Child Care Specialist I

Provides services to families eligible for participation in the Child Care Assistance and Referral program (CCAR). Facilitates child care placements. Contacts vendors and families to determine that child care arrangements are appropriately meeting the needs of the family and the child. Provides documentation of case management activities in state and local automated systems. Negotiates vendor agreements for participation in CCAR. Provides one-on-one training and group workshops for providers and refers them to other training resources. Analyzes and mediates child care issues and problems. Trains and becomes a certified CLASS Observer conducting several observations annually. Participates in planning, developing, and monitoring program standards which meet applicable state regulations and local policies and standards. Provides child care resource and referral services to residents of Fairfax County. Conducts outreach activities and holds informational sessions with potential child care providers and center staff. Works on special projects. Duties are performed under the supervision of the Child Care Specialist III, CCAR.

Note: This position is located in the Pennino Building in Fairfax, Virginia, with possible weekly assignments in one of the Department of Family Services Regional offices: Alexandria, Reston, or Annandale.

(The illustrative duties listed in this specification are representative of the class but are not an all-inclusive list. A complete list of position duties and unique physical requirements can be found in the position job description.)

Assists providers with improving the quality of their child care environments by providing them with information on child development and child care issues;
Provides training and technical assistance to family day care providers and day care centers;
Conducts research and gathers data for the development of training and program materials;
Recruits new family day care providers to meet child care needs throughout the county;
Conducts outreach activities and holds informational sessions with potential providers and center staff;
Assesses homes for participation in the Child and Adult Care Food Program and /or the Child Care Assistance Program;
Provides orientation sessions for program participation;
Educates parents on types of available care and assists with placements in family day care;
Prepares vendor agreements for providers who participate in the Child Care Assistance Program;
Reviews billing reports to verify eligibility and participation;
Prepares monthly reports for assigned geographic area;
Investigates complaints and makes recommendations regarding the disposition;

(The knowledge, skills and abilities listed in this specification are representative of the class but are not an all-inclusive list.)
Knowledge of the basic principles, concepts, and methodology of assigned area of accountability;
Ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing;
Ability to keep current on the latest theories of early childhood development and education;
Ability to work independently and as a member of a team.

• Graduation from an accredited four-year college or university with a degree in early childhood education, early childhood development, social work or family studies.
• Experience working with subsidy programs.
• Excellent oral and writing skills.
• Some responsible experience in child care administration, early child development programs or working with low income families.
• Demonstrated experience handling caseloads/doing caseload management; and providing training and guidance to child care center staff and family child-care providers.
• Proficiency in using human services database(s)/automated system(s).