Want to make a difference? Come work with us!
Community Services for Children, a large non-profit organization located in the heart of the Lehigh Valley, is looking for a Learning Support Specialist for our Head Start program to make a difference in the lives of children and their families. This is a unique opportunity for a social services professional to implement high quality programming based on best practice and current research in the field. The Learning Support Specialist is a direct service role and involves active engagement with CSC students in classrooms across the Lehigh Valley.
CSC is a leader in early childhood education. Our Head Start/Early Head Start programs have been accredited by the National Head Start Association as a Program of Excellence. Selected as a 2015, 2017, 2020, and 2021 Top Workplace, we proudly live our values of excellence, integrity, and connection. We work together to prepare young children and their families to succeed in learning - and life! Our culture encourages a growth mindset and promotes work/life balance - offering generous paid time off packages and comprehensive benefits. Newly hired Community Services for Children staff members will also receive a $500 net monetary incentive upon successful completion of probation.
Responsibilities:
- Demonstrate a comprehensive understanding of children with special needs.
- Provide support to identified or suspected children with special needs in both classroom and home visit environments.
- Support parents in securing specialized resources, information, and services including completing an external referral for services and advocating for their child.
- Partner with classroom staff, parents, and other agencies to write and implement Child Success Plans and/or Individualized Education Plans for each identified child.
- Understand, practice, and teach positive approaches to guide behaviors toward the development of self-regulation to promote mental wellness for children and families.
- Follow-up, document, and report on all internal and external referrals to the Health Services Manager - Mental Health and Disabilities and other appropriate staff.
Requirements:
- Associate or Bachelor's degree required in Early Childhood Education, Social Work, Special Education, or Psychology
- Three years' experience with preschool children in a comprehensive setting.
- Previous CBT, BHT training a plus.
- Demonstrated ability to practice and model program's educational philosophy.
- Strong interpersonal skills and ability to work with individuals of varying economic, educational, and cultural backgrounds.
- English/Spanish bi-lingual a plus.
- Valid driver's license, full time use of car, ability to transport families in private vehicle.
- Ability to lift and carry a minimum of 20 lbs. in order to assist children as needed and to move equipment and materials.
Benefits:
- Part Year: six to eight weeks off over the summer (generally follows a school year calendar)
- Low cost/rich benefits.
- Paid leave for sick and personal days.
- Paid holidays.
- Agency sponsored 401k retirement plan.
Apply today!