Childcare Development Specialist

The Childcare Development Specialist supports families residing in Just Compassion's 50-unit family shelter in Gresham, Oregon by ensuring that children under school age have access to safe, nurturing, and developmentally appropriate care opportunities. This position assists families in navigating childcare systems, connecting with state-subsidized programs, and promoting child development through structured play, early learning activities, and caregiver engagement.

The Childcare Development Specialist serves as a bridge between caregivers, case managers, and community childcare providers to ensure a coordinated, trauma-informed, and family-centered approach to early childhood support that promotes stability and long-term success for families.

Essential Duties

• Supports the developmental, emotional, and social well-being of children residing in shelter through structured early learning and family engagement activities.
• Assists families with accessing childcare services, early learning programs, and community-based family support resources.
• Maintains trauma-informed, developmentally appropriate, and family-centered approaches in all interactions, programming, and services.

Job Functions

• Plan and implement age-appropriate developmental activities for infants, toddlers, and preschool-age children within shelter and community settings.
• Create a safe, inclusive, trauma-informed, and developmentally supportive environment for children and families.
• Support children's physical, emotional, social, and cognitive development through structured play, educational activities, and caregiver engagement.
• Observe children's development, behaviors, strengths, and needs and communicate concerns or recommendations appropriately.
• Provide one-on-one and group support to children in partnership with parents and caregivers.
• Model positive parenting strategies, attachment-building techniques, and healthy caregiver-child interactions.
• Assist parents and caregivers with identifying, applying for, and enrolling in childcare and early learning programs including ERDC, Head Start, Preschool Promise, and other community resources.
• Provide education and guidance regarding child development, positive behavior support, daily routines, and age-appropriate expectations.
• Support families in establishing structure, consistency, and nurturing caregiving practices aligned with trauma-informed principles.
• Maintain collaborative relationships with childcare providers, early learning hubs, and culturally specific family resource organizations.
• Serve as a liaison between shelter families and childcare or early learning agencies to support continuity of care and successful transitions.
• Collaborate with Program Supervisors, Case Managers, Behavioral Health staff, Youth Services staff, and other shelter team members to support coordinated family services.
• Participate in multidisciplinary meetings, case conferences, and service planning discussions as appropriate.
• Maintain accurate documentation related to childcare referrals, developmental observations, participant engagement, and service coordination.
• Track participation, progress, outcomes, and family goals related to childcare and child development services.
• Maintain confidentiality and compliance with agency policies, HIPAA standards, HMIS requirements, and mandatory reporting obligations under Oregon law.
• Support development and enhancement of shelter-based childcare programming and family engagement initiatives.
• Participate in community events, workshops, and educational opportunities that strengthen parenting skills and family stability.
• Provide feedback and recommendations related to program development, policies, and service quality improvement.
• Apply trauma-informed care, cultural humility, housing-first, and participant-centered approaches in all interactions and services.
• Perform additional duties as assigned in support of shelter operations and family services.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Early Childhood Education, Child and Family Studies, Social Services, or a related field, or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Minimum of two (2) years of experience working in childcare,…