Early Intervention Service Coordinator Level I - Lewiston

Early Intervention Service Coordinator

SALARY RANGE: $21.05 - $36.49 per hour

This is a 40 hour per week, calendar year position with our CDS First Step site in Lewiston. This position is part of our Early Intervention team, working with infants and toddlers with developmental delays ages birth to 2, and their families. Local travel is required. 

Benefits of CDS employment:

• Maine State Employee Medical coverage
• Dental and Vision Insurance
• Life and Disability Insurance
• 403(b) Retirement Savings Plan
• $250 per year Professional Development Stipend
• Maine State Employee Living Resources Program (Employee Assistance)
• Qualifying employer for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) Program.
• Work/Life Balance
• Paid Vacation
• Paid Sick Time
• Paid Holidays
• Great coworkers, and the satisfaction of helping kiddos who really need you!

SUMMARY DESCRIPTION:

A Service Coordinator Level I acts as a CDS site point-of-contact; communicates program information to parents; assists and enables children birth through two to access services authorized under the Maine Unified Special Education Regulations (MUSER) and the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). As part of a transdisciplinary team, a Service Coordinator Level I coordinates intake, supports the completion of the developmental evaluation, participates in plan development, and coordinates services for eligible infants, toddlers, and their families.

REPRESENTATIVE TASKS include, but are not limited to:

Parent Communication

• Establishes effective rapport with parents
• Communicates program information to parents
• Ensures that the Child Find process is explained to parents
• Ensures that parents receive answers to their questions
• Ensures that parents receive accurate explanation of the results of the child’s screening/assessment

Intake and Screening

• Reviews referrals and performs pre-assessment activities
• Performs initial intake and developmental screening of infants and toddlers via developmental screening instrument and informed observation
• Coordinates with medical and health providers
• Refers for evaluation and/or reviews other options (i.e. not referring for evaluation, using existing reports, etc.) with parents

Evaluation and Assessment

• Ensures that intake information is collected and elicits relevant additional information from parents and team members
• Ensures that the team is adequately prepared for evaluation and assessment activities
• Collects PCP (Primary Care Provider) referrals and prescriptions for evaluations and assessment, as appropriate
• Facilitates the developmental evaluation for the purpose of eligibility determination and IFSP development
• Gathers and reviews documentation specific to the child’s developmental and medical history

IFSP Team

 As a member of the IFSP team:

• Ensures that information (screening results, medical records, child and family history, etc.) are reported to and understood by the team
• Completes the family needs assessment
• Participates in the development, review and evaluation of each child’s Individual Family Service Plan (IFSP)
• Authorizes the commitment of funds to provide services as identified on the IFSP
• Informs parents of the protections under the procedural safeguards of the Maine Special Education regulations
• Facilitates the development of a transition plan to preschool as appropriate
• Ensures adherence to evidence-based practices in the development of the IFSP, including high quality child and family outcomes, necessary services, and the frequency and intensity of those services

 Coordination of Services

• Coordinates services within CDS and external entities such as medical providers, Department of Health and Human Services, and appropriate community resources
• Serves as the family’s single point of contact within the CDS system for the purposes of obtaining necessary services, understanding the operations of various systems, and supporting understanding of State and Federal special education regulations
• Facilitates, coordinates and monitors the timely delivery of available services
• Coordinates the transition of eligible children to preschool special education services

 Recordkeeping, IFSP Writing, and Other Documentation

• Ensures that a complete IFSP is developed
• Ensures compliance with, and maintains data for, special education regulations and federal Part C indicators
• Ensures the timely entry, into the data system, of information relevant to the child’s educational record (i.e. intake/screening, authorizations for evaluations and services, evaluation reports, IFSP, service logs, communication with parents and other relevant parties)
• Maintains documentation appropriate to procedural safeguards under IDEA 2004 and Chapter 101
• Ensures the confidentiality of child and family personally identifiable information per the Federal Education Records Privacy Act (FERPA)

 Other

• Performs any other appropriate duties as assigned by the Site Director

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelor’s Degree in Special Education, Child Development, Early Education, or an equivalent area of study, or:
• Meets the standards on the Service Coordinator Level I Experience Rubric
• Successful background, criminal records, fingerprinting and reference checks

REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE, ABILITIES AND SKILLS:

• Working knowledge of child development, disabilities, family systems, and natural environments
• Demonstrated knowledge and understanding of early intervention services as outlined in Part C of IDEA and MUSER
• Knowledge of the nature and scope of services available under the State's early intervention program
• Ability to interact with a wide variety of people
• Ability to coordinate individual and group services in a variety of settings and models
• Ability to effectively communicate, orally and in writing
• Ability to maintain composure in stressful situations
• Ability to establish an effective rapport relationship with children and parents
• Ability to work collaboratively as a member of an early childhood team
• Ability to travel to a variety of locations

Please send resume and completed CDS Employment Application (on CDS website) to:

Child Development Services serves the early intervention and special education needs of Maine's children birth to age five.   We have over 350 employees, a large network of contracted providers and currently serve over 3,500 children ages 0 to 5 years.

CDS consist of 10 principal sites throughout Maine with several satellite offices.

This posting is being offered by an equal opportunity employer.