Early Learning Mentor - PART TIME (July & August Off)- 20 HOURS - (FS)

The Early Learning Mentor (ELM) supports and models positive parenting practices, as well as helps parents/caregivers become their child’s first teacher through learning how to stimulate their children’s cognitive and social-emotional development. The Early Learning Mentors goal will be to build on caregiver strengths, increase positive parenting, and the quality and quantity of caregiver-child verbal interaction. The families served are designated as being “high-risk,” and the children can enter the program at age 18 months-3 years old. The program serves all of South County. The ParentChild Plus Program runs for 23 weeks and follows the school year calendar. The core of the ParentChild Plus curriculum is the high-quality books, educational toys, and interactive activities that are the focal point of each home visit, and follow age-related developmental progression. Each toy, book, or activity has an accompanying curricular guide sheet that is given to the parent which provides suggestions for additional ways to interact using the curricular materials and enrichment activities. The first visit of each week the ELM will bring a book or toy to model their usage to the caregiver, and leave it behind for the family to experiment with and keep. The second visit of the week the ELM will check-in with the caregiver on their experience with the material and address any questions or further modeling if necessary. In addition, if families inform staff of needs and concerns the ELM will notify the Site Coordinator so that they can provide referrals and facilitate connections to community resources. The ParentChild Plus Program model is designed to promote positive parenting skills and build positive parent-child interaction; enhance the child’s cognitive and social-emotional development; and develop pre-literacy skills that are essential for school readiness and school success. This person will support CHP’s mission, vision, and values and will adhere to compliance protocols as well as CHP’s policies and procedures.

Early Learning Mentor Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Visit assigned families twice a week for half an hour each visit; plus a total of 20 minutes for set-up and closing time.
• Caseload of 9 – 10 families.
• Plan age appropriate activities to stimulate learning and encourage parent-child interactions.
• Model for parent appropriate ways to verbally interact with their child using toys and books.

• Complete written anecdotal reports after each family visit in a timely manner.
• Complete required assessments for funding sources.
• Participate in weekly staff supervision meetings led by the site coordinator.
• One-on-one supervision will also be available as needed.
• Report issues to the program coordinator.
• Share a community and/or cultural background with the participating family.
• Maintain strict confidentiality of all that is seen and heard in a participant’s home.
• Other tasks as assigned by the program coordinator.

Competencies: To perform the job successfully, an individual should demonstrate the following competencies:

• Knowledge of child development, specifically for ages 0-4 years.
• Work independently and on a team.
• Ability to establish rapport with families, and provide a supportive, non-judgmental environment.
• Professionalism with families.
• Good communication and listening skills.
• Work with families of diverse socioeconomic and cultural backgrounds.

• Must have the ability to read out loud and model reading and educational play to families.

• Should speak the native languages of the families.

• Enjoy playing and reading with young children.

• Relate to parents/caregivers as equal partners; exhibit warmth and patience; be nonjudgmental and flexible in adapting to the home setting.
• Must have good communication and listening skills.

Essential Skills and Qualifications: To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Qualifications:

• Knowledge of child development, specifically for ages 0-4 years.
• Experience working with families or children in some educational or helping capacity. Relevant experience in education or human services.
• Ability to establish rapport with families, and provide a supportive, non-judgmental environment.
• Must be able to maintain a professional relationship with the families.
• Must have a reliable car with a valid driver’s license.
• Must be able to travel to homes in safe inclement weather conditions to provide services.
• Must be able to meet the physical demands of home visiting.
• Bilingual preferred.

Education and Requirements:

• High School Degree
• Valid driver’s license and transportation
• Prior to serving the families the ELM’s will attend a minimum of 16-hours of training.