Early Childhood Educator & Community Resource Specialist - Bay Area Community Resources

Job title: Early Childhood Educator & Community Resource Specialist

The Early Childhood Educator & Community Resource Specialist is a vital role at the West County First 5 Center, responsible for engaging with the community to increase awareness among Black and African American families with young children about Center programs and providing educational activities and resource connections to all participants at the Center. This position serves as a bridge between the Center and the community, fostering warm, welcoming relationships; delivering parent/child interactive classes; and offering personalized parenting support alongside information on available community resources.

Benefits

• Pay rate of $27/hr - $27.75/hr
• 16 paid BACR holidays
• Up to 3 weeks vacation and additional sick time
• Medical, dental, vision, mental health/wellness benefit, life insurance, hospital indemnity, flexible spending account (medical, dependent, transit), 403b program

Minimum Qualifications and Skills

• 1+ years of experience as an instructor or family support specialist in an early childhood or family center setting OR Bachelor’s/Associate degree in education, human services or related field
• Must be able to work some evenings and weekends
• Knowledge of early childhood development and educational practices
• Ability to assess and respond to the needs of families and children using reflective practice and other methods; including a trauma-informed/healing centered lens
• Cultural humility and competence, and a deep understanding of the strengths and unique challenges faced by Black and African American families
• Ability to develop warm and supportive relationships with young children, parents, and community members of diverse populations, including English language learners
• Expertise in identifying and connecting families with relevant community resources
• Basic database entry skills and administrative skills needed to complete program delivery and documentation

Responsibilities

• Community Outreach: Engage with Black and African American families in the community to raise awareness of the West County First 5 Center's programs and services. Build trust and establish strong connections with families to encourage participation.
• Parent/Child Interactive Classes: Design and facilitate engaging and educational interactive classes that promote bonding, learning, and development for young children and their parents. Ensure that classes are inclusive and meet the needs of participants at the Center.
• Child Development Support: Conduct child developmental screenings and provide developmental information, follow up strategies, and referrals as needed.
• Parenting Support: Provide individualized support to parents, offering guidance, resources, and strategies tailored to their specific needs.
• Community Resource Navigation: Assist families in accessing community resources, including health services, educational programs, and social services. Serve as a knowledgeable resource, providing up-to-date information.
• Create a Warm, Inclusive Environment: Foster a welcoming atmosphere at the Center, ensuring that all families feel valued and supported. Promote an environment of inclusion where diverse cultures and needs are respected and addressed.

Personal Attributes

• Empathy and compassion in working with diverse families and colleagues.
• Strong organizational skills and the ability to manage multiple responsibilities.
• A proactive and collaborative approach to problem-solving.
• Creativity and excitement to bring joy to children and their families
• Commitment to equity and inclusion in service delivery.

The West County First 5 Center

The West County First 5 Center offers free activities in San Pablo that help parents nurture and support their young children so they grow up healthy, happy, and learning. Our programs focus on early learning opportunities for children, child development, parent education and leadership, and connections to community resources. Classes are for children ages 0-5 years and their parents to participate together in a welcoming and vibrant atmosphere. Our participants are dedicated to their children’s potential to thrive, and our team is dedicated to partnering with parents on this journey. The Center values growing and learning together, cultivating empathy, and authentically serving the diverse community that we are a part of.

About Our Agency

Bay Area Community Resources (BACR) promotes the healthy development of individuals, families and communities through direct services, volunteerism, and partnerships in the San Francisco Bay Area.

We have deep respect for the communities we serve throughout the Greater San Francisco Bay Area, the dedicated staff who show up for those in need, and the opportunity we have been given through this work to promote resilience in tens of thousands of individuals every year.

BACR is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate, support, and thrive on diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment w/o regard to perceived age, marital or familial status, religion, gender, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, race, creed, color, genetic information, ancestry, national origin, physical or mental disability including AIDS or AIDS-Related Complex or military status.

Visit our website at www.bacr.org.

Above is the pay range for this position that we reasonably expect to pay. Individual compensation is based on various factors including experience/education, skillset, and geographic location.