Child Development Specialist

Child Development Specialist at SGA Youth & Family Services

Full-time position.

SGA provides a wide range of social services in some of Chicago's most challenged and consistently underserved communities and creates long-term and community-wide change. SGA’s mission is to help children, families, and communities facing great challenges to realize their potential. SGA uses a proven and innovative method called the Cycle of Opportunity. This system is a continuum of comprehensive services that helps break the cycle of adversity and provides families with enough opportunity to change their lives and their communities.

The Family Child Care Home (FCCH) program partners with local licensed home-based childcare providers and implements monitoring, training, technical assistance, and support to Early Head Start-funded children in their programs ages 0 to 3 years old.

The Child Development Specialist supports family childcare providers by ensuring that qualified staff are in place and that they have ongoing training and professional development to support staff in fulfilling their roles and responsibilities.

• Provide support to EHS FCCH providers in the areas of education and disabilities.
• Collaborate with staff to ensure that the family childcare centers meet and/or exceed all standards set forth by the Office of Head Start (OHS), the Department of Family and Support Services (DFSS), the Illinois Department of Child and Family Services (DCFS), and SGA Youth and Family.
• Ensure full implementation of the Curriculum and Teaching Strategies GOLD Assessments, and system data.
• Apply a comprehensive understanding of the Curriculum and provide technical assistance and support in enhancing the curriculum as needed to meet children’s developmental needs.
• Conduct quarterly monitoring of the education and disabilities services areas.
• Conduct no less than 2 monthly observations of EHS providers and provide feedback relating to developmentally appropriate practices for infants and toddlers, curriculum implementation, and teacher‑child interactions.
• Monitor provider credentials and oversee ongoing professional development of teachers and teacher assistants.
• Ensure proper documentation for children’s education files, and ASQ assessment and screening of each child enrolled is completed.
• Monitor progress of children with identified special needs and adjust plans (Interim intervention plans, behavior support plans, IEP and IFSP implementation plans, etc.) as necessary to achieve positive gains.
• Document in CSD CARES data as required by the program.
• Support the program coordinator in providing the necessary reports to the program funder.
• Assist in organizing and facilitating monthly meetings with the FCCH Providers and PPC members.
• Participate in ongoing training and staff development provided by DFSS, EHS, and SGA workshops and conferences.
• Perform other related duties as assigned.

• Bachelor’s degree in Social Work, Early Childhood, or related field.
• Minimum Gateways credential level 5 in ECE, IT, or Family Specialist.

• 3-5 years working with children ages 0‑5.
• Knowledge of EHS/HS policies and procedures.
• Center-based / Home Day Care experience.
• Must have a reliable car for transportation, a valid driver’s license, and automobile insurance.
• Must pass required state and company background check.

• Bilingual English/Spanish required.
• Knowledge and understanding of the Head Start Program Performance Standards and Illinois Licensing Standards for Day Care Homes.

SGA Youth & Family Services is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

$45,000.00 to $48,000.00

Mid‑Senior level

Full-time

Other

Non‑profit Organization Management