Child First Care Coordinator

UCFS strives to use person-centered care to improve the health and well-being of everyone in our community. Share in our vision of being Eastern CT’s best choice for patient-centered healthcare!

We are currently seeking a Child First Care Coordinator provides home-based support services to families with high-risk children, regarding behavioral or emotional problems, parenting issues, and life stressors by assisting in the development and implementation of a comprehensive, integrated, culturally responsive family-driven plan that includes the young child and all family members. 

UCFS Hours of Operation: Open 8:00am - 7:00pm; Hours Vary By Day & Location

Expected Schedule: FT, 40 hours/week; Monday through Friday

Two late nights are expected per week with additional possible weekend coverage 

Child First is an evidence-based, relationship-focused, two-generation, home visiting approach that partners with families, infants, and young children from pregnancy through age 5, to enhance strong, loving relationships. Child First aims to support caregivers and their children by processing the stresses and traumas in their lives and enhancing healthy patterns of interactions between caregiver and child. Child First is intentional in considering structural inequities experienced by families, as well as the impact of past and present trauma including historical trauma, oppression, and structural racism. Child First strives to identify children at the earliest possible time so families can be connected to needed services and supports within their communities that will help ameliorate the stress they are experiencing. 

The Child First Care Coordinator partners with a Mental Health and Developmental Clinician to support families served by the program.  The Care Coordinator works collaboratively with the family to connect the child and family with desired, community-based services and support while maintaining Child First’s reflective, relationship-based stance.  The Care Coordinator also enhances caregiver executive functioning skills (e.g., planning, organizing, managing time, focusing attention, regulating emotions, reflecting on progress) and engages the caregiver-child dyad in activities to strengthen the relationship.  Through their work with families, the Care Coordinator works to both decrease the “toxic” stress in the home environment and enhance opportunities for optimal child development, thereby promoting healthy brain development for infants and young children.

Essential Responsibilities -

• Provides outreach and engagement to client upon referral to the program. 
• Provides weekly face to face direct service hours to client including support, advocacy and assistance with the development of positive parenting, safety planning, basic life skills and parenting a child with special needs.
• Works collaboratively with the Child First Clinician in a team approach.
• Engages actively in all aspects of the Child First learning collaborative including in-person or live remote training, distance learning curriculum, and specialty training 
• Collaborates with relevant providers and community partners to support treatment and strengthen the program’s community presence 
• Maintains up-to-date case records on each client family, including weekly contact reports, service agreements, evaluations and termination summaries, as well as timely data entry to meet funder requirements.
• Engages children & caregivers in supportive play to further goals around increasing development and improving the relationship; engage identified client and/or other children in the home in supportive play to ensure privacy for sessions.

Why UCFS?

Our team is passionate about the services we provide and is committed to making a difference for our clients and community. At UCFS, a Federally Qualified Health Center, we specialize in integrated care which means having access to essential services to meet the complex needs of those we serve. We work collaboratively across programs at our agency to remove barriers and streamline access to services including behavioral health services, primary care, dental, case management and more. If you are committed to improving the health and well-being of our community, we encourage you to apply for this exciting opportunity.

 Minimum Education and Experience

• Associates in child development, psychology, nursing, or human services 
• One year of experience with families and children 
• A combination of education and experience may be considered 

Minimum Certificates, Licenses, Registrations

• A valid driver’s license and state mandated levels of auto liability insurance
• Eligibility for CPR/First Aid Certification 

Minimum Skills and Abilities

• Access to transportation for travel to New London, Windham, and Middlesex counties (DCF Region 3)
• Ability to work two late nights per week and possibly weekends
• Familiarity with Microsoft Suite and ability to learn new technological platforms 
• Experience with EHR preferred
• Excellent written and oral communication and interpersonal skills 
• Self-awareness and critical thinking skills 

UCFS offers a comprehensive benefits package including:

• Flexible schedules
• Hybrid eligible
• Competitive salaries
• Generous paid time off including 3 weeks' vacation, 4 floating holidays and 10 sick days each year
• Medical, dental and vision insurance
• 401(k) plan with 6% employer contribution
• Paid life and disability insurance
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Additional voluntary benefits
• Public Service Loan Forgiveness eligibility

UCFS is strongly committed to a workplace environment that respects, appreciates and values employee differences and similarities.  By providing and supporting an enriching work culture, UCFS will continue to better serve our communities and provide quality patient, client, and resident care and services. UCFS is an employment at-will organization and an equal opportunity employer committed to maintaining a work and learning environment free from discrimination on the basis of sex, race, color, religion, national origin, pregnancy, gender identity, sexual orientation, marital/civil union status, ancestry, place of birth, age, citizenship status, veteran status, political affiliation, and genetic information or disability, as defined and required by applicable state and federal laws. Additionally, UCFS prohibits retaliation against an applicant or employee because they have engaged in protected activity under the statutes prohibiting discrimination in the workplace.