Job Description

Organization Overview

For 116 years Merrick Community Services has succeeded in its mission to improve the lives of residents of the East Side of Saint Paul by empowering individuals, strengthening families, and promoting their independence.Merrick Community Services was founded on Saint Paul’s East Side in 1908 as the Christ Child Society, a part of a national model of settlement houses, which provided essential services to economically disadvantaged communities. Today, Merrick Community Services (MCS) stands as one of the oldest nonprofit agencies in Ramsey County, with a history of being steadfast in assisting individuals and families escape poverty and become self-sufficient. The core programs of MCS are the Nutrition and Senior Services, Employment and Career Services, ad Family and Community Services.

Description

The Family Educator ensures that parents receive the information, education and skill building to ensure early child development. This is accomplished through home visits and engaging parents through a variety of activities: The Family Educator typically conducts outreach activities, intake and assessment procedures, and utilizes home-visits to establish and maintain trusting relationships with families.

Responsibilities:

• The Family Educator, is responsible for providing curriculum and literacy development for prenatal or newborn through 36 months of age, using Growing Great Kids (GGK) materials to enhance the child education and parent engagement skills. Responsibilities also include educating pregnant moms and families with prenatal up to 36 months of age, teaching parenting strategies, child development, and educating parents on the importance of parent participation in early education and developing family plans and goals.
• The Family Educator also refers families to the appropriate service providers in the community to address any needs of the child and the family.
• Meet with supervisor as necessary to discuss procedures, protocol, and other administrative processes to ensure quality record keeping, data entry, and quality provision of services to families; meet with supervisor a minimum of twice monthly for reflective supervision sessions.
• Participate in all meetings, ongoing groups, special events, and other activities, including planning for events.
• Attend 10-day PAT: Parent as Teachers, virtual training and complete annual required competency-based professional development hours to remain certified as a PAT parent educator.
• Set annual service and recruitment goals and completes a plan designed to reach individual service goals.
• Work collaboratively in a team environment for the overall success and health of the organization.
• Support the philosophy and mission of MCS.
• Work with parents/families in identifying community resources to meet established goals and skill development needs
• Develop and maintain strength-based relationships with parents/families referred through the program
• Develop and maintain effective and positive community partnerships and collaborations
• Maintain accurate case notes, client records, and database to meet the standard for monthly case notes, case reporting
• Attend all Merrick’s meetings and events as scheduled
• All other duties as assigned.
  
  

Qualifications

• Requires a minimum of an Associate Degree with a focus on social and human services, social work, family services or a related field of study or a combination of training and experience providing equivalent knowledge; Bachelor’s Degree preferred
• Successful experience as a case worker and working with the County’s system is a plus
• Proven experience working effectively with a population that is diverse, inclusive and socio-economically challenged
• Knowledge of other community services available through networking
• Must be strength-based, self-motivated, goal-oriented, and possess strong interpersonal and communication skills
• Ability to deal with challenging situations in a calm, fair but effective and professional manner
• Ability to model respectful, inclusive, and responsible behavior that is consistent with the agency mission, vision, and values
• Ability to maintain utmost confidentiality
• Cooperative team member who can work independently
• Strong computer skills in the use of MS Office 2010 Suites
• Maintain databases, management and tracking systems, based on intake forms, the requirements of funders and Merrick Community Services
• This position requires a valid Driver’s License and a reliable vehicle to travel locally.
  
  

The above statements are not intended to encompass all functions and qualifications of the position. Rather they are intended to provide a general framework of the requirements of the position. Job incumbents may be required to perform other functions not specifically addressed in this job description. Employment at Merrick Community Services is at-will and may be terminated by either employee or employer for any lawful reason.

We welcome everyone to apply, especially those individuals who are underrepresented in our sector: individuals who identify as BIPOC, LGBTQI+ and gender fluid or gender nonconforming, individuals with disabilities (both seen and unseen), veterans, people of any age or family status.

Equal Opportunity Employer: All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, race, color, religion, disability, marital status, national origin, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, familial status, genetic information or a protected veteran status.

Company Description

For over 117 Years, Merrick Community Services (MCS) has succeeded in its mission to improve the lives of residents of the East Side of Saint Paul by champions thriving communities by eliminating barriers and providing essential resources to promote stability, independence, social and economic justice.

Merrick Community Services was founded on Saint Paul’s East Side in 1908 as the Christ Child Society of Saint Paul, in the tradition of an early 20th Century Settlement House, which provided essential services to new arrivals and immigrants and economically disadvantaged individuals and families. Today, Merrick Community Services (MCS) stands as one of the oldest nonprofit social service agencies in Ramsey County, with a history of being steadfast in assisting individuals and families overcome poverty and become self-sufficient. The core programs of MCS are Employment/Career Services, Family and Community Services, Food Shelves, and Meals on Wheels/Senior Services.

For over 117 Years, Merrick Community Services (MCS) has succeeded in its mission to improve the lives of residents of the East Side of Saint Paul by champions thriving communities by eliminating barriers and providing essential resources to promote stability, independence, social and economic justice. Merrick Community Services was founded on Saint Paul’s East Side in 1908 as the Christ Child Society of Saint Paul, in the tradition of an early 20th Century Settlement House, which provided essential services to new arrivals and immigrants and economically disadvantaged individuals and families. Today, Merrick Community Services (MCS) stands as one of the oldest nonprofit social service agencies in Ramsey County, with a history of being steadfast in assisting individuals and families overcome poverty and become self-sufficient. The core programs of MCS are Employment/Career Services, Family and Community Services, Food Shelves, and Meals on Wheels/Senior Services.