POSITION SUMMARY:  This position is a program services position responsible for the delivery of home-based Early Head Start (EHS) services to infants, toddlers, or pregnant mothers.  The EHS Home Visitor is responsible for implementing individual family home visits and group socializations according to federal regulations.

QUALIFICATIONS:

This position requires a minimum of a home-based CDA credential, comparable credential, or equivalent course work as part of an associate’s or bachelor’s degree in Child Development.  Must be able to lift and carry infants and toddlers who may range in weight to a maximum of 45 pounds.  Employee must be able to kneel, squat, crawl, sit on and rise from the floor, and reach overhead.  

JOB RESPONSIBILITIES:

1. Implement home-based service delivery in accordance with Head Start Program Performance 
2. Standards, agency policies and procedures, and program goals and objectives.
3. Schedule and conduct 90-minute home visits with parents and children.
4. Support parents as their child’s first teacher and encourage parent engagement in service delivery.
5. Assist with program recruitment, screenings, and registration.
6. Assist with family service referrals based on family-identified needs.
7. Schedule and conduct group socializations twice monthly.
8. Positively promote Murray Head Start within the school district and the community.

SPECIFIC DUTIES AND PERFORMANCE RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Assists families in identifying family resources and needs.
• Works with families and children on a scheduled one-to-one weekly basis in their homes for at least 90 minutes.
• Encourages and promotes the family's achievement of self-sufficiency.
• Encourages parents to attend parent meetings and transports them when necessary.
• Integrates all Head Start service components during home visits.
• Works with parents to develop weekly home visit and weekly activity plans based on each child's assessment and identified family needs.
• Fosters the belief in parents that they are their child's first teacher and reinforces this concept with practical suggestions for its development.
• Provides guidance and leadership in the planning of and participation in parent meetings.
• Transports families when necessary to community services offices such as family planning, SNAP, employment, health services, vocational rehabilitation, psychological services, etc.
• Assists parents in utilizing fully all available community resources.
• Acts as a liaison and advocate between community resources and Head Start families.
• Assists parents in developing ways of using household resources in educational activities with their children.
• Provides parents and children with group socialization experiences.
• Creates, selects, adapts, and evaluates materials and activities appropriate for infants and toddlers.
• Presents developmentally appropriate activities through natural play experiences.
• Demonstrates and uses principles of positive guidance techniques, behavioral support, and management skills appropriate for young children.
• Assists families when necessary in the arrangement and transportation of medical and dental appointments as required by Head Start, including designated follow-ups.
• Plans one nutrition activity at least once each month during a home visit.
• Conducts health checks on each home visit.
• Maintains support and on-going communication with supervisors.
• Designs and evaluates processes and strategies that support transitions between programs and/or settings.
• Consults and collaborates with professionals as directed by Site Supervisor.
• Keeps a positive attitude toward all aspects of the program and seeks ways to improve areas.
• Adheres to professional ethics and standards.
• Participates in opportunities for professional development, such as participation in professional organizations and application of professional literature, attendance at staff meetings and all local training sessions.
• Establishes and fosters good working relationships within the program.
• Maintains agency records.
• Ensures confidentiality of records and information.
• Completes lesson plans and keeps up-to-date.
• Participates in self-evaluation activities.

The statements outlined in this job description are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed.  They are not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties and skills that may be assigned by the immediate supervisor.

Performance of this job will be evaluated in accordance with provision of the Board policy and Murray Head Start policy on Evaluation of Personnel.  

Offers of employment are conditional pending satisfactory receipt of a recent physical examination, TB skin test/assessment, criminal background check, and Murray Independent Board and Policy Council approval.

Reports to:        Assigned Coordinator or Administrator

Classification:    Classified

FLSA:                Non-Exempt

Murray Head Start is an Equal Opportunity Employer