Summary: The Tri-County Opportunities Council Early Head Start/Head Start Program serves 483 expectant mothers and children ages birth to five in the nine Illinois Counties of Bureau, Carroll, LaSalle, Lee, Marshall, Ogle, Putnam, Stark, and Whiteside. The program offers comprehensive child and family development services to those deemed eligible. The program’s primary goals are to partner with parents to promote self-esteem, increase self-confidence, and advance school readiness skills for children. Comprehensive programming includes education, medical, dental, mental health, and nutritional services; welcomes children with disabilities or special needs; and provides family education, advancement, and social service support while connecting enrolled families to community resources and transportation assistance. The program offers various options to meet the needs of children, families, and communities throughout all nine counties.
Mission Statement: T.C.O.C. Head Start is committed to taking the leadership role in developing partnerships to build stronger communities. We create and nurture supportive experiences that lead to successful outcomes for children, families, and staff.
Agency Name: Tri-County Opportunities Council
Program Name: Early Head Start/Head Start Program
Job Title: Parent Child Educator
Reports to: Home Base Site Supervisor
Status: Non-Exempt; Full Year; 40 hours/week (Office Location: LaSalle/Peru or Ottawa, Illinois)
Qualifications:
Education/Experience:
Minimum of AAS in child development, early childhood education, human services, social services or closely related field, or enrolled in a degree program with a current Home Visitor or Infant-Toddler Child Development Associate Credential (CDA). Previous experience working in a childcare setting or family development program. In addition to the above requirements, nine credits in infant-toddler coursework are required.
An employee hired without these credits will be required to sign a professional development plan upon hire with a designated timeline in which these credits will need to be completed.
Skills/Characteristics/Physical Requirements:
Demonstrated ability to establish a relationship of trust, respect and non-judgmental attitude when working with children, parents, staff and the community-at-large. Ability to work with individuals from various economics, educational and cultural backgrounds. Must be adaptable, flexible and emotionally mature. Must have excellent oral and written communication skills. Must have the ability to be self-directed as well as the ability to follow supervisor direction. Must maintain confidentiality. Required to provide personal transportation to each home visit and all required T.C.O.C. Head Start/Early Head Start trainings in an insured vehicle with the driver of the vehicle having a valid driver’s license. Must be capable of entering and exiting program centers and family homes. Required to bend, reach overhead, lift and carry up to 40 pounds in case of an emergency. Must be at least twenty-one (21) years of age. Must pass a general physician’s health examination and TB test prior to employment and every two years thereafter. Must obtain and maintain certification in First Aid and CPR. Employment in this position is contingent on cleared criminal background check, cleared background check as per the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services Licensing Standards and Policy Council approval.
Essential Duties, Functions and Responsibilities:
Policies and Regulations:
Must be knowledgeable of, and adhere and contribute to the program’s full compliance with:
- Head Start/Early Head Start Program Performance Standards, particularly those related directly to the home-based option.
- Illinois Department of Children and Family Services Licensing Standards and Child Care Act as it relates to child abuse and neglect and the mandated reporter requirements.
- Tri-County Opportunities Council Personnel Policies and other related agency policies and procedures.
- Tri-County Opportunities Council Head Start/Early Head Start procedural manuals as they relate to this position.
Must act in accordance with the grantee agency and the Head Start/Early Head Start program’s mission statements.
Must adhere to grantee code of conduct and the Head Start/Early Head Start Code of Ethics.
Insure that children are adequately supervised by qualified staff at all times (as per the programs Safety policy, a child left unsupervised while in my care will result in immediate termination).
General Caseload Management Responsibilities:
- Facilitate weekly home visits of 90 minutes as per annually developed schedule.
- Work cooperatively with parents to develop weekly home visit and weekly at-home activity plans based on each child’s assessment and identified family strengths and needs. Discuss and evaluate with parents as implemented.
- In partnership with parents, plan and implement parent-child interaction groups and parent support groups.
- Maintain confidentiality of child and family records.
Education Planning and Implementation:
- Plan activities and lessons that are developmentally appropriate, that enhance each child’s growth and development and that correspond to the Parents as Teachers; Born to Learn curriculum.
- Integrate all service area components within the context of each home visit.
- Individualize for children and families as per program procedures.
- Document planned activities on the weekly ‘Personal Visit Record’ and submit these to the Home-Base Supervisor on a monthly basis.
- Use the community as a teaching resource by inviting community members to socialization evens as per parents needs/interests.
Child Assessment Responsibilities:
- In partnership with parents/guardians, complete the DECA I/T Social and Emotional assessment on each child during the Initial Home Visit.
- In partnership with parents/guardians, complete an Ages and Stages (ASQ) developmental screening on each child within 45 days of enrollment. Assessment update will be ongoing throughout the year.
- Develop, in partnership with parents, an individual development plan for each child.
- In partnership with parents, complete a functional hearing and vision assessment within 45 days of enrollment. In addition, gather existing information from local health care professionals who have administered hearing and vision screenings.
- Responsible for tracking development of children through daily observation by the Parent-Child Educator and/or reported by the parent.
- Responsible for completion and updates of the GOLD Online Assessment.
Planning and Support for Children with Disabilities:
- Incorporate goals and objectives from IFSP’s into planning for individual children.
- Participate in IEP or IFSP staffing, as required.
- Work cooperatively with the Disability/Mental Health Specialist to ensure all needed consents are obtained for referrals, diagnostic evaluations, treatment and/or special services.
- Attend staffing with LEA’s and other organizations as requested.
- Maintain regular communication with staff from other early childhood programs for those children that are dually enrolled.
Physical Health, Dental Health, Mental Health, Nutrition and Safety Responsibilities:
Medical and Dental Health:
- Assist families to arrange and attend medical and dental appointments as required by the program, including designated follow-up services, as needed.
- Assist families in maintaining current health records for the enrolled child and other children in the family.
- Conduct health checks of each child with the parent during each home visit.
- Provide health, dental and safety resources and activities at least one time per month.
- Encourage and model proper tooth brushing techniques/dental care for children and parents.
- Report contagious diseases to Health Specialist immediately.
- Provide education on prenatal development for expectant moms.
Nutrition:
- Plan and implement at least one nutrition experience monthly during regularly scheduled home visits.
- Provide families with nutritional resources and information on an ongoing basis.
Mental Health:
- Follow procedures as per the program’s Guidance and Discipline Policy regarding children with challenging behaviors.
- Work cooperatively with assigned Mental Health Consultant.
Parent and Family Involvement Responsibilities:
Support the development of parents/guardians and the family by:
- Assisting families in identifying family resources and strengths.
- Encourage and promote activities that lead toward family self-sufficiency.
- Work with the Family and Community Service Worker to update FPA information in accordance with the FPA process.
- Encourage parent efforts in developing health self-concepts for themselves and their children.
- Foster parent belief that they are their child(ren)’s primary teacher and reinforce this concept with practical suggestions and resources.
Cooperate and support the assigned Family and Community Services Worker by:
- Promoting parent participation in program’s educational and community workshops and trainings, Policy Council membership and monthly parent meetings.
- Facilitate monthly parent meetings. Include a curriculum planning session for each of those meetings.
- Communicate regarding relevant family issues and concerns.
- Collect in-kind documentation from parents each week.
Provide opportunities for parent involvement by:
- Planning weekly home visit activities in partnership with parents.
- Conduct two parent/teacher conferences annually as per the program’s schedule and required procedures.
- Discuss upcoming events with parents/guardians during home visits.
- Support the program’s male involvement initiative.
Recordkeeping:
Child Files:
- Responsible for maintaining each child’s file in a neat and orderly fashion.
- Responsible for insuring each child’s file is kept confidential at all times.
- Responsible for submitting Personal Visit Plans to the Home-Based Supervisor.
Program Paperwork:
- Responsible for neat, accurate and timely submission of all education, health, family involvement, nutrition and disability paperwork as per program requirements.
Personnel Paperwork:
- Submit personal payroll paperwork as per required schedules.
- Insure all required documentation for personnel file is current and up-to-date.
Team Participation:
Responsibilities to the Home-Based Supervisor:
- Submit a weekly home visit schedule at the beginning of each year. Submit updates as caseload enrollment changes.
- Obtain prior approval for socialization or home visit schedule changes due to family cancellations, weather, illness or other extenuating circumstances.
- Maintain respectful, open and regular communication.
- Complete assignments as directed.
Responsibilities to the T.C.O.C. Head Start/Early Head Start team:
- Work cooperatively with assigned Family and Community Service Worker to assure the provision of quality services to families.
- Insure that the center-based classroom used for socialization days is left neat and orderly.
- Actively participate in the program-wide effort to identify and document sources of
- Non-Federal revenue.
Benefits:
- Dental Insurance (Must work 20 hours/per week)
- Vision Insurance (Must work 20 hours/per week)
- Life Insurance (Must work 20 hours/per week)
- Health Insurance – 2 Plans (Must work 30 hours/per week)
- Partially Paid Family Medical Leave
- Bereavement Leave
- Sick Time
- Paid Time Off
- Retirement Savings Plan
- Career Advancement Opportunities
For current staff applying for a different position, the wage is base pay (based on current qualifications) plus 1% for each year of previous agency employment.
Tri-County Opportunities Council is an Equal Opportunity Employer and provider. Applications from women, individuals with disabilities, veterans, and people from diverse cultural backgrounds are encouraged.
Job Type: Full-time
Pay: $16.00 - $22.74 per hour
Expected hours: 40 per week
Benefits:
- Dental insurance
- Health insurance
- Life insurance
- Paid time off
- Professional development assistance
- Retirement plan
- Vision insurance
Schedule:
- Day shift
- Monday to Friday
Education:
- Associate (Preferred)
License/Certification:
- Driver's License (Preferred)
- Child Development Associate Certification (Preferred)
Ability to Commute:
- Peru, IL 61354 (Preferred)
Willingness to travel:
- 75% (Required)
Work Location: In person
