Position Overview

The CIS Specialized Child Care Coordinator holds primary responsibility related to oversight and support for eligibility, consultation, and content expertise regarding the provision of specialized child care services and supports in their region. The Specialized Child Care Coordinator is responsible for providing services in a collaborative team environment, which includes the early childhood educator, the family/foster family or primary care provider, and any other relevant service provider. Families accessing specialized childcare are eligible with an identified service need in:

• Protective Services Childcare (for children and families working with DCF Family Services Division);
• Family Support (for families experiencing significant stressors); or
• Children with Special Health Needs (for families with children with special physical,
• behavioral, or developmental needs).

Core Responsibilities: Referral Specialist

• The CIS Specialized Child Coordinator works to increase the capacity of specialized child care providers to improve the quality and increase the placement stability and inclusion for children with identified specialized needs.

a. Recruit high-quality early childhood education programs interested in being designated as Specialized Child Care programs through outreach, on-site visits, and collaborative work with other entities building quality in regulated early childhood education programs.

b. Provide technical assistance to potential and current Specialized early childhood education programs.

c. Conduct on-site visits to early childhood education programs to ensure they meet the standards as outlined in the Specialized Child Care Agreement

d. Facilitate working with child care providers to complete the Specialized Child Care Provisional Agreement when a Protective Services child is placed with a non-specialized child care program.

e. Provide guidance and technical assistance as needed to support Specialized child care programs service providers in working with a child’s team to complete and submit completed Special Accommodation Grants.

f. Work with the provider to identify resources and supports necessary to improve program quality.

2. Serve as the CIS primary service coordinator for CIS clients and families whose primary service need is high-quality early childhood programs:

a. Consult with the service coordinator on cases where child care is identified as a need for a child and where extra support is needed to ensure the child can access that child care setting successfully. This support might be around eligibility for financial assistance, special accommodations, or transportation.

b. Process enrollment in CDDIS for children/families receiving a Financial Assistance Program benefit for a specialized service need in accordance with all Child Care Financial Assistance Program regulations, policies, documentation, and timelines.

c. Assist families in navigating the Child Care Financial Assistance Program and identifying and enrolling with a specialized child care provider that best matches the child and family.

d. Facilitate the review of the Family Support Child Care Financial Assistance applications with the regional CIS Referral and Intake team. Use the CIS Referral and Intake to score and make a decision. Specialized Child Care Coordinators are responsible for communicating this information to the family, both verbally and in writing. Maintain CIS documentation of the CIS team’s decisions and scores, along with the date of the meeting and team signatures for CCFAP files.

e. Provide in-person orientation to new DCF Family Services Division staff.

f. Consult with families and their teams (including DCF Family Services Division caseworkers) to support access to and placement stability in high-quality childcare settings.

g. Ensure an ongoing working relationship with the DCF Family Services district office, which includes a regularly scheduled time at least twice a month.

h. Coordinate and support the enrollment of children with protective services needs through ongoing communication with the child care provider, Family Services Division,and caregivers.

i. Develop and maintain community partnerships to support appropriate client referrals to local CIS and the broader community system of care.

j. Communicate and collaborate regularly with your Community Child Care Support Agency staff to provide outreach on CIS services, which include specialized child care services to support continuity of care for children and families.

k. Provide home visits as needed to families, with or on behalf of the primary service provider when child care is identified as part of the child’s plan.

3. Coordinate transportation services, including the following:

a. Consult with the service coordinator on cases where child care is identified as a need for a child and where extra support is needed to ensure the child can access that child care setting successfully. This support might be around eligibility for financial assistance,special accommodations, or transportation.

b. Provide consultation and information to transportation drivers to assist them in meeting the individualized needs of eligible children. Serve as an active participant of the regional Children’s Integrated Services Team

C. Participate in multi-disciplinary team referral and planning meetings as appropriate.

d. Provide information to the contractor for timely and accurate data input and billing information.

e. Maintain professional documentation of all activities performed during your role by the CIS contract.

f. Assist with program evaluation, program improvement plans, and other related activities as requested by the state.

g. Create, maintain, and support a safe environment for open discussions with CIS service recipients.

h. Maintain confidentiality.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university with major work in social work, psychology, health, child development, and/or special education, and a minimum of two years of social work or related experience in human services; OR
• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university and a minimum of four years of related experience in a human services field serving young children and their families;
• Preferred: Experience working with young children and families experiencing specialized needs or risk factors, such as through Head Start, IDEA Part C (Early Intervention) or Part B (Early Childhood Special Education) programs, or other high quality early care and education settings; and/or experience providing professional development, technical assistance, coaching and/or mentoring, and consultation to staff working with young children and families’.

COMPENSATION:

Commensurate with experience

HIRING PROCESS: Interested applicants should send a cover letter and resume to Kimberlie Buxton via indeed or email at kimberlie@umbrellanek.org . No phone calls please.

ABOUT UMBRELLA

Umbrella’s mission is to cultivate a Northeast Kingdom where all people thrive free from abuse and oppression.

Umbrella provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability or genetics.

Job Type: Part-time

Pay: $21.00 - $26.00 per hour

Expected hours: 20 per week

Benefits:

• 403(b)
• Dental insurance
• Employee assistance program
• Flexible schedule
• Health insurance
• Mileage reimbursement
• Paid time off
• Professional development assistance
• Vision insurance

Day range:

• Monday to Friday

Shift:

• Day shift

People with a criminal record are encouraged to apply

Ability to Commute:

• Newport, VT 05855 (Required)

Ability to Relocate:

• Newport, VT 05855: Relocate before starting work (Preferred)

Work Location: In person