First Steps Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

Description

Department: Child Well Being

Program: First 5 First Steps

Status: Full- Time, Non-Exempt

Pay: $23 per hour

Schedule: Monday - Friday: 8:30 a.m. - 5 p.m. Must be available to work evenings and weekends as needed to meet the various needs of the program.

Who we are

SBCS (formerly South Bay Community Services) transforms communities to support the well-being and prosperity of children, youth, and families. For more than 50 years, we've worked throughout San Diego to provide safe shelter, transitional housing, intervention prevention programs, mental health support, and many other services that meet the ever-changing needs of our communities.

Our organization is dedicated to offering high-quality services and ensuring all services align with the community's needs. To best serve our communities, SBCS partners with various grassroots organizations throughout California to develop innovative strategies that enhance services, empower clients, and ensure that culturally appropriate and trauma-informed care is offered. SBCS provides a wide range of services tailored to meet each client's unique needs. At SBCS, our client-centered approach highlights the importance of respect, empathy, and compassion when interacting with all community members. 

As a mission-driven organization, our work is centered around providing exceptional, face-to-face support to our clients and community members to foster trust, accessibility and personal connection that are critical to our mission. 

About YOU

You are an advocate and champion of nurturing communities where families can pursue their dreams and fulfill their potential. 

You are dedicated to and energized by engaging directly with individuals and communities. 

You care deeply about the well-being and prosperity of ALL children and youth throughout San Diego.

You want to become a part of an energetic and effective team, and contribute your expertise, creativity, and insights to a unique role encompassing program management, development, and direct counseling services for at-risk children, adolescents, and families. 

About our organization

SBCS is home to a committed team of 470 dedicated employees and volunteers who diligently serve all of San Diego County. Having offered services for 52 years, SBCS is committed to providing hope and support for numerous young children, individuals, and families facing adversity. With an annual budget of $68 million, SBCS continues to be a beacon of assistance in the community. 

Competitive and Sustainable Employee Pay Package:

SBCS offers competitive pay and additional benefits for full-time employees, including generous vacation time, holidays, health, vision, dental, flexible spending accounts, an employee assistance program, discount programs, public service forgiveness loan, and an excellent retirement plan with matching contributions. 

Program:

The First 5 First Steps (First Steps) family support program provides home visiting services for pregnant women and families with children ages 0-3. First Steps promotes positive parenting and enhances child health and development for families who may face hardships and stressors that place them at increased risk for poor health and developmental outcomes. 

RESPONSIBILITIES:

Under the direct supervision of the Program Supervisor, Program Director and Department Director, the home visitor is responsible for providing home visiting services to SBCS' culturally diverse families in the community. Service delivery is based on Healthy Families America (HFA) model, which is an evidence-based model that helps prevent child abuse and neglect, through support, relationship building and access to resources. Home visitors partner with families to help them navigate parenthood. Through active listening and observation, a home visitor designs personalized service delivery to meet the family where they are at, address needs, achieve goals, support interests, and ultimately, promote a loving, healthy bond between parent and child. Services will integrate agency goals, objectives and mission within a team framework. 

DUTIES:

• Provide case management, crisis intervention, safety planning, and other services related to program goals and objectives.
• Maintain HFA model fidelity and meet requirements for re-accreditation process. 
• Work with a diverse cultural population.
• Provide evidence-based in-home parenting education to clients using Baby Talk and Mothers and Babies curriculums as requested by contract. 
• Conduct strengths-based assessments and screenings with clients using contractually required tools.
• Develop service plan with clients in accordance with assessment findings and ongoing home visit observations.
•  Promote positive parenting, healthy child development and well-being, while connecting clients to community resources as needed.
• Establish and maintain communication with other involved parties on a regular basis for coordinated care. 
• Plan, coordinate and facilitate monthly parent groups and/or socialization opportunities as required by the program.  
• Complete all required client case file documentation, including data entry into CMEDS, ETO and other required data systems in a timely and routine fashion.
• Monitor, document and achieve program outcomes and objectives.
• Implement Family First Prevention Services Act (FFPSA) requirements and collaborate with Family Connection Hub and Public Health Nurses (PHN).
• Maintain timely and accurate client case files and documentation (visit notes, assessments, service plans, data entry) on a variety of software programs and required databases in accordance with Agency, First 5 and HFA standards.
• Participate in team, agency, and contractual meetings, trainings, and group reflective supervision meetings as required by the Agency, HFA, and First 5. 
• Maintain required Medi-Cal Administrative Activities (MAA) documentation. 
• Uphold policies on confidentiality, mandated reporting, cultural humility, and safe home practices.
• Represent the agency and team during community presentations and events as needed.
• Adhere to Agency and First 5 client confidentiality, HIPAA, and mandated reporting policies.
• Attend all agency required meetings and trainings.
• As other duties assigned.  

Requirements

• High School diploma or GED equivalent, required.
• Bachelor's degree in child development, early childhood education, psychology or related field preferred.
• Minimum two years experience in working with or providing services to families with children prenatally through 5 years of age, ideally in home visiting or early childhood programs. 
• Bilingual (English/Spanish) preferred.
• Knowledge of infant and child development, parent-child attachment, early learning and health and nutrition.
• Experience and humility in working with culturally diverse families. 
• Demonstrates respect and acceptance of individual and cultural differences.
• Preferred experience in working with at-risk populations in the home setting. 
• Ability to establish trusting relationships.
• Demonstrates willingness to engage in building reflective capacity and ongoing professional growth.  
• Infant Mental Health endorsement preferred. 
• Ability to work with a diverse population, possess cultural sensitivity, and maintain appropriate boundaries with clients.
• Candidate is required to drive their personal vehicle on behalf of SBCS; therefore the candidate must successfully complete a motor vehicle history check. Candidate must also possess and maintain a current valid California driver's license and valid auto insurance policy.

Conditions of Employment

• Employment may be conditioned upon satisfactory completion of certain background clearances which may include a Department of Justice criminal background check requiring my fingerprints (Live Scan), screening through the National Sex Offender Public Website, drug test, tuberculosis (TB) test, and such additional clearances as may be required under the program.
• Candidate is required to have reliable transportation; therefore, the candidate must successfully complete a motor history check. Candidate must also possess and maintain a current valid California driver's license and valid auto insurance policy. (Approximately 40% of the time.)

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

• Mentally and emotionally: Ability to work under deadlines, various projects and dealing with clients in crisis and difficult situations.
• Must be able to remain in a stationary position during shift. 
• Moves throughout the building. 
• Moves, raises, or lowers (includes upward pulling) an object or equipment up to 50 lbs. 
• Transports an object, from 20 to 50 lbs. across the facility, for various needs.
• Ability to exert force upon an object so that the object moves away from the force. 
• Ability to exert force upon an object so that the object moves toward the force (includes jerking) 
• Ascending or descending stairs and ladders when applicable. Body agility is emphasized. 
• Balancing: Maintaining body equilibrium to prevent falling when ascending, descending, traversing.  
• Stooping: Bending body downward and forward by bending spine at the waist, requiring full use of the lower extremities and back muscles. 
• Handling: Seizing, holding, grasping, turning, or otherwise working with objects or office machinery. 
• Communicating: Expressing or exchanging ideas. Communicating is important for those activities in which workers must impart information to clients or to the public, and in those activities in which they must convey detailed or important instructions to other workers accurately, or quickly. 

The statements contained herein describe the scope of the responsibility and essential functions of this position but should not be considered to be an all-inclusive listing of work requirements. Individuals may perform other duties as assigned. Nothing in this job description restricts management's right to assign or reassign duties and responsibilities to this job at any time unless restricted by a negotiated contract.

Accessibility Accommodation

SBCS is committed to providing access, equal opportunity and reasonable accommodation for individuals with disabilities in employment, its services, programs, and activities. 

Equal Employment Opportunity

We are an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information, parental status, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. Equal Opportunity Employer/Program - Auxiliary aids and services are available upon request to individuals with disabilities.

At-Will Employment Status

Please note that all employment with SBCS is at-will, which means your employment may be terminated at any time by you or SBCS, without cause or advance notice. The terms and conditions of any employment may also be modified.