The HS Home Based Visitor is responsible for working individually with approximately 12 families to provide comprehensive early childhood education and family support services to families with children ages birth-3. The Home-Based Visitor will work collaboratively with a team to implement the curriculum to achieve outcomes for children and families of all backgrounds and abilities. The Home Based Visitor reports directly to the Education Manager.
Working relationships
Agency Staff
Volunteers
Families
Community Professionals
General public
Prime functions
Uses knowledge of the principles of child growth and development to work with children and communicate with families, internal and external stakeholders.
- Implements a home visiting curriculum that encourages positive social interaction, active engagement in learning, and self-motivation to promote development in all domains for children of all abilities and dual language learners
- Partners with families to support all aspects of child development and any challenges
- Uses observations of childrens to document children’s progress, conduct screenings and individualize curriculum.
- Conduct family assessments with each family to determine strengths and areas for improvement
- Meets all Head Start Performance Standards, and Penfield policies and procedures when conducting home visits.
Uses knowledge of the principles of family support and case management to collaborate with related service areas and communicate with internal and external stakeholders.
- Provides opportunities for families to become involved in home-based program recognizing that the parent is the "Primary Educator “of the child. Also provide opportunities for families to interact with one another in parent socializations
- Applies a family-centered philosophy in services delivered to children and families.
- Assists families with building peer support networks in the community.
Program Implementation
- Provide each family with a 90 minute visit per week with a minimum of 46 visits per program year
- In collaboration with other staff, provide at a minimum, 22 group socialization activities distributed over the course of the program year
- Working with LEA’s the HBV will integrate Individualized Education Plans (IEPs)/Individual Family Service Plans (IFSPs) for children with disabilities
- Provide supervision and ensure the safety and security of children at all times in accordance with Head Start and state licensing requirements during the weekly home visits and socialization.
Family Partnerships
- Ensure meetings and one-on-one interactions are respectful of each family’s diversity and cultural background.
- Work with families throughout the year to identify family goals, strengths, and necessary services and supports, and to describe progress in achieving goals established though the Family Partnership Agreements.
- Work with parents to identify and access services and resources responsive to their interests and goals and follow-up with them to ensure the referral met their expectations and circumstances.
- Ensure parents have opportunities to enhance their skills and knowledge in the areas identified on their Family Partnership Agreements.
- Work in coordination with Health and Nutrition team members to assure that all children on caseload are up to date on EPSDT requirements, including receiving timely evaluation and treatment for identified concerns
- Support the transitions of families in, through, and out of Head Start.
Community Partnerships
- Act as a family development specialist and work cooperatively with local agencies to assist families to link-up with services in the local community.
- Develop a working knowledge of community resources; visits with major agencies for service delivery updates and Community Resource Guide updates.
- Participate in tri-annual community assessment and annual updates.
Communication and Service Coordination
- Complete developmental and health screenings of all Head Start children, if needed.
- Direct developmental concerns to appropriate specialists.
- Record, monitor and follow up on referrals for support services for reporting requirements.
- Provide crisis intervention for families as needed.
Record Keeping and Recording
- Document all contacts, agreements, child assessments, health records and any information regarding children and families in the SHINE Insight database, for reporting purposes.
- Record, monitor and follow up on referrals for support services for reporting requirements.
- Ensure that all child files are completed and maintained according to program guidelines and expectations.
Ongoing Monitoring and Self-Assessment
- Analyze child outcomes for children participating in home-based option twice yearly, consult withHome Based Supervisor and make adjustments to curriculum planning and implementation as needed.
- Participates in assigned meetings, events and training as required.
Maintains a professional commitment to program excellence:
- Model appropriate program and agency behavior
- Maintain prompt hours and notify the supervisor of illness/absence.
- Monitor and appropriately utilize earned time off.
- Attend and participate in department staff meetings.
- Work flexible hours to meet the needs of the families.
- Meet State requirements for in-service training and continuing education.
- Is familiar with Head Start Standards of Practice
- Comply with Penfield Children’s Center personnel policies.
- Is familiar with emergency procedures and is able to calmly apply them.
Assist the agency as needed:
- Perform all other duties as assigned
- Encouraged to volunteer 4 hours of time per year to a Penfield activity
- Encouraged to become a member of local/state/national organization that works to enhance quality of care for young children.
