check to be conducted prior to employment date
• Must be able to comply with the Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe Head Start Drug Free Workplace policies. Pre-Employment drug testing to be administer prior to employment

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:

• Must be able to lift and carry a child 20+ pounds
• Other Functional requirements:
• Moderate lifting, 15-50 pounds, moderate carrying over 25 pounds and light carrying under 10 pounds, and occasional lifting up to 60 pounds
• Have very good hearing; both eyes, hands, legs required
• Reaching above shoulders; use of hands and fingers;
• Daily kneeling, stooping, bending and sitting on the floor to attend to children?s needs (will include walking 4 hours; standing 4 hours; crawling one hour; kneeling 2 hours; stooping and bending 2 hours as needed in job duties).
• Ability to work at a desk for 4-6 hours a day.

OTHER DUTIES AND REQUIREMENTS:

• Availability to assume other duties within Head Start as needed.
• Provide for the physical needs of infants/toddlers, including diapering and feeding
• Other duties as specified by managers
• Reports to work at scheduled times and maintain a good attendance record; performs duties in a timely and professional manner; participates in all program activities with a positive attitude and behavior.
• As with all positions of the Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe this position is Indian Preference in hiring, in Accordance with P.L. 93-638

OPENING DATE:

CLOSING DATE:

CONTACT: Human Resource Manager

2851 Lower Elwha Road

Port Angeles, WA 98363