Developmental Support Specialist

Location: North Campus Administration - Vista, CA
Hourly Range: $31.48 - $37.43 DOE/Q, 52 Week role

OUR STORY

Since 1965, MAAC has been maximizing self-sufficiency with families and individuals through high-    quality programs and advocacy in our communities. MAAC employs dedicated staff who provide life-changing services to thousands of individuals annually through programs in five core focus areas: Education, Economic Development, Health & Wellbeing, Housing, and Advocacy & Leadership Development. Through a wide variety of programs, MAAC has grown to become one of the largest nonprofit social service organizations in the community. Learn more about the great things happening with MAAC at http://www.maacproject.org/

DEFINITION
Under direct supervision, will plan and coordinate developmental support services for the Child Development Program (CDP) in accordance with the policies, procedures and philosophy of MAAC and in compliance with the Head Start/Early Head Start Performance Standards and State regulations. The incumbent will develop and implement developmentally appropriate program services that are provided to children with developmental, academic, social, emotional and other special needs; provide support to families and staff in understanding Individualized Education Program (IEP) and Individualized Family Service Plan (IFSP) goals and processes; develop and implement behavior assessments and positive behavior  support plans meeting the needs of young children and their parents; provide training  and workshops for parents and CDP staff; and performs other related duties as assigned.     

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
The duties listed below are intended only as illustrations of the various types of work that may be performed. The omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related or a logical assignment to this class.

• Provides classroom and child observations, and child level developmental screening and assessments.
• Assists education staff in implementing strategies for Universal Design for Learning (UDL) creating adaptations and modifications to activities and the environment to ensure full inclusion of all children in the classroom and/or home environment,
• Facilitates positive behavior intervention and support (PBIS) planning, offering recommendations to teachers and parents for children who present with behaviors that challenge adults and other children within the guidance of the Head Start Early Learning Outcomes Framework, California Curriculum Framework and Learning Foundations, and researched based interactions as described in the Classroom Assessment Scoring System (CLASS),  the Center for Social and Emotional Foundations for Learning, (CSEFL) and California Teaching Pyramid.
• Reviews and tracks individualization of IEP/IFSP goals, behavior regulation and positive behavior support plans, evaluating for effectiveness and follow-through, modifying as necessary to support children’s progress
• Provides on-site modelling, coaching and consultation with educational staff.
• Develops and provides training and technical assistance to staff and parents as requested to support MAAC goals and objectives including School Readiness Goals
• Develops a cooperative relationship with MAAC staff members both center-based and at the administrative offices
• Maintains a knowledge of currently available community resources necessary to address child/family needs for behavioral health, special needs services, challenges and needs of low-income families; collaborates with, refers to and follows up with local agencies as needed.
• Supports parents in the process of getting children assessed through the LEA or other appropriate services.
• Tracks referrals and assessment results, and attends IEP/IFSP meetings to support parents, as needed.
• Works effectively with school districts, linking children with special needs to their services and helping to ensure consistency of supports, interventions, and goals according to Individualized Educational Plans (IEPs) or Infant Family Service Plans (IFSPs).
• Ensures proper maintenance of progress notes and file documentation of contacts and efforts.in Child Plus, utilizes other resource databases such as ASQ Online and Ready Rosie for parents and staff as needed or requested.
• Participates and attends meetings, trainings, conferences and home visits as needed and/or assigned.
• Recommends purchase of and ensures availability of instructional materials and teaching aid designs to assist staff and children with regulatory and behavior challenges, as authorized in the program budget.   

QUALIFICATIONS AND SKILLS   

Knowledge of:

• Knowledge of child development, early childhood social-emotional and behavioral health, and positive behavior support related to common behavioral issues of children
• CSEFEL Pyramid Model, and Conscious Discipline
• Experience developing Behavior Intervention Support Plans
• Demonstrated computer skills, including Internet operations and Microsoft Office Suite applications. Child Plus database experience highly desirable.  

Ability to:

• Troubleshoot basic problems and prepare comprehensive reports
• Work collaboratively with management and peers, as well as within a transdisciplinary team model
• Develop and maintain strong community relations and positive interpersonal relations
• Organize records and paperwork processes and consistently demonstrate excellent oral and  written communication skills.
• Prepare and present reports, training plans, and workshops   
• Consistently relate effectively with children, parents, staff, and local service providers

EDUCATION/EXPERIENCE/CERTIFICATION    

• Bachelor’s degree in Child Development, Special Education, Mental Health Services or a related field
• Three (3) to five (5) years of classroom experience with children 0-5 years old
• Three (3) years of experience with behavior management/functional analysis
• Bilingual (English/Spanish) speaking, reading, and writing is preferred

VALUE-BASED BEHAVIORS

Listens attentively to others. Asks clarifying questions to gain a better understanding of the other person’s views and underlying assumptions
Works effectively in a team environment and actively participates in joint problem solving; willingly cooperates with co-workers
Identifies and takes advantage of opportunities for personal and professional development
Attends work consistently and punctually. Arrives to meetings prepared and on time; honors work commitments; follows through on what was agreed upon; meets deadlines
Honors the private and confidential matters of co-workers. Protects the proprietary information of MAAC systems
Follows rules, regulations, and policies; positively contributes to implementing changes
Deals with issues directly, in a respectful and timely manner. Focuses on resolving the issue while not criticizing the person. Follows rules, regulations, and policies; positively contributes to implementing changes

HEALTH STATUS

Must have a physical examination, TB clearance and a drug screen by a doctor/clinic designated by MAAC as well as immunization records for influenza*, pertussis and measles as required by state and federal regulations prior to the first day of employment.

PHYSICAL AND MENTAL DEMANDS

The physical and mental demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this class. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Physical Demands

While performing the duties of this class, an employee is regularly required to stand, walk and sit, talk or hear both in person and by telephone, uses hands to finger, handle or feel objects or controls, reach with hands and arms. An employee also is regularly required to stoop, kneel, bend, crouch or crawl, climb or balance and lift up to 50 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, depth perception, color vision and the ability to adjust focus.

Mental Demands

While performing the duties of this class, the employee is regularly required to use written and oral communication skills; read and interpret information; analyze and solve problems; observe and interpret people and situations; use basic math; learn and apply new information or skills; work under intensive deadlines and interact with MAAC management, administrators, staff, teachers, parents, family members, children and others encountered in the course of work.

BACKGROUND CLEARANCE

All positions are subject to a background/education check, DMV check, NSOR, exclusion and debarment checks prior to hire and periodically throughout employment as required by various funding sources.

Note: California Start law requires background criminal checks on anyone who works in a licensed childcare facility who is not a client. Must have or obtain a current criminal background check clearance, signed criminal record statement, and signed Acknowledgement to Report Child Abuse form prior to the first day of employment.

TRANSPORTATION

Must have and maintain a valid California Driver’s License, daily use of a personal, insured vehicle, and have and maintain a motor vehicle driving record acceptable to MAAC’s insurance carrier. Incumbents will be enrolled in the California DMV Pull Program.