SANTA CLARA COUNTY OFFICE OF EDUCATION
Personnel Commission

CLASS TITLES:

Child Development Specialist
Child Development Specialist - Restricted

To develop, coordinate, and monitor the disability and special needs services for children enrolled in Head Start Programs and their families and to provide service delivery information and resources for special needs children. Employees in this class receive limited supervision from the Instructional Services Coordinator within a broad framework of standard policies and procedures. This job class directs and monitors the work of others. This job class requires organizational skills and technical knowledge in child development and requires knowledge of Head Start programs, activities, and operations.

• Monitors and participates in obtaining, updating, and assessing of individual disabilities information for children enrolled in Head Start Programs; ensuring the Head Start performance standards relating to state and federal laws and regulations are met and verified

• Recruits and enrolls children with special needs; screens and reviews applications; investigates possible special needs related issues through home visits, classroom observations, parent/teacher conferences, and telephone interviews; collects necessary documents and information

• Confers with the multi-disciplinary team including Head Start staff and other professionals regarding placement decisions

• Develops the Individual Family Plan (IFP) using categorical diagnosis criteria; recommends the appropriateness of mainstreaming or inclusion in the Head Start program

• Participates in the development of classroom strategies for teachers; trains and coordinates the work of staff as assigned

• Performs child development and speech/language screening for referrals; makes recommendations regarding evaluations to the appropriate agencies

• Reviews and responds to special education and mental health service referrals from school districts, agencies, and professionals; confers with the appropriate agencies in the referral process and assures its implementation

• Coordinates services for children with special needs and their families with teachers, staff, county and community agencies, medical and mental health professionals and other appropriate agencies; acts as a liaison as required

• Provides child development resource information to teachers, parents, public agencies, family support groups, and other county head start programs

• Serves as an advocate for children and their families through LEA's system and other agencies

• Participates in staff meetings, case management conferences, staff development workshops, and related inservices; makes presentations; coordinates and facilitates conferences and meetings as required

• Maintains case management files, special needs resource library; develops forms; monitors monies for contracting agencies

• Prepares a variety of correspondence and county, state, and federal reports; maintains a special needs waiting list; monitors IEP's and IFP's

• Purchases and distributes special equipment, materials, and supplies for classrooms in the accommodation of special needs children

• Performs related duties as assigned

Possession of:

• A valid California Class C Driver's License

• A driving record which meets the County Office of Education's insurance requirements

Knowledge of:

• Proper English including punctuation and grammar

• Child development procedures, principles, and strategies

• Case management principles and practices

• Community and public agencies

• Head Start Program procedures, requirements, and activities

• State and federal laws and regulations regarding children with special needs

• Various cultural needs and problems of families associated with child development

• Personal computer operations and applicable software programs

Ability to:

• Assessing children with special needs using the appropriate screening criteria

• Work with families of varying cultural, social, and economic backgrounds

• Interpret and apply regulations and laws as pertaining to children with special needs

• Work in a team oriented environment, coordinate the work of others, and maintain a cooperative working relationship with those contacted in the course of assigned duties

• Prepare a variety of reports and maintain current and accurate records

• Prioritize work, organize, and manage time effectively

• Communicate effectively both orally and in writing before small and large groups

• Operate a personal computer

May require:

• Bilingual/bicultural proficiency English and second language as specified by the County Office.

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE:

Generally, the required knowledge and abilities will been acquired through any combination of education or experience equivalent to a Bachelor's Degree from a four year college or university with a major in Child Development, Early Childhood Education, Social Services, or a related field and at least three years experience in Social Service or a related Education Agency.

Bargaining Unit: Office Technical and Business Services (OTBS) Unit
Personnel Commission Approval: March 27, 1997
Revised: May 22, 2003 (Added Restricted Class)