Child Development Specialist

Child Development Specialist

Wayfinder Family Services ensures that children, youth, and adults facing challenges always have a place to turn.

Wayfinder is committed to advancing IDEA (Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Accessibility).

Wayfinder believes inclusion, diversity, equity, and accessibility are essential to our excellence and our mission's execution. We value differences in the pursuit of inquiry and knowledge, mutual understanding, respect, trust, transparency, and cooperation. We are committed to creating a diverse and welcoming workplace that reflects the diversity of the communities we serve and includes individuals with diverse backgrounds and experiences. Individuals of color, women, LGBTQIA+, veterans and differently-abled persons are encouraged to apply.

Compensation:

• In accordance with California law, the expected salary range for this position is posted with this position.  The actual compensation will be determined based on experience and other factors permitted by law.

In exchange for your talent, Wayfinder offers an excellent benefits package, which includes the following:

• This role is eligible for Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF)
• Competitive salary - Sign-on bonus for eligible roles
• Flexible schedules depending on the position (some offering hybrid)
• Medical insurance with a $30 premium per paycheck coverage plan (employee-only)
• Dental insurance 100% employer paid for HMO coverage plan (employee-only)
• 401(k) retirement plan with an employer match up to 4%
• 11 paid holidays per year and a generous paid time off policy
• Five paid winter holidays (between Christmas Eve & New Year's Day)
• Education Reimbursement Program
• Robust training opportunities: Shared Core Practice Model, Trauma-Informed Care, Evidence-based Practices
• Clinical Supervision for licensure

Job Summary:

The primary purpose of your position is to provide specialized services to families of young children with vision impairments, birth through five years of age.  The Child Development Specialist provides home instruction, lesson plans, and resource information and referral, advocates on behalf of the client family, and partners with parents and caregivers to empower them as advocates for their child. 

Child Development Specialist Responsibilities:

• Provides home visits to families, supporting parent/child interactions through developmentally appropriate play activities.
• Engages in family-centered and culturally responsive practices.
• May conduct visits in community settings, including center-based programs, schools, or hospitals. 
• May conduct telehealth visits based on Department of Developmental Services/Regional Center recommendations and/or family need as applicable.
• Works with families to develop a curriculum appropriate for the unique learning needs of their child with vision impairment or multiple disabilities within natural daily routines.
• Provides a family with information about a visual diagnosis, early development, and effects of vision loss on early childhood development.
• Conducts developmental and functional vision assessments using observation, parent interviews, authentic assessment strategies, and formal assessment tools.
• Participates in the development and implementation of each child’s Individual Family Service Plan (IFSP) and outcomes in collaboration with the family and education team, providing progress reports as required by each Regional Center or Local Education Agency.
• Provides social/emotional and crisis support to families as appropriate.
• Helps parents advocate effectively for themselves and their children.
• Must be able to utilize phone and computer software to provide telehealth visits (zoom, conference calls, etc.).
• Plans and implements family events, providing information and parent-to-parent support.
• Assists in the development of new services and materials.
• Refers families to community resources.
• Actively collaborates with community-based providers of related services, including medical and educational providers, to help identify children with vision loss and developmental delays and provide access to services as part of Child Find.  
• Consults with the professional community on behalf of children and families (attend medical visits; IFSP, IEP sessions; program visits, etc.).
• Provides workshops and training for parents and professionals.
• Serves as public relations representative of the agency, as necessary.
• Completes and maintains client case files and client database, including Face Sheet, Home Visit Log Notes, intake forms, Developmental Profile, Family Program Plan, Physician Reports, Correspondence, Reports of Medical Visits, IFSPs, IEPs, assessments, and Medi-Cal documentation.
• Follows agency guidelines for participation in the National Registry of Early Childhood Vision Impairment Project.
• Provides monthly accounting of client contract hours and maintains ongoing communication with Regional Center and LEA Case Managers for timely submission of documentation for contract renewal.
• Provides a monthly report on productivity and plans for follow-up visits for children/families receiving only some of their service hours.
• Completes daily time studies for CMAA
• Participates in regional meetings, staff meetings, and in-service training.
• Contributes to Wayfinder Newsletter and provides information regarding program services to Development Department on request.
• Promotes Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) by identifying quality indicators and opportunities for departmental and organizational process improvement. 
• Reports any incidents/accidents according to incident reporting procedures and protocols within designated timelines as outlined in the reporting processes. 
• Maintains confidentiality of all client information and their families and follows appropriate HIPAA and Mandated Reporter guidelines.
• Exercises good judgment with financial resources.
• Performs other job duties as necessary or as directed by the supervisor.

Education:

• B.A., B.S. degree required or M.A. degree in Special Education, Social Work, Child Development, Orientation and Mobility, Infant or Early Childhood, or Social Work or another related field.
• Teaching credential in Vision Impairment, Orientation & Mobility, Early Childhood Special Education, and/or a Certificate in Early Childhood Education preferred.

Experience:

• Professional preparation in the education of children with vision impairments, orientation, mobility, infant or early childhood development, and/or social work.
• Experience as a home teacher.
• Experience working in multi-cultural situations preferred.
• Experience/training in Active Learning techniques of Lilli Nielsen preferred.
• Child and Family Counseling background.
• Bilingual (Spanish preferred)