Position Summary: Parent Educator

The Parent Educator works directly with parents of young children, primarily through visits in families' homes. The Parent Educator shares reliable, research based information about child development and helps parents recognize how everyday interactions and parenting behaviors can support their child's learning, development, and well being. Parents as Teachers uses a strength based approach that provides families with a safe space to ask questions, connect with community resources, set goals, and seek support without judgement.

This is a home based, remote position requiring frequent travel throughout an assigned service area. The Parent Educator independently manages a caseload, schedules visits with families, maintains accurate record and confidentiality, completes required screenings and assessments, provides family group activities, maintains program visibility throughout the community, recruits eligible families, and builds relationships with assigned school districts and community partners.

Essential Job Functions

Home Visitation and Caseload

Plan and deliver personal visits, year round, primarily in families' homes, using the Parents as Teachers Born to Learn Curriculum. Share research based information about child development and positive parenting behaviors while engaging families in parent child activities that help them support their child's development. Maintain required documentation and visit frequency according to PAT guidelines.

Independently manage assigned caseload and ensure documentation within all family files are up to date as required by PAT. Maintain confidentiality for all families according to HIPAA practices. Accurately report working hours, mileage and activities.

Group Connections

Plan and conduct monthly group activities based on community needs and family input. Groups require Parent Educators to work independently and in partnership with others, as well as accurate and timely documentation.

Screenings, resources, and transitions

Administer approved screenings and assessments according to PAT guidelines. Connect families to community resources as needed and maintain documentation.

Community partnerships and recruitment

Develop and maintain positive working relationships with assigned school districts, coworkers and community partners. Ensure PAT is visible throughout the community by attending school and community events, sharing information within the community and recruiting eligible families.

Community relationships are a core part of this role, not an extra activity. They support families, recruitment, referrals, and the program's standing within each contracted district.

Professional responsibilities

Participate in at least 2 hours of reflective supervision and at least 2 hours of staff meetings each month, plus advisory committee and other required meetings.

Obtain 20 hours of competency-based professional development and renew Parents as Teachers certification annually.

Serve as a mandated reporter and follow all applicable reporting procedures.

Protect family confidentiality: obtain and document informed consent, store records securely, and avoid sharing family information by text or discussing it in public spaces.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

Knowledge required for this position include:

Knowledge

Knowledge is required to read, understand, and apply curriculum materials, program standards, grant requirements, and written procedures
Perform basic calculations involving hours, mileage, percentages, and caseload information
Maintain professional and accurate written documentation
Facilitate individual and group discussions
Solve practical problems.

The Parent Educator is required to develop and maintain knowledge of

Child development across age ranges
Family systems
Community resources, and the social and economic factors that affect families
Age appropriate parent child activities
The Parents as Teachers model, curriculum, assessment tools, and fidelity requirements
Required screenings and assessments
Case management principles, including goal setting, service planning, referral processes, and documentation; community resources; crisis intervention and safety protocols; mandated reporting responsibilities; federal, state, and local laws and agency policies related to child welfare, confidentiality, and data privacy; and applicable funder and program requirements.

Skills

Skills required for this position include:

Communicating clearly, respectfully, and professionally with families, coworkers, school personnel, and community partners
Building trusting relationships with families from a variety of backgrounds and circumstances
Sharing research based information without substituting personal opinions or judgment
Planning and facilitating home visits, parent child activities, and family group events
Organizing a caseload and tracking multiple deadlines and requirements
Preparing accurate, objective, and professional documentation in a timely manner
Using email, video conferencing, Google Drive, online curriculum resources, web based databases and data entry, and standard office equipment
Selecting appropriate curriculum resources and handouts based on each family's interests, strengths, goals, and needs
Planning projects, solving problems, and seeking supervisory assistance when needed
Developing working relationships with school districts, community organizations, and referral partners

Abilities

The Parent Educator must be able to:

Work independently from a home based office with limited day to day supervision
Be contacted by phone or email during working hours
Remain self motivated, organized, and accountable for work time and assigned responsibilities
Create and maintain a work schedule that accommodates family visits, meetings, group activities, community events, and documentation time
Maintain dependable availability and follow through on scheduled visits, meetings, and other work commitments
Accurately record working hours, mileage, activities, family services, screenings, assessments, and other required information
Manage detailed information and monitor a caseload to ensure services and documentation are completed by required deadlines
Adapt to changing priorities, family schedules, program requirements, and unexpected situations
Communicate effectively with people from diverse backgrounds and maintain appropriate professional boundaries
Recognize when assistance is needed and seek guidance from a supervisor
Maintain confidentiality and protect family and program information
Travel independently using a reliable, properly maintained vehicle
Work a flexible schedule that may include daytime, evening, and occasional weekend hours

Personal qualities

Parents as Teachers emphasize the personal qualities a candidate brings as much as technical qualifications. The successful candidate will demonstrate:

Empathy: Understanding challenges from each family's perspective
A nonjudgmental approach: Interacting with families without criticism, bias, or assumptions about their circumstances, choices, or abilities
Cultural sensitivity: Recognizing, respecting, and responding appropriately to the cultural differences and values of the families served, and a commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility
Commitment to the community: Understanding and addressing the needs of the communities served
Patience: Remaining calm and giving families time and space to learn and progress
Resilience: Remaining steady and effective through setbacks and the emotional demands of supporting families
Problem-solving: Developing practical, respectful solutions for everyday challenges and emergencies
Ethical conduct: Acting with integrity, reliability, and professionalism

Minimum and Preferred Qualifications

Minimum qualifications

High school diploma or GED
At least two years of supervised work experience with young children and/or parents
Strong communication and interpersonal skills (e.g., nonjudgemental, objective, reflective, empathetic, patient, tactful)
Ability to establish rapport with all families, regardless of culture or background, and view through a strength based model
Valid driver's license, reliable transportation, and proof of vehicle insurance meeting program requirements
Working knowledge of email, word processing, and web based applications, or the ability to learn them quickly
Strong organizational and record keeping skills
Strong time management skills
Ability to meet Parents as Teachers requirements for parent educator certification
Demonstrated ability to work with adults and their young children
Ability to work independently and be self motivated

Preferred qualifications

Bachelor's or four year degree in early childhood education, social work, health, psychology, child development, family studies, or a related field, as recommended by Parents as Teachers (or an equivalent degree from outside the U.S.)
Experience providing home visiting or family support services
Experience working with families from diverse cultural, economic, and linguistic backgrounds
Experience administering developmental or family screenings
Knowledge of community resources within the assigned service area

Training and Certification Requirements

The Parent Educator must:

Successfully complete required Parents as Teachers Foundational and Model Implementation Trainings and meet all requirements for certification before independently delivering PAT services
Complete agency and funder orientation training, including data system and screening tool training, and demonstrate competency in administering required child and family screenings and assessments
Complete required 20 hours each year of competency based professional development, which include child abuse and neglect, intimate partner violence, substance use, caregiver and child health and wellness, and community needs.
Participate in at least 2 hours of reflective supervision and at least 2 hours of staff meetings each month, plus other required program meetings

Schedule, Travel, and Working Conditions

Schedule: Flexible schedule that may include daytime, evening, and occasional weekend hours to accommodate family availability, group activities, and community events. The employee sets their own schedule within program expectations and must reserve time for documentation, planning, and meetings.
Home based office: Work is performed primarily from a home based office, community sites, and in families' homes. The employee must maintain a work space that protects the confidentiality of family information and has access to the internet.
Travel: Frequent travel throughout the assigned service area is required, including to families' homes, schools, community sites, meetings, and training. Occasional overnight travel may be required for training. [Mileage is reimbursed according to agency policy.]