JOB TITLE: Diverse Learners Specialist STATUS Full Time

ORGANIZATION: Marillac St Vincent Family Services

FLSA STATUS: Non-Exempt

DIVISION: Program and Services 

DEPARTMENT: Support Services

DIRECT SUPERVISOR: Diverse Learners Manager

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 resourcesfor a reasonable quality of life

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

 Empowerment - Providing skills and resources to achieve full human development

General Summary

Provides comprehensive, holistic, and family centered support services to children and families. Assures the identification, appropriate intervention and services for children who have a suspected/diagnosed disability. Reports to the Diverse Learners Manager.

Duties & Responsibilities

• Assist in coordination of Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) Part C and Part B services for identified children and families.
• Attend Individualized Family Service Plan (IFSP)/Individual Education Plan (IEP) development meetings and with other designated staff, providing relevant information from screenings, assessments, and observations.
• Assists in coordination of participant staffing and multi-disciplinary team meetings including teachers, family support specialists, other service area staff, and other professionals for children with identified and/or suspected special needs.
• Monitor timelines for completion of referrals to Local Education Agency (LEA) and Early Intervention (EI), and follow-up with appropriate contacts when disruptions occur.
• With parent consent, attend IFSP/IEP meetings with other designated staff, providing relevant information from screenings, assessments, and observations.
• Assist with data entry, recordkeeping, monitoring and reporting systems to ensure completion of all children data, family supports, and follow-up.
• Assists with obtaining diagnostic reports and confirmation of disabilities by appropriate professionals.
• In collaboration with Eligibility, Recruitment, Selection, Enrollment and Attendance (ERSEA) staff, organizes, develops and implements plans for recruitment and enrolling at least 10% of children with special needs.
• Includes monitoring data management system(s), child files, compliance with quality improvement plans and any other tasks as identified by the program.
• Assists staff in seeking and obtaining resources to provide parent/guardian education and facilitate parent/guardian education activities when necessary.
• Facilitate internal meetings with designated staff to review screening results, share other relevant information, discuss referral options, and plan for meeting with parents.
• Provide support and training to families, and staff on topics relating to diverse learners’ children. 
• Provides input on training and Technical Assistance (T/TA) needs for parents/guardians and program staff as it relates to children with special needs.
• Attends all internal/external pre-service, in-service trainings, agency events and appropriate professional and educational conferences and meetings to develop and enhance knowledge and skills as requested.
• Communicates with the educational staff and Education coordinator staff regarding individual development goals and in setting objectives.
• Assist teachers in modifying curriculum/differentiating instruction to incorporate goals determined in the IFSP/IEP or interim plans.
• Assist families in transition process from EI services to IEP services.
• Completes and submits all written and statistical reports and monthly tracking sheets to the Diverse Learners Manager.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood, Child Development, Psychology, Special Education, or related field.
• A minimum of one year of relevant work experience that demonstrates expertise in serving children with special needs and their families required.
• Demonstrates knowledge of the diversity of the population in the service delivery area.
• Demonstrates effective written and oral communication skills to convey information clearly and effectively with parents and staff.
• Demonstrates interpersonal skills with the ability to work effectively in a teamorientated, collaborative environment and to build positive relationships with children, staff, and parents.
• Demonstrates attention to detail.
• Demonstrates initiative and self-motivation.
• Demonstrates resourcefulness and flexibility.
• Demonstrates intermediate computer skills, including Microsoft Office and Outlook, and develops competency with applicable web-based systems used by the program.
• Demonstrates respect and acceptance of diverse individuals and communities served by, working in partnership with or employed by Marillac St. Vincent Family Services.
• Must have valid driver’s license and auto insurance when the position requires an employee to operate a motor vehicle in connection with executing the position’s responsibilities, which include driving to and/or from any agency function.

Screenings: 

• The applicant must submit to a criminal background check and a child abuse and neglect screening and maintain a cleared status throughout employment.
• The applicant must submit to and pass a TB and health screen, including MMR and Tdap immunizations upon hire and update TB/physicals as required by the licensing standards. Additional Requirements:
• Regular travel locally and occasional travel to other locations in the state.