Early Head Start Family Child Care Specialist (Child Care Specialist I)

Job Announcement

Looking for a self-motivated and organized individual with early childhood experience who is ready to apply that knowledge to the family child care setting by coaching and mentoring family child care providers, working with families to achieve their goals, and helping children and families be school-ready.

In this position, you will:

• Recruit and enroll Early Head Start eligible families and provide comprehensive services (i.e., education, health, nutrition, and family services) in accordance with federal Head Start Program Performance Standards,
• Establish family partnership agreements that identify family goals to connect families to community resources that move them toward self-sufficiency,
• Provide case management by helping families negotiate educational, health and social services systems (e.g., basic needs assistance, employment resources, financial assistance, and healthcare),
• Encourage families to take a leadership role in the Early Head Start program and in their child’s education, health, and development (e.g., support families to maintain a comprehensive and preventive health care program for their children as outlined by the Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnostic and Treatment [EPSDT] schedule),
• Implement parenting curriculum that strengthens positive parent-child relationships,
• Provide support through bi-weekly visits to family childcare provider homes that serve infants and toddlers,
• Individualize support to fit provider's unique strengths, needs, and learning style, focusing on such areas as Creative Curriculum implementation, positive adult-child interactions, and healthy and safe environments ensuring that providers follow the Head Start Program Performance Standards, and
• Document the provision of all services to children and their families using the ChildPlus data management system.
• Duties are performed under the supervision of the Head Start Coordinator.

Schedule: Some evening and weekend work may be required to satisfy program requirements.

Illustrative Duties

(The illustrative duties listed in this specification are representative of the class but are not an all-inclusive list. A complete list of position duties and unique physical requirements can be found in the position job description.)

Assists providers with improving the quality of their child care environments by providing them with information on child development and child care issues;

Provides training and technical assistance to family day care providers and day care centers;

Monitors education screening and assessments of children;

Educates parents on types of available care and assists with placements in family day care;

Prepares monthly reports for assigned geographic area.

Required Knowledge Skills and Abilities

(The knowledge, skills and abilities listed in this specification are representative of the class but are not an all-inclusive list.)

Knowledge of the basic principles, concepts, and methodology of assigned area of accountability;

Ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing;

Ability to keep current on the latest theories of early childhood development and education;

Ability to work independently and as a member of a team.

Employment Standards

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:
Any combination of education and experience and training equivalent to the following:
(Click on the aforementioned link to learn how Fairfax County interprets equivalencies for "Any combination, experience, and training equivalent to")
Graduation from an accredited college or university with a bachelor's degree in early childhood education, psychology, social work, or a closely related field; plus one year of experience in school age and/ or early child development programs. 
 
CERTIFICATES AND LICENSES REQUIRED:
Valid driver's license.
 
NECESSARY SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS:
The appointee to this position will be required to complete a criminal background check, Child Protective Services Registry check, and a driving record check to the satisfaction of the employer. TB screening at time of employment and every two years thereafter. 

Additional Work Schedule Requirements: Some evening and weekend work may be required to satisfy program requirements, flex or comp time.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Graduation from an accredited college or university with a baccalaureate degree in one of the following disciplines:
  • Child and Family Studies
  • Early Childhood Development
  • Early Childhood Education
  • Human Services
  • Psychology
  • Social Work
• Experience working with infants and toddlers (children ages birth through 36 months)
• Experience in child care administration, early child development programs and working with families with low incomes
• Experience providing training and guidance to child care center staff and/or family child care providers
• Experience in adult learning
• Experience with research-based curricula
• Experience working with subsidy programs
• Demonstrated experience in caseload management
• Proficiency in using human services database(s)/automated system(s)
• Excellent oral and written communication skills
• Infant and Toddler CLASS reliable

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:
Work is generally sedentary in nature; however, incumbent may be required to do some walking, standing, bending, and carrying items up to 25 pounds. Ability to operate keyboard-driven equipment. Ability to communicate verbally and in writing. Sufficiently mobile to attend meetings at various locations and make presentations to county staff and community. All duties performed with or without reasonable accommodations. 

SELECTION PROCEDURE:
Panel Interview and may include a practical exercise.

The population of Fairfax County is very diverse where 38.7% of residents speak a language other than English at home (Spanish, Asian/Pacific Islander, Indo-European, and others) and we encourage candidates bilingual in English and a foreign language to apply to this opportunity

Fairfax County Government prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions, age, marital status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetics, political affiliation, or military status in the recruitment, selection, and hiring of its workforce.  
 
Reasonable accommodations are available to persons with disabilities during application and/or interview processes per the Americans with Disabilities Act. Contact 703-324-4900 for assistance. TTY 703-222-7314. DHREmployment@fairfaxcounty.gov. EEO/AA/TTY.