Child Development Specialist I

Wayfinder Family; Los Angeles, Northern (CA, KY); Hybrid; USD 32,000 - 36,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Paid Time Off

11 paid holidays enjoyed by staff

Medical, dental, vision insurance

401(k) with employer match

Employee referral program

Tuition assistance program

PSLF eligible

FSA plans

Training and professional development

Job summary

Wayfinder Family Services is seeking a Child Development Specialist to provide in-home and community-based intervention for young children with vision impairments or multiple disabilities in the Los Angeles area. You will deliver visits, assessments, and family coaching to support development and school readiness.

The role requires a BA/BS in a related field; bilingual Spanish is preferred, and a CA driver license is required to drive to regional centers.

Qualifications

• A minimum of a BA/BS in Special Education, Child Development, Orientation and Mobility, Infant or Early Childhood, Social Work, or another related field.
• Bilingual (Spanish) is preferred.
• Familiarity with services for infants and families with vision loss and multiple disabilities in California is preferred.
• Valid CA Driver License with at least 3 years driving history.

Responsibilities

• Provide direct intervention in the child’s natural environment (home, center, or hospital) and coordinate weekly visits.
• Conduct functional vision and developmental assessments using observation, interviews, and formal tools.
• Participate in developing and implementing IFSPs and outcomes with families and education teams.
• Assist families in transitioning to public schools or appropriate preschools (Birth to 3).
• Collaborate with community providers to identify children with vision loss and delays and facilitate access to services.
• Maintain client files and databases, including intake forms, IFSPs, IEPs, and medical documentation.

Skills

Bilingual Spanish

Driver License (CA)

Familiar with CA infant services

Education

BA/BS in Special Education or related field

Job description

Job Details

Job Location: Wayfinder LA Campus - Los Angeles, CA 90043Position Type: Full TimeEducation Level: 4 Year DegreeSalary Range: $23.00 - $26.00 HourlyTravel Percentage: Up to 50% Job Shift: Day/AMJob Category: Nonprofit - Social ServicesAtWayfinder Family Services, we understand the unique challenges facing some of our state’s most vulnerable children, youth and adults. Those with disabilities, those without a home of their own, those who have been abused and many, many more. We answer the call for them. We believe in the amazing potential in, and for, each and every one of them. And, together, we find a way to turn that potential into reality.

Program and Role Summary

Wayfinder’sChild Development Services provides early intervention in person to children from birth to age 6 with visual impairment or multiple disabilities. Young children maximize any vision they have and reduce developmental delays. Parents learn to provide their child with therapeutic stimulation and advocate for their child’s education and care. Child development reduces the need for special education and increases independence for children with disabilities.

The primary focus on theChild Development Specialist, is toprovide specialized services to families of young children with vision impairments and/or multiple disabilities from birth through five years of age. The Child Development Specialist provides home instruction, lesson plans, resource information, and referrals to local community-based organizations, advocates for the client’s family, and partners with parents and caregivers to empower them as advocates for their child.

The hourly wage range for this role is $23.00 - $26.00.

This position is home-based and will cover the catchment areas of theEast Los Angeles Regional Center, San Gabriel Pomona Regional Center, and the South Central Regional Center, as needed.

Primary Responsibilities

• Provide direct intervention in the child's natural environment: home, at a center-based site, or a hospital. Coordinate your schedule to meet the family's needs, ensuring the weekly visits are met as authorized by the Regional Center or School District.
• Conduct functional vision and developmental assessments using observation, parent interviews, authentic assessment strategies, and formal assessment tools. Per the frequency of the Regional Center, assessments include but are not limited to Oregon, DAYC-2, and HAWAII (HELP). Frequency includes but is not limited to every 3, 6 or 9 months.
• Participates in developing and implementing each child’s Individual Family Service Plan (IFSP) and outcomes in collaboration with the family and education team, providing progress reports as required by each Regional Center or Local Education Agency.
• Assists and supports family in transitioning to the public school system or appropriate preschool setting (Birth to 3 children).
• Actively collaborates with community-based providers of related services, including medical and educational providers, to help identify children with vision loss and developmental delays and provide access to services as part of Child Find.
• Completes and maintains client case files and client database, including : Face Sheet, Home Visit Log Notes, intake forms, Developmental Profile, Family Program Plan, Physician Reports, Correspondence, Reports of Medical Visits, IFSPs, IEPs, assessments, and Medi-Cal documentation.
• Other duties as outlined in the position description.

QualificationsEducation and Experience

• A minimum of a B.A., B.S. degreein Special Education, Child Development, Orientation and Mobility, Infant or Early Childhood, Social Work, or another related field from an accredited university is required.
• Bilingual (Spanish), preferred.
• Familiarity with services available to infants, young children, and their families with vision loss and multiple disabilities in California preferred.
• Valid CA Driver License with a minimum of three (3) years good driving history and must be approved by the agency’s insurance carrier to drive agency vehicles.

Benefits

• Paid Time Off: Generous Paid Time Off (PTO) policy, 11 paid holidays, plus five winter holidays
• Medical, dental, vision, life, and long-term disability insurance
• 401(k) retirement plan with employer match up to 4%
• Employee referral program: Encourage your colleagues to join us
• Education tuition assistance program: Invest in your career development
• Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) eligible
• Flexible spending account (FSA) plans
• Eligibility and other benefits are outlined in plan documents

Additional Benefits Offered for this role

• Training and professional development

Wayfinder Family Services is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We support a drug-free workplace and conduct pre-employment background and drug screenings.