Home Base Educator

Direct Reports: 

None  

USC’s School for Early Childhood Education is dedicated to providing comprehensive, high-quality early childhood education services to children and their families in the South Los Angeles area. Founded in 1970 as a teaching school for future early-childhood professionals, the USC School for Early Childhood Education (USC SECE) seeks to promote school readiness, health/nutrition, mental wellness, and family engagement. Today, our licensed Head Start and Early Head Start centers serve more than 500 infants and pre-school children and their parents each year. We are seeking enthusiastic, creative, dynamic, and team-oriented individuals who enjoy working with children while fostering a supportive learning environment. 

Job Overview: 

This position provides high quality, comprehensive, early childhood education and family and health support services to ten to 12 Head Start families (15 children) through home visits and bimonthly socialization times. The Family Educator is responsible for delivering all Head Start direct services to each child using instructional strategies, and to each parent using adult education and case management strategies for family and health services.

Responsibilities and Duties: 

• This Head Start home-based program option requires individuals who can work independently and make sound decisions. Assure completion of all program requirements and is familiar with and follow the Head Start Performance Standards and program policies.  

• Establish and maintain a system to identify children and families in greatest need and provide appropriate services.  

• Assists families to keep an ongoing file of weekly home visit plans and follow-up activities. 

• Schedules, plans and facilitates organized group socialization experiences twice per month for assigned caseload; plans and evaluates with parents the activities for group socialization and assure the Head Start socialization space is safe, sanitary and in compliance with all Community Care Licensing and Head Start Performance Standards. 

• Produces reports (e.g. Monthly Progress Reports, Program Information Reports, electronic data tracking system reports, etc). 

• Guide and coach parents in developing activities which are sensitive to child/family goals 

• Responsible for the following reports: Monthly Progress Reports, Attendance Reports, Program Information Reports and electronic data tracking system reports.  

• Conducts child development assessments, using the programs approved instruments for conducting assessments. 

• Promotes child health through monitoring records and educating parents with respect to children’s health status, including immunizations, physical exams, dental exams, mental health, nutrition and exercise. 

• Assist families in the Family Partnership Agreement process which includes identification of family strengths, goals and resources to meet their needs. a. Manages/resolves crisis situations in conjunction with parents.  

• Provide direct short-term crisis intervention.  

• Proactively partners with Head Start and Early Head Start in providing joint services to families.

• Establishes mutually respectful partnerships with families and develops individualized family plans; follows-up periodically with family on progress toward meeting their goals.  

• Promotes parental involvement in all aspects of Head Start including the Policy Council’s shared governance role; integrates all Head Start program components during home visits and socialization time. 

• Provides oversight of health-related issues and ensures effective response to family’s health needs.  

• Provides and follows up with appropriate referrals for needed services (e.g., social services, mental health counseling, disabilities, etc.).  

• Staff the Center Parent Committee Meetings to assist families in meeting organization, presenting information regarding upcoming training opportunities, as well as other community resources. 

• Assists with the Health Advisory Committee and the Center Parent Committees when requested.  

• Participate in IEP/IFSP meetings and follow through with individual intervention plans and implement IFSP goals (for children diagnosed with disabilities) into regular curriculum as necessary and appropriate. Conducts and participates in workshops for parents and with parents. 

• Actively recruits and enrolls children and pregnant women into the Early Head Start/Head Start Program, based on the priority criteria. Maintains full enrollment at all times, including keeping a waiting list of eligible and over income families. 

• Attend regularly scheduled staff meetings, component meetings, and in-services assigned.   

• Assure completion of health and dental requirements and document follow-up. 

• Inputs children’s data into the electronic data tracking system on a weekly basis. 

• Maintains documents of attendance, enrollment, health, early childhood, family service and parent involvement as required by Service Area Plans and Head Start Performance Standards.  

• Meets all Head Start Performance Standards.  

• Performs other duties, as assigned.  

• Participates in clinical case managements meetings. 

•  Prepares/maintains case management records. 

•  Follows up on child absences as required by Grantee. 

• Maintains confidentiality of family records and information. 

• Required to work very flexible hours based on family needs; required to travel to and from homes of enrolled home-based families and within the community for resources; may be exposed to infectious diseases; occasionally deals with distraught individuals; 

• Transportation and state required automobile insurance coverage. Will be required to transport clients. 

Schedule/Hours Requirements: 

Full-time staff employees of the University of Southern California are customarily expected to perform their duties at University facilities, 37 l/2 – 40 hours per week, on a schedule determined by the school or department (usually between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., Monday – Friday). Exceptions to this policy are noted below.  

Split Shift, Swing Shift, Weekend Assignments, Travel to off-campus meetings, Out-of-town travel, and Other: visiting family’s homes. May be asked to work evenings and weekends.  

Qualifications/Skills 

• Bilingual: English/Spanish preferred. 

• In addition, the successful candidate must also demonstrate, through ideas, words and actions, a strong commitment to USC’s Unifying Values. 

Educational Requirements 

 Associate degree in early childhood education, Child & Family studies, or other related field and Child Development Associate Certificate, with 2 years’ work experience in similar position. 

Physical Requirements 

Must be able climb stairs, reach, bend, lift 20-30 pounds, crawl, kneel, stoop, twist, grasp with hands and fingers materials, use arms and legs, able to walk, climb ladders if applicable. The usual and customary methods of performing the job’s functions require the following physical demands: some lifting, carrying, pushing, and/or pulling; significant stooping, kneeling, crouching, and/or crawling. 

Pre-Employment Requirements  

• Physical exam  

• TB test  

• Background/fingerprint clearance  

• MMR and Tdap vaccinations 

• CPR  

• Child Abuse Mandated Reporter Training  

• Must provide proof of vaccination for Covid-19