JOB TITLE: Parent Educator STATUS: Full Time

FLSA STATUS: Non-Exempt CUSTOMARY HOURS: 9:00am-5:00pm

HOURS/WEEK: 40 Weekly

DIVISION: Marillac Social Center

DEPARTMENT: Project Hope

DIRECT SUPERVISOR: Director of Project Hope

DIRECTLY SUPERVISES: None

Mission

As stewards of the Vincentian spirit, employees of Marillac St. Vincent Family Services are committed to strengthening and empowering those most in need to reach their greatest potential. We fulfill our mission through quality programs for children, teens, families, seniors and homeless.

Core Values

Our employees commit themselves as individuals to live out the core values of integrity, excellence, creativity, advocacy, respect and empowerment in our daily work, as we serve the needs of others.

Integrity - Acting with transparency, humility and honesty

Excellence - Providing quality care with compassion

Creativity - Being continuously resourceful and inventive

Advocacy - Supporting the cause of those who lack resources for a reasonable quality of life

Respect - Recognizing our own value and upholding the dignity and value of all people

Empowerment - Providing skills and resources to achieve full human development

Team Behaviors

• Versatility – Understanding and appreciating different and opposing perspectives on an issue; adapting one’s approach as the requirements of the situation change; an eagerness for positive action; self-control; active listening.
• A collaborative work model – Cooperatively working and sharing responsibility; contributing to the group effort; realizing a sense of commitment and ownership in the success of the organization’s goals.
• Mutual accountability – Holds others accountable with their roles; provides and receives feedback and takes constructive action.
• Client/customer advocate – Identifies opportunities to improve quality of services; presents one’s self professionally.
• Protects confidentiality & privacy – Respects and protects information about all staff and clients.

General Summary

Under direction of the Director of Project Hope and in accordance with the Daughters of Charity Ministries of Chicago Mission Statement &Core Values, provide pregnant and parenting teens home-based services to encourage positive attachment and bonding between parent and child, reduction in subsequent rates of births, healthy growth and development of children and enhanced self-sufficiency.

Duties & Responsibilities

• 
  Provide home visiting services on a weekly or bi-weekly basis for to up to 25 young parents
• Attend a 5-day training for PAT curriculum and annually complete required competency-based professional development hours for annual recertification
• Use parent interview, program assessments and screening to assist families in developing individualized goals for themselves, their child(ren), and their families
• Implement Parents as Teachers curriculum starting prenatally as you partner facilitate and reflect with the parents
• Schedule and provide visits (45 - 90 minutes) to pregnant and parenting mothers, individually and accompanied by a doula. Visits are completed in the home and through virtual platforms
• Extend services to family members as needed
• Plan the visit, gather materials, travel, conduct and clearly document the visit within 72 hours
• Complete developmental, health, vision and hearing screenings on each child annually
• Maintain documentation that is accurate, complete and timely
• Enter data into Home Visiting and Doula Network provided by the Start Early
• Organize and inventory supplies/materials, etc.
• Participate in weekly reflective supervision sessions
• Participate in monthly team meeting and case-staffing
• Help parents and children transition to other services as needed, i.e. preschool or kindergarten
• Annually complete required competency-based professional development hours in order to remain a certified Parents as Teachers parent educator
• Attend all required Home Visiting trainings at Start Early, as part of annual professional development plan
• Complete Ages and Stages Questionnaire (ASQ-3) and Ages and Stages Social Emotional (ASQ-SE) training and trainings for all other relevant screenings
• Participate in presentations in the community to promote Project Hope
• Represent Marillac St. Vincent & Project Hope to external agencies
• Make referrals to appropriate community resource for any needs the children or parents may have
• Refer teen parents to return to school or other appropriate education/training programs
• Perform other related duties as assigned by the Project Director.
• Act with integrity and aspire to model our Core Values in the delivery of all services

Job Requirements

Experience/Education

High school diploma or GED and a minimum of 2 years previous supervised work experience with young children and/or parents, required. Bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood or a related field, preferred. Will consider a candidate with an Associate’s degree or 60 college hours in early childhood or a related field.

Qualifications

Ability to nurture young parenting and pregnant teens, comfortable in being a friend, mentor, role model, mother and teacher to young parents emotional relationship skills. Be highly organized and accountable. Be an independent, self-motivated worker. Be able to learn and understand and incorporate the three roles of a parent educator: partnering, facilitating, and reflecting into daily practice with families. Good communication skills, ability to work as part of a team. Be able to establish rapport with families and empower them by building on their strengths. Be competent with computer skills, including web browsing, e-mail, Internet, and word-processing.

Language

Ability to read and speak English proficiently. Bilingual is a plus.

Physical Demands

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to verbally communicate with participants and be a listening ear.
• Possess the ability to fulfill any and all office activities normally expected in an office setting, to include, but not limited to: remaining seated for periods of time to perform computer entry, participating in filing activity, lifting and carrying office supplies (paper reams, mail, etc.)
• The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 30 pounds.

Work Environment

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• 
  Internal office space.
• The noise level in the work environment is usually low to moderate.