Early Intervention Specialist

Texas ESC Region 16; Amarillo (TX); On-site; USD 42,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

Texas ESC Region 16 seeks a dedicated service coordination professional to support eligible children and their families through the Early Childhood Intervention program. You will analyze needs, coordinate services, and help families access developmental supports.

The role requires a Bachelor’s degree, willingness to complete advanced training, strong teamwork with families, agencies, and school personnel, and proficiency with Microsoft Office; travel regionwide is expected.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required; preference for human development, psychology, social work, or related fields with early childhood focus.
• 18 hours of early childhood coursework including 3 hours of child development or an equivalent bachelor’s degree with 18 hours of early childhood coursework.

Responsibilities

• Analyzes data to determine eligibility for the ECI program and guides enrollment decisions.
• Facilitates development, review, and evaluation of the IFSP based on developmental history and evaluations.
• Monitors child needs and coordinates services to ensure effective IFSP implementation.
• Provides access to IDEA Part C and related medical, social, educational, and developmental services as needed.
• Approves resources to fund respite care based on assessment of needs.
• Cooperates with local agencies and resources to secure necessary services.
• Assesses needs for assistive technology, vision, hearing support, and other community resources.
• Delivers developmental direct services and parent training to support family goals.
• Works with LEA, child-care centers, and other agencies for smooth transitions from ECI to LEA services.
• Participates in Random Moment in Time Studies to support federal funding and program accuracy.
• Engages in public awareness and child-find activities to promote referrals.
• Maintains all required written documentation and meets timelines for child, family, and financial records.
• Maintains in-service training requirements and program records; manages time and calendars efficiently.
• Adheres to safety policies and ensures confidentiality of ESC matters.

Skills

Willingness to train

Experience with young children

Child development knowledge

Record keeping

Team collaboration

Initiative

MS Office proficiency

Education

Bachelor’s Degree in related field

Tools

Microsoft Office

Job description

Primary Purpose:

Upholds ECI mission, values, and goals by providing service coordination and direct services to eligible children and their families.

Qualifications:

Education/Certification:

• Bachelor’s Degree required; preference will be given to degrees in the following fields: human development and family studies, psychology, social work with certification, sociology, education, or other degree with focus in study area of early childhood development and 18 hours of early childhood course work including 3 hours of child development or any bachelor’s degree with 18 hours of early childhood course work including 3 hours of child development.

Special Knowledge/Skills/Experience:

• Willingness and ability to successfully complete (within one year of hire date) additional required highly skilled and advanced training in the Competency Demonstration System which certifies staff to assess and analyze non-typical child development vs. typical development
• Experience working with young or severely/profoundly delayed children preferred
• Knowledge of child development and infant/early toddler assessment preferred
• Training or experience in record keeping, case management, and parent training preferred
• Ability to work cooperatively and build rapport with ECI team, families, community agencies, medical personnel, and local education agencies required
• Ability to take initiative in completing job tasks required
• Knowledge and experience using Microsoft Office programs and ability to learn new technology systems required

Working Conditions:

• Tools/Equipment Used: Standard office equipment including personal computer and peripherals
• Posture: Must be physically able to tolerate prolonged sitting, frequent standing; occasional bending/stooping, pushing/pulling, twisting, and standing
• Motion: Must be physically able to tolerate frequent standing and walking, repetitive hand motions, frequent keyboarding and use of mouse; occasional reaching, occasional driving
• Lifting: Must be physically able to tolerate regular light lifting and carrying (less than 15 pounds); may require occasional heavy lifting and carrying (45 pounds or more)

• Environment: Must be physically able to work inside; tolerate frequent regionwide travel and occasional statewide travel; regular exposure to noise
• Mental Demands: Must be able to work with frequent interruptions; maintain emotional control under stress; work prolonged or irregular hours on occasion
• Regular Attendance is an essential function

Major Responsibilities and Duties:

1. Analyzes data collected from the completion of the evaluation/assessment instruments and assesses to determine if a child is eligible for the ECI program by making clinical decisions and determinations, thus facilitating the process of enrollment.
2. Facilitates and participates in the development, review, and evaluation of the Individualized Family Service Plan (IFSP), which is based upon the child’s developmental history, parent’s input, and the results of all evaluations and assessments.
3. Monitors and reassesses the needs of the child and coordinates all services that are necessary to ensure that the IFSP is effectively implemented.
4. Provides and assists all eligible children and their families in gaining access to the rights and procedural safeguards under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act Part C and to all needed medical, social, educational, developmental, and other appropriate services at a frequency that meets family and program needs.
5. Approves financial resources to fund respite care services as deemed necessary and appropriate based on the assessment of the child and family needs.
6. Cooperates with local community agencies/individuals and is knowledgeable of resources available in order to secure needed services on behalf of the clients. Follows all ESC policies and procedures in committing financial resources when necessary.
7. Assesses the child’s needs to determine if technical assistance services are needed. Accesses the services through the ESC in the areas of assistive technology, vision and hearing impairment, and other community agencies as needed.
8. Provides developmental direct one-on-one or consultative services that give families information, skills, and support to assist their child with the acquisition and mastery of functional skills designed to reduce the limitations resulting from developmental delays or disabilities and focuses on identification of developmental needs across all domains at a frequency that meets family needs and local program requirements within 28 days of IFSP.
9. Works cooperatively with the local education agencies (LEA), child-care centers, and other agencies to identify and document the appropriate steps in transition services to support each child and family to smoothly and effectively transition from ECI to LEA special education services or other community activities, places, or programs.
10. Participates in the required “Random Moment in Time Studies,” which helps the program secure additional federal funds in order to serve clients.
11. Participates in public awareness and child find activities that promote quality referrals from appropriate referral sources.
12. Is responsible for submitting all required written documentation and forms according to established timelines that are related to the child, family, and financial records.
13. Maintains in-service training requirements for professional growth and development and other program records such as inventory of equipment and materials.
14. Checks and responds to emails and voicemails within 48 hours during regular workdays.
15. Maintains a functioning cell phone and is accessible through this phone as deemed appropriate by the A functioning cell phone means that it is charged, activated, messages checked, and mailbox emptied regularly.
16. Reports for work ready to perform duties.
17. Performs duties that directly and/or indirectly impact student performance in Region 16.
18. Maintains a professional level of confidentiality regarding all ESC matters.
19. Supports the mission, goals, and objectives of the ESC strategic plan.
20. Upholds and adheres to safety rules and policies of the ESC safety program.
21. Performs professional responsibilities as required by ESC policies, processes, and procedures.
22. Manages time, calendar, and job responsibilities to meet deadlines.
23. Meets proficiency levels of required technology skills as outlined by supervisor.
24. Incorporates appropriate technology in daily work and exhibits continual growth in technologies as outlined by supervisor.
25. Performs other duties as assigned.