Early Intervention Specialist - 1834

Affordable Rent; Lakewood, Northern (CO, KY); Hybrid; USD 42,000 - 65,000; Full time

Job summary

Affordable Rent seeks an Early Intervention Services Specialist to provide prevention-focused, relationship-based support to families with young children in a Colorado childcare setting. You will promote school readiness and connect families to community resources using trauma-informed approaches.

You will collaborate with caregivers, early childhood staff, and community partners to identify needs, conduct screenings, document in electronic health records, and participate in multidisciplinary

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent in related field is required
• Colorado Shines PDIS Level 2 credential within required timeframe
• Bilingual Spanish/English preferred

Responsibilities

• Responds to referrals within 48 hours and discusses needs with referral sources.
• Outreach and engagement with parents to explain services and encourage participation.
• Provide relationship-based coaching to caregivers to support children's learning and social-emotional development.
• Observe children in natural settings to identify strengths and concerns.
• Conduct or coordinate age-appropriate developmental and caregiver-reported screenings.
• Collaborate with caregivers to interpret screening results and planNext steps.
• Link families to community services (Head Start, CHP+, pediatric/behavioral health providers).
• Build relationships with staff and community partners to support coordinated care.
• Serve as liaison between families, childcare staff, and external partners.
• Provide training on child safety topics and participate in multidisciplinary meetings.
• Complete EHR documentation timely and accurately.
• Maintain HIPAA compliance and complete releases as required.
• Track service activities for program evaluation and QA.

Skills

Relationship-building

Time management

Documentation

Cultural humility

Interdisciplinary teamwork

Computer proficiency

Professional judgment

Bilingual (Spanish/English)

Education

Bachelor's degree in early childhood education, Special Education, Child Development, Social Work, or related field

Early Childhood experience may be substituted for degree requirements

Colorado Shines PDIS teacher credentials may be considered

Job description

The Early Intervention Services Specialist provides prevention-focused, relationship-based support to families with young children experiencing homelessness or housing instability, with an emphasis on promoting healthy child development and preventing child abuse and neglect. Embedded within a childcare setting, the role supports children’s developmental and social-emotional growth to build school readiness, while partnering with caregivers, early childhood staff, and community providers to identify emerging needs early, offer developmentally informed guidance, and connect families to resources using trauma-informed, culturally responsive, and strengths-based approaches.

Duties/Responsibilities (Essential Functions)

• Responds to all referrals within 48 hours and consults with referral sources as needed to further discuss the needs of the family.

• Conduct outreach and engagement with parents and caregivers to explain services, build trust, and encourage voluntary participation.
• Provide relationship-based coaching to caregivers to support children’s learning, social-emotional development, and regulation during daily routines.
• Observe children in natural settings (e.g., childcare classrooms, family environments) to identify developmental strengths and emerging concerns.
• Conduct or coordinate age-appropriate developmental, social-emotional, and caregiver-reported screenings, as appropriate.
• Collaborate with care givers to interpret screening results and determine next steps.
• Connect families to appropriate community-based services, including but not limited to: Early Intervention/Community Centered Boards (CCBs), Head Start and early learning programs, pediatric and behavioral health providers, school district Child Find programs.
• Build and maintain collaborative relationships with early childhood staff, community agencies, and service providers to support coordinated care.
• Serve as a liaison between families, childcare staff, and external partners to promote shared understanding and consistent support.
• Provide training and consultation to staff and caregivers on child safety topics, as appropriate.
• Participate in multidisciplinary meetings and case consultations, as appropriate.
• Completes Electronic Health Record documentation in a timely and accurate manner.
• Maintains compliance with agency and HIPAA standards, including completing Releases of Information and registration paperwork.
• Track service activities and outcomes to support program evaluation and continuous quality improvement.
• Obtain training and certification in child passenger safety (car seat installation) and provide car seat safety education and hands-on installation support to caregivers and FSS staff.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Education, Experience and Job Competencies

• Education
  • Bachelor's degree in early childhood education, Special Education, Child Development, Social Work, or related field required
  • Early Childhood experience may be substituted for degree requirements
  • Colorado Shines PDIS teacher credentials may be considered to determine classification

• Experience
  • Level 2 Colorado Shine PDIS Teacher Credentials Required within 90-days of hire
  • Previous experience in implementing programming for young children and families who are homeless or at-risk of becoming homeless, knowledge of Medicaid and CHP+ enrollment procedures, and knowledge of early childhood education/development required.

• • Bilingual skills (Spanish/English) preferred.

• Job Competencies
  • Strong relationship-building and engagement skills with children, caregivers, and community partners.
  • Ability to work independently while functioning effectively as part of an interdisciplinary team.
  • Demonstrated cultural humility and commitment to equity-centered, trauma-informed practice.
  • Strong organizational, time management, and documentation skills.
  • Computer proficiency, including electronic records, data entry, and basic reporting.
  • Sound professional judgment and ability to manage multiple priorities.

Department Overview & Requirements

• Position may require flexible scheduling, including occasional evenings or community-based outreach.
• Occasional classroom supervision or coverage within the childcare setting may be required,
• Employee must obtain and maintain PDIS Level 2 certification (or equivalent Colorado early childhood professional credential) within an established timeframe, as required by the program.
• Travel within the community is required; valid driver’s license and reliable transportation required.
• Background checks required in accordance with state regulations for individuals working with children and families.