The YWCA’s Parents as Teachers (PAT) Program provides parent education, child screenings and information on early childhood development along with support to pregnant and/or parenting young adults through personal home visits. This program is designed to enhance child and maternal health, promote school readiness and to prevent child abuse and neglect. Parent Educators will utilize the Parents as Teachers Curriculum to provide quality services to new parents.
MAJOR RESPONSIBILITIES:
• Provides intensive home visiting to a standard caseload that is in compliance with the Parents as Teachers (PAT) Essential Requirements.
• Maintains a regular and long-term relationship with the family.
• Activity will occur primarily within the family’s home; each visit should last for at least one hour.
• The interventions should be family-centered and strength-based.
• Establishes a trusting relationship with the family.
• Works within a trauma-informed framework.
• Assists in strengthening the parent-child relationship.
• Assists parents in improving their skills to optimize the home environment and parenting practices that promote the optimal development of children.
• Assesses the normal growth and development of the target child.
• Assists in increasing the family support system and social connections.
• Increases the family’s self-sufficiency by assisting them in improving their ability to problem solve and assume the role of advocating for themselves and their children.
• Assists the family in establishing goals and a plan for the accomplishment of those goals. Continuously monitors progress on the family’s goals.
• Identifies and refers the family to other supportive agencies when appropriate and needed, including healthcare appointments.
• Teaches basic health and life skills, e.g. prenatal care, immunizations, budgeting, etc. and ensures appropriate utilization of needed health and social services.
• Administers all required tools and screenings according to the PAT Essential Requirements and funder requirements.
• Maintains accurate records of all personal home visits, contacts, screenings, milestones, groups, services, resource linkages, and other relevant information and activities. Accurately input and maintain records in the case management database systems to track progress and to inform program reports.
• Partners with Parents as Teachers case manager to provide wrap around services for young parents and families.
• Complies with monthly, quarterly, and annual program reporting.
• Attends ongoing training sessions and meetings, which may require travel.
• Reports immediately to Program Supervisor any and all suspicion of incidents of child maltreatment and other issues related to worker and/or child/family health and safety.
• Maintains client confidentiality and integrity in keeping with agency policies, practices, professional standards and program requirements.
Qualifications
Bachelor’s degree in early childhood education, social work or related field required.
Two (2) years of experience working with children (0-5 years of age) and their families
Equivalent education and experience in lieu of above.
Bilingual in English & Spanish preferred.
Knowledge of normal child growth/development and parent-child relationships.
Ability to relate to families from a strength-based perspective; ability to approach families from a family-centered service model.
Experience working with pregnant or parenting teens and young adults.
Work Environment
Usual human services office working conditions prevail. Must be willing to travel to areas where the population served congregate or live. Must be available to work 37.5 hours per week and the work hours may include evenings or weekends.
