Early Learning Specialist

About the position

The Early Learning Specialist is responsible for providing home visits to families with young children within the YWCA’s Family Housing programs. These programs range from an extended shelter program with integrated services for homeless families to transitional housing and permanent housing. This position has a social justice component that requires critical thinking through the lens of racism and intersections with poverty. The role involves modeling how to use books and educational toys for generating enthusiasm for learning and verbal interactions, providing two visits per week for core families with children aged 16 months to 4 years, and maintaining a caseload of 11-12 families monthly. The specialist will also be responsible for ongoing recruitment, maintaining accurate files and data, providing age and culturally competent services, meeting service delivery outcomes, and applying a strength-based model. Attendance at weekly team meetings and training for the Parent Child Home visiting program is also expected. All positions at YWCA Seattle | King | Snohomish are exposed to clients who have experienced or are experiencing trauma in various forms, and staff are at risk of secondary trauma. Employees are encouraged to seek external support and maintain self-care.

Responsibilities

  • Providing home visits to families with young children within the YWCA’s Family Housing programs.
  • Modeling how to use books and educational toys for generating enthusiasm for learning and verbal interactions.
  • Providing two visits per week for core families with children age 16 months to 4 years and home-based childcare program.
  • Maintaining and managing a caseload of 11-12 families monthly including ongoing recruitment to ensure a full roster.
  • Maintaining accurate and up to date files and data for your case load.
  • Providing age and culturally competent services.
  • Meeting outcomes for services delivery and provide documentation.
  • Applying strength-based model as a method of delivering services for all families.
  • Attending weekly team meeting with Site Coordinator and other parent child home visitors.
  • Attending training for the Parent Child Home visiting program provided by the Site Coordinator or National Center for Parent Child Home Visitor Program.

Requirements

  • Must have valid Washington State Driver License, personal vehicle, insurance, and an acceptable driving record (no more than 2 moving violations within a year period and no accidents within 3 years).
  • Experience working with young children and knowledge of child development.
  • Experience doing community outreach.
  • Ability to make home visits as needed and to maintain confidentiality.
  • Ability to work flexible hours including weekends when necessary.
  • Demonstrated knowledge and skills of basic computer competencies such as emailing and calendaring.
  • Ability and willingness to work independently and as part of a team and to make sound judgments without on-site supervision.
  • Experience working effectively & respectfully in a multicultural setting; thorough understanding of culturally specific community.
  • Experience working with communities of color and people from different cultures other than your own.

Nice-to-haves

  • Bilingual - Somali speaking preferred.

Benefits

  • Medical insurance
  • Generous vacation
  • Holiday leave
  • Sick leave plans
  • Outstanding retirement plan
  • Fidelity 403b Plan (voluntary enrollment at time of hire)
  • YWCA Retirement Fund (eligibility after two years of employment)
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