About Us:

VOALA

Helping Our Most Vulnerable Change Their Life Stories

Volunteers of America is a non-profit human services organization committed to serving people in need, strengthening families, and building communities.   VOALA provides a variety of social services to Los Angeles area communities such as Head Start programs, Upward Bound college prep programs, veterans’ services, homeless shelters, low-income housing program as well as drug and alcohol rehabilitation. Learn more at www.voala.org.

VOALA services for children place an emphasis on Education, Literacy, and Health. The skills and confidence gained from our programs promote a stable home life and ensure a smooth transition into kindergarten and beyond. Working closely with the family unit and the community itself, we encourage the development of a positive narrative for our children providing internal voices of confidence, kindness, hope and accountability to building a stronger future.

HEAD START/EARLY HEAD START

 Through our Head Start and Early Head Start programs, we work with children (ages 0 – 5) and their families to provide the skills, confidence and stable home life necessary for a smooth transition into kindergarten and beyond.  Children also receive a broad array of health services including screenings and referrals, maintenance of immunization schedules, nutrition assessments and follow-ups, mental health assessments as part of initial screenings, and determination if any mental or physical delays are present.  Children receive health and dental services and have access to ongoing and acute and routine health and dental care. Enrolled children receive healthy meals, along with an assessment of their nutritional needs and the necessary follow-ups.  Nutrition education is available for parents and incorporated into daily classroom activities for the children.

 Cities served include: Carson, Commerce, Compton, Culver City, Del Rey, East Los Angeles, El Segundo, Harbor City, Hawthorne, South Central Los Angeles, Lomita, Lynwood, Mar Vista, Newhall, North Hollywood, Pacoima, Palms, Paramount, Rancho Palos Verdes, San Fernando, San Pedro, Santa Clarita, Shadow Hills, South Central Los Angeles, South LA, Studio City, Sun Valley, Sunland, Sylmar, Torrance, Tujunga, Val Verde, Valencia, Valley Village, Wilmington.

JOB SUMMARY AND PURPOSE

The Early Head Start Home Visitor identifies, recruits and enrolls families for participation in the EHS Program, then regularly meets with enrolled families to identify challenges and needs they face.  Fosters the view and practice in parents that they are their child’s first teacher and reinforce this concept with practical suggestions; works wish parent to establish a Family Partnership Agreement and assists them in attaining established goals.  

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Works with a caseload twelve (12) families by going to the family home every week for at least ninety (90) minutes per family per week;
• Consults with families and staff in identifying a family’s or child’s challenges/needs; explores solutions;
• Works with parents in weekly home visits to develop activities that are developmentally appropriate, family focused and engaging, establishes Family Partnership Agreement. 
• Conducts ongoing observations, screenings and assessments to develop goals that relate to the child's individual growth and development.
• Collaborate with various social services, ensuring parent involvement, to obtain nutrition, health, mental health services, and/or disability assistance to better support child/family.
• Maintain children's records; submit accurate monthly paperwork and reports on a timely basis
• Plans, participates, creates an environment that is developmentally appropriate  and implements socializations twice a month;
• Works with parent to establish a Family Partnership Agreement and assists them in attaining established goals;
• Fosters the view and practice in parents that they are their child’s first teacher and reinforce this concept with practical suggestions;
• Acts as a liaison and advocate between community resources and HS families;
• Helps families as necessary to arrange and keep medical and dental appointments as required by HS.

REQUIREMENTS:

• Must be able to pass a fingerprint clearance, background check, including criminal history, personal references, employment and education verifications
• Proof at the time of hire
• TB clearance within 6 months prior
• Annual Influenza vaccination (between Aug 1 – Dec 1)
• Pertussis (whooping cough) and measles immunization
• Health screening at the time of employment
• Requires ability to interact with children in a busy environment including, but not limited to:
• Able to lift up to 50 lbs.
• Frequently kneel and squat
• Ability to move quickly

EDUCATION: 

• BA in ECE or related field.
• 24 CD units including, 6 units of infant/toddler.
• Child Development permit- Teacher.

EXPERIENCE:

• Experience working with infant/toddlers.

KNOWLEDGE

• Child Development principles and theories.
• Infant/Toddlers practices.

TECHNOLOGY SKILLS:

• Knowledge of Microsoft Word and Excel

SKILLS AND ABILITIES:

• Able to set priorities, handle multiple tasks, meet established deadlines
• Proficient in understanding and communication of the spoken and written English language 
• Ability to perform under circumstances of possible emotional stress and conflict, including dealing with un-cooperative clients.
• Ability to safely and successfully perform the essential job functions consistent with the ADA, FMLA, and other federal, state, and local standards, with or without reasonable accommodation, including meeting qualitative and quantitative productivity standards.
• Ability to maintain regular, punctual attendance consistent with ADA, FMLA, and other federal, state, and local standards

INTERPERSONAL CHARACTERISTICS:

• Dependable, collaborative, have regular/dependable attendance, be prompt, positive mindset, flexible, organized.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• 2 years in ECE or social work
• EHS/HS  knowledge 
• Knowledge of Head Start performance standards.  
• Growing great kid’s curriculum.
• Bilingual English and Spanish (written and verbal).
• Access to dependable transportation.
• Proof of Insurance.

Volunteers of America is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex including sexual orientation and gender identity, national origin, disability, protected Veteran Status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law

This employer participates in E-Verify and will provide the federal government with your Form 1-9 information to confirm that you are authorized to work in the U.S.

If E-Verify cannot confirm that you are authorized to work, this employer is required to give you written instructions and an opportunity to contact Department of Homeland Security (OHS) or Social Security Administration (SSA) so you can begin to resolve the issue before the employer can take any action against you, including terminating your employment.