Reports To:               Parents as Teachers Coordinator

Supervises:               N/A

Position Purpose:     Parents as Teachers (PAT) is a primary prevention and parenting education program designed to serve all families with children pre-natal to age five on a voluntary basis.  The Certified Parent Educator is a professional responsible for delivering all PAT services:  personalized home visits, developmental screenings, playgroups, presentations, recruitment, and group meetings.

Qualifications:                      

• Bachelor’s degree in early childhood education, social work, psychology, health or related field Strongly preferred.
• Minimum of 60 hrs in Early Childhood Education and/or related field or previous supervised work experience with young children and/or families.
• Strong knowledge base of Early Childhood Development.
• 3-5 years experience in working with children and families.
• Willing to work evenings and/or weekends.
• Successful completion of Parents as Teachers certification training (training provided upon being hired).
• Able to provide own transportation with reimbursement for work-related mileage.
• Strong interest in and successful experience working with children and families birth to age five.
• Strong interest and skills working with families having high risk factors.
• Bilingual in English and Spanish strongly preferred. 
• Ability to communicate effectively other staff and parents in both English and Spanish strongly preferred. 

Physical/Emotional Requirements:  (The incumbent may be required to use the below requirements during any part of the working day.)

• Some lifting, carrying, pushing, and/or pulling
• Some climbing and balancing
• Frequent stooping, kneeling, crouching and/or crawling
• Significant fine finger dexterity. 

Generally the job requires 40% sitting, 25% walking and 35% standing.  The job is performed within the USD 501 school district boundaries, client’s homes and PAT offices/playroom.

Performance Responsibilities:      

• Provide personalized home visits to expectant parents and parents with children birth to age five residing in the Topeka Public School district using the PAT model.
• Provide expectant parents and parents with children birth to age five with information, research-based developmentally appropriate advice, assistance, resource materials, guidance, and learning experiences in the following areas:

       - Effective parenting skills and various styles of parenting.

       - Providing home learning activities focusing on the child's development including                   homemade toys left with the parents.

       - Home learning activities including home-made toys left with the parents.

       - Techniques emphasizing a positive approach to discipline.

       - Effective methods of communicating and interacting with children and parents to help  them develop positive self esteem.

       - Strategies for structuring behavioral limits and increasing mutual positive regard.

       - Strategies for developing and maintaining routines and family rituals.

       - Other strategies to help structure a home environment where children and parents                are encouraged to be successful and productive learners.

• Plan and organize PAT group meetings, playgroups and recruitment efforts
• Provide periodic monitoring and developmental screening for all enrolled children.
• Have knowledge of and provide referrals to additional community resources.
• Plan, organize and monitor PAT lending library and lesson materials.
• Attend and represent the PAT program at designated community collaborations/meetings.
• Maintain a caseload of families determined with the PAT Coordinator based on PAT responsibilities and number of hours worked (must be available evenings and/or weekends).
• Report suspected child abuse and neglect to the PAT Coordinator and State Officials
• Maintain timely, accurate and complete program and child records.

Terms of Employment:       

12 months; salary and work year to be determined by the Board of Education.

Evaluation:

Performance of this position will be evaluated in accordance with provisions of the board policy on evaluation of Support Service Personnel

Significant associations:

The performance responsibilities are not limited to those outlined in this description and may include any other responsibilities as assigned by the administrator/supervisor