JOB DESCRIPTION

Position: Parents as Teachers–Parent Educator/Parent Child Interaction (PCI) Specialist

Reports to: Parents as Teachers Supervisor

Schedule: Full-time (35 hours a week)

Non-traditional hours as assigned may include some evenings and weekends.

Requires regular work attendance and/or physical presence.

Salary: 37,000.00.

Parent Educator/Parent Child Interaction (PCI) Specialist Description:

The PAT-OCY Parent Educator/PCI Specialist will partner with assigned families involved in the Office of Children and Youth to provide personal instruction, demonstrate appropriate educational activities, and deliver research-based materials to parents regarding child development, developmental-centered parenting, and resource connections following the Parents as Teachers model. PAT-OCY offers enhancements to the traditional PAT program for families whose children are in placement, or who are at a high risk of removal, including an increased frequency of visits, supervision of parent-child interaction visits with data collection and reporting to foster reunification and reduce risk factors that contribute to child removal from custody. PAT-OCY Parent Educators/PCI Specialists will conduct child developmental screenings including but not limited to vision, hearing, the understanding and use of language, motor development, hand-eye coordination, & health and physical development for children birth to Kindergarten entry in adherence to the Parents as Teachers model fidelity. PAT-OCY Parent Educators/PCI Specialists will work closely with Certified Parent Educator Support Staff, an additional enhancement to the traditional PAT program, to coordinate transportation, continuity of care, and visit support if needed. In addition to the duties of a standard Parent Educator, the PAT-OCY Parent Educator/PCI Specialist is responsible for supervising parent/child visits, engaging parents in follow up activities with their children during those visits, data collection and reporting, as well as collaboration with PAT-OCY Transportation Staff. PAT-OCY Parent Educator/PCI Specialist is a position funded through the Erie County Office of Children and Youth.

This position intends to provide a continuity of care between the Parent as Teachers program and the Parent Child Interaction visits.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in early childhood or related human service or social services field, preferred.
• 3-5 years of work experience supporting, collaborating and goal planning with children and families.
• Some knowledge of the fostering families court processes and ECOCY visitation expectations.
• Practical knowledge in family and child development, including non-traditional family systems, is preferred.
  Additional Requirements: The candidate must pass a Criminal Record History Clearance, FBI and Child Abuse History Clearance, possess a valid PA Driver's License and must pass a physical exam and drug screening.

Erie Family Center Core Values and Work Performance functions:

• Adhere to standards of demeanor.
• Exhibit working autonomously.
• Ensure and practice cultural competence.
• Promote positive communication/confidentiality.
• Professional sound judgment and decision-making.
• Display consistent attributes of professionalism.
• Encourage and support cooperation and teamwork.
• Support building safety efforts.

Physical Requirements/Environmental Conditions:

• Requires the ability to sit and/or stand for prolonged periods
• Occasionally requires the ability to stoop, bend, life, and reach
• Requires the ability to travel within Erie County
• Must be able to work in noisy and at times crowded environments
• Requires regular attendance and/or physical presence at the job

 Job responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

• Expected to be flexible in terms of scheduling and hours worked; no more than 35 hours/pay period available to work flexible and non-traditional hours, including the potential for some weekends as assigned
• Serve up to 8 families (with 50% of caseload including children in placement) which includes weekly or bi-weekly visits within the home and/or center-based locations.
• Attend programmatic requirements and other assigned tasks per Erie Family Center Director and Parents as Teachers supervisors, including Staff Meetings and trainings as assigned.
• Provide professional parenting education and delivery of information to assigned families, implementing the curriculum provided by the National Parents as Teachers Center to fidelity.
• Provide eligible families with Parent Child Interaction visits
• Accurately maintain documentation of required data including PAT records using the Penelope Data System, PCI case notes, OCY billing documents, and objective court reports and client records, as well as and other reports requested by Parents as Teachers Supervisors and Erie Family Center Director.
• Ability and willingness to attend and/or testify at Court hearings regarding client participation and progress, if needed
• Submit notes/summaries/reports/billing documents according to program requirements and court related due dates
• Be able Responsible for an organized individual schedule, paperwork, program materials, and office space.
• Excellent communication skills and ability to prioritize and work independently
• Maintain confidentiality and non-judgmental attitude; maintain strict confidentiality in office/client matters and follow HIPAA guidelines
• Establish and maintain collaborative relationships with the Erie County Office of Children and Youth (ECOCY), as well as other community service agencies
• Able to work as a team member in a professional manner in order to coordinate services such as transportation and visit support
• Must be able to work effectively with families in all types of settings.
• Proficient in Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and program-specific data entry programs.