Primary Care Early Childhood Specialist
(Family Navigator)
Full-time, Regular Status, Non-Exempt (2 positions)
$47,440 - $54,884
Open until filled (First review of applications to occur January 19)
ABOUT CHILDHAVEN
Since 1909 Childhaven has been a leader in serving children and families who have experienced trauma and adversity. In the past few years, we have been adding services and locations, becoming more family and community-focused, and forming high impact partnerships to increase our impact. In June 2020, Childhaven consolidated with Renton Area Youth and Family Services and Art with Heart, which further expanded our capacity to better serve more children and families. By combining our 110+ year legacy of early childhood trauma care with the power and expertise of our new partners, Childhaven is building a continuum of care model that is unlike any other in the Puget Sound Region.
Going forward, we are embarking on a new and ambitious strategic plan to strengthen programs, expand impact, and embrace innovation. In the next five years our goals are to double the number of locations and quadruple the number of children and families we are serving - all while developing and strengthening strategic partnerships with other community-based organizations, referral sources, government agencies, and universities. In doing so, we are opening doors to new roles and opportunities within the organization. And that is where you come in.
ABOUT THE ROLE
The Primary Care Early Childhood Specialist is an innovative and dynamic position working with families in early childhood development in a pediatric primary health care clinic. The position is connected to a partnership between Childhaven, Harborview Pediatrics, and Odessa Brown Children’s Clinic. The partnership is called the Family Navigator Project.
The Family Navigator Project engages local families in understanding the importance of nurturing, responsive caregiving, starting at birth. This position supports families in understanding and supporting their child’s physical and social-emotional development. The position primarily uses the Promoting First Relationships framework with families to enhance parent-child interactions and the services offered are rooted in reflective practice and mindfulness techniques.
The Primary Care Early Childhood Specialist works directly with families during and between well-child visits at Odessa Brown Children’s Clinic. Responsibilities include administering developmental, social, emotional, and related screening tools with parents; and providing parenting information and advocacy for resources needed to help families thrive.
The Primary Care Early Childhood Specialist position will be a Childhaven employee, supervised by Childhaven’s Chief Community Impact and Government Relations Officer and will be based at the Odessa Brown Children’s Clinic in Seattle’s Central District. Additional members of the Family Navigator Project are two Family Navigator Leads working at Harborview Pediatrics (in similar positions to the Early Childhood Specialists), with clinical and social work supports at both Harborview and Odessa Brown.
This position values the significance of employing people who represent the communities served, either linguistically or culturally. To that end, we strongly encourage candidates who are bilingual Spanish/English, AND/OR bilingual Somali/English, AND/OR Black/African American to apply.
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS
Administer Screening Tools:
- Describe to families the purpose of screening, normalizing the questions about specific childhood developmental tasks and behavior. Inform specifically about social-emotional skill development.
- Administer developmental, social, and emotional screening tools in-person with parents, explaining meaning of questions when needed.
- Administer Social Determinants of Health screening tool at appropriate intervals. Route referrals to appropriate clinic resources (Care Coordinators)
- Communication and ongoing communication with medical providers
- Use electronic medical records to record screening results and write progress notes with summary of visit.
- Track needed follow up and family progress through database (Redcap) and when families experience barriers to receiving needed resources.
- Collect demographic data and complete reports and compile statistics per grant/funder requirements.
Family Support, Developmental Promotion, and Parenting Education:
- Emphasize strengths observed during the visit with parents and caregivers. Utilize tools (PFR, Vroom, 0-3 handouts) to assist with parental capacity building.
- Provide community resource referrals, when needed, with consideration for cultural and linguistic needs, family geographic location and caregiver comfort. (ESIT services, supportive groups, mindfulness groups, early mental health interventions).
- Ensure families have access to needed supports and resources through the early childhood years by developing supportive, trusting relationships. Create the opportunity for ongoing contact with families with phone/text message check-ins during intervals of well-child visits.
- Recruit Parent Partners from OBCC and participate in Parent Partner Meetings with Family Navigator Leads.
- Participate in reflective practice supervision with supervisor and with multidisciplinary team at OBCC.
Case Advocacy
- Advocate for family rights within referral systems that may not be meeting the needs of communities. Identify gaps in services.
- Address barriers to accessing resources like health care follow up, specialty care, transportation, etc.
- Ensure appropriate language access including translation of documents and provision of interpretation for all visits.
Administrative Duties:
- Use electronic medical records to record screening results and write progress notes with summary of visit.
- Track needed follow up and family progress through database (Redcap) and when families experience barriers to receiving needed resources
- Collect demographic data and complete reports and compile statistics per grant/funder requirements.
Other Duties as Assigned
QUALIFICATIONS
- Associate degree (or equivalent) or higher in a field related to social services or early learning.
- At least 1 year of experience working in the field of social services.
- Minimum of 2 years of experience in early childhood, primary medical care, behavioral health, or family support.
- Experience and demonstrated ability to foster positive relationships with parents and caregivers, using inquiry-based communication skills.
- Excellent interpersonal and communication skills; preference for Bi-lingual English/Spanish or English/Somali.
- Knowledge of local resources for families with young children, preferably resources in King County.
- Outstanding organizational skills and ability to manage a caseload of multiple families.
- Ability to collaborate effectively with diverse clients and agency staff.
- Demonstrated ability to successfully work in diverse communities, including self-awareness, understanding of systems of oppression, and willingness to contribute to undoing institutionalized racism.
- Active Driver's License.
- Maintain current certifications including Pediatric/Adult CPR, first aid and AED, HIV and blood borne pathogens.
HOW TO APPLY
Open until filled; qualified applicants are encouraged to apply by January 19, 2021.
In addition to completing the application online, attach a resume and cover letter when prompted.
Those who fail to attach resume and cover letter may not be considered.
