Parent Educator; Lethbridge, Lethbridge Indigenous-supporting

**South Region Parents as Teachers**

**1.0 FTE EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY**

Oki. Are you searching for meaningful work? Do you have a heart to make a difference in the lives of young children and families in Lethbridge including Indigenous families? Consider joining our team of caring family support professionals.

**Title: Parent Educator - Lethbridge, Lethbridge** **Indigenous-supporting**early years home visitor/parent educator

**Assets for this position include**:

- Strong working knowledge of Indigenous world views, values and beliefs such as Niitsitapi values.
- Strong working knowledge of family and Indigenous supports and resources in the City of Lethbridge and area.
- Knowledge of Indigenous perspectives on well-being and resiliency, parenting practices and traditional sources of knowledge.

**Location**: Lethbridge

**Hours**: 1.0 FTE; 5 days per week, Mon
- Fri (35 hrs/week) Occasional evening and weekend work required.

We offer an exceptional benefits package including vision, dental, extended health, generous health spending account.

**Reports to**:Program Manager

For over twenty-nine years, South Region Parents as Teachers has been engaging and supporting families in Southern Alberta to promote the optimal development, learning and health of their children in the crucial early years of life. Our mission is to provide the information, support and encouragement families need to help their young children develop optimally (prenatal through kindergarten). South Region Parents as Teachers is proud to be an international Parents as Teachers Affiliate program utilizing the innovative, evidence-based Parents as Teachers home visiting model.

**Position Summary**:
A certified parent educator supports families during the crucial early years of a child’s life through the Parents as Teachers model components, which include personal home visits, group connections, child screenings and linkages to a network of resources. Parent-child interaction, development-centered parenting and family well-being is emphasized in their work with families. Utilizing the Parents as Teachers Foundational Curriculum in culturally sensitive ways, the parent educator partners, facilitates and reflects with families to build protective factors.

**Assets for this position include**:

- Strong working knowledge of Indigenous world views, values and beliefs such as Niitsitapi values.
- Strong working knowledge of Indigenous supports and resources in the City of Lethbridge and area.
- Knowledge of Indigenous perspectives on well-being and resiliency, parenting practices and traditional sources of knowledge.

**Qualifications**:

- Post-secondary degree or diploma preferred in a human-services related field such as child and youth care, early childhood development and education, education, nursing, social work, health or psychology. Combination of equivalencies and experience may be considered.
- Minimum of two years supervised experience working with young children and their parents.
- Strong work ethic.
- Knowledge of early childhood development and parent education.
- Knowledge of Indigenous perspectives on well-being and resiliency, parenting practices and traditional sources of knowledge.
- Strong working knowledge of community and cultural resources to assist families.
- Ability to establish rapport with diverse families and empower them to build their strengths.
- Familiarity with developmental screening tools such as the Ages and Stages 3 and Ages and Stages Social-Emotional 2 Questionnaires.
- Demonstrated group facilitation skills.
- Exceptional, effective verbal communication and interpersonal skills (i.e. non judgmental, strength-based, objective, reflective, empathic, patient, tactful).
- Ability to be a self-starter, work independently and contribute in a team environment.
- Strong written communication, organizational and record-keeping skills.
- Ability to work flexible hours when necessary.
- Physically able to carry large items, go up and down stairs, and join families in play on the floor.

**Requirements**:

- Successfully complete the Parents as Teachers Foundational and Model Implementation Trainings.
- Maintain current certification as a parent educator by completing the required professional development hours for years of service.
- Valid Alberta Driver’s License, insurance and a reliable vehicle.
- Current clear Criminal Record and Vulnerable Sector Check.
- Current satisfactory Child Intervention Record Check.
- Documentation of a valid Social Insurance Number.
- Proof of Photo Identification.

**Duties & Responsibilities**:

- Provide personal home visits focused on parent-child interaction, development-centered parenting and family well-being (including planning, delivering and documenting the visit).
- Deliver culturally rooted services and supports with care and consideration to individual unique family and cultural context including Indigenous.
- Use the PAT Foundational Curricula to share research-