The Cornell Cooperative Extension Sullivan County Extension Education Center is located on a diverse 22 acre property in Liberty NY with a Turtle Spring Fitness & Nature Trail; a native plant sensory garden, a small pond teeming with frogs and painted turtles, a working greenhouse, a fully ADA parking lot and teaching kitchen, a state-of-the-art commercial kitchen that runs 24/7, three fully renovated classrooms with cutting edge Zoom Room technology and Cornell University brand color palette, a shared-use staff vehicle and 2 refrigerated farmers’ market and mobile food pantry vans, green building benefits including motion-activated LED lighting and water saving features, and much more.

We firmly believe in work-life balance, and we provide generous paid time off. Members of our team enjoy flexible working schedules, prioritized health and wellness privileges written into policy, and a progressive leadership infrastructure.

Excellent benefits package includes NYS Empire (NYSHIP) health insurance, free dental insurance (Cigna), and NYS Retirement (NYSLRS).

Additionally, employees receive discounts on and access to various resources and services. Employee Personal Purchase Discounts (cornell.edu)

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The Healthy Sullivan Families (“HSF”) Family Support Specialist primarily provides program delivery to improve healthy family and parenting choices among eligible families and individuals in Sullivan County. The goals of the Healthy Families are to support positive parent-child bonding and relationships, promote optimal child and family health, development, and safety, enhance family self-sufficiency, and to prevent child abuse and neglect. As part of the Healthy Families New York and Healthy Sullivan Families Programs, this position works closely with the family to promote the well-being of parents, children and families through the use of existing evidence-based health education and parenting curricula delivered through home visits. Positive, persistent and individualized outreach from the educator keeps families involved in the program and leads to improved outcomes for children, parents, and the community.

Required Qualifications:

• Associates degree or equivalent (high school diploma or GED) in human services or related field (One-year transferrable program/functional experience may substitute for an Associate’s Degree) and one year related experience.
• Experience in working with or providing services to children and their families
• Ability to establish trusting relationships
• Acceptance of individual differences
• Experience and willingness to work with the culturally diverse populations among the community’s target population
• Knowledge of infant/child development
• Open to reflective practice
• Ability to present effective and relevant educational lessons to target audiences and work with diverse audiences of all ages.
• Proficiency in the use of modern electronic technology and software (e.g. video, audio, computers, Microsoft Office Programs, social media, internet and database software, etc.)
• Ability to work independently and to effectively participate in professional team efforts.
• Ability to plan and organize work responsibilities according to priorities developed with team members and immediate supervisor.
• Ability to read and write in English.
• Must be able to communicate effectively verbally and in writing.
• Commitment to working in limited income urban settings with diverse program participants in their surrounding communities.
• Ability to meet frequent travel requirements associated with this position. A valid NYS driver’s license with the ability to drive and driving record acceptable for agency insurance coverage are required.
• Ability to work flexible hours which include evenings and/or weekends, and occasional overnight travel.
• Ability to frequently lift, move or transport program supplies and equipment, climb stairs with or without reasonable accommodation.
• Ability to remain in a stationary position (for example, standing, sitting) while constantly operating a computer and other office machinery, such as a calculator, copy machine, and computer printer, with or without reasonable accommodation.
• Ability to frequently move about inside the office to access file cabinets/file documents, office machinery, etc., with or without reasonable accommodation.
• Ability to work in a busy open office with occasional to frequent distractions and opportunities to demonstrate positive collaboration amongst staff, visitors and the public.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Familiarity with the community in which the work takes place and ability to utilize program resources within the community.
• Familiarity with a variety of program delivery methods to reach individuals and groups in youth and adult audiences and ability to integrate youth and adult development principles into educational activities.
• Ability to speak, read and write proficiently in the Spanish language, or other non-English language as is spoken in the target community.
• Infant mental health endorsement preferred.

Responsibilities/Essential Functions:
Program Responsibilities:
Program Delivery - 75%

• Deliver existing educational programs initially to 15-18 families, gradually increasing to 20-25 families throughout the first year of employment.
• Utilize existing evidence-based curricula and support materials to provide accurate, relevant parenting and health education to participating families.
• Under the existing program parameters, observe parent/child interactions and provide positive feedback to parents throughout the home visits.
• Assist supervisor with development and implementation of Family Goal Plans.
• Meets or exceeds targeted education delivery goals assigned by the supervisor as indicated by the funding source
• Conduct home visits on a weekly basis that then decrease over time until the participant’s child begins school or Head Start.
• Assist the supervisor to help ensure program delivery conforms to policies and objectives of the program and funder requirements.
• Utilize motivational interviewing strategies in working with all family members to address individual needs and consider diverse audiences.
• Utilize established program outline; provide individualized education and development of family goal plans that result in improved birth outcomes; timely attainment of recommended immunizations and preventive care; increased breastfeeding support; decreased use of harsh parenting practices; improved early literacy and increased demonstration of behaviors that promote learning in a school setting.
• Utilize skills in assessing parent/child interactions, knowledge of child development and developmentally appropriate parenting strategies.
• Assist in mass media (social and print) educational efforts related to program.
• Provide special educational efforts such as parent/child group facilitation, program/parent committees, and community meetings.
• Utilizing established materials, serve as subject matter resource for Healthy Families program; provide standard responses.
• Maintain a strong, supportive, and professional relationship with program participants as part of the program delivery process and have the ability to communicate with families on a wide range of issues including but not limited to, health, wellness and prevention of domestic violence.
• Encourage families to identify a primary health care provider and educate the family about the importance of regular access to preventive care.
• Evaluate family functioning and make connections to other Extension programs and community resources, serve as liaison for client families to other programs such as WIC, SNAP-ed, Head Start, etc.
• Represent CCE to the public, community leaders, government officials and Cornell University in a professional manner.
• Foster acceptance of the Healthy Sullivan Families program, methods, and policies to address community and individual needs and consider diverse audiences.
• Collaborate with community agencies that serve the target audience as part of the program delivery process.

Program Evaluation - 5%

• Based on established parameters, provide program evaluation data to the program supervisor, assist in data analysis and make recommendations to supervisors for strengthening and improving programs.
• May assist in making recommendations for improvements.

Administrative Responsibilities:

Coordination/Operation - 15%

• Maintain record of participants, complete reports, and accurately collect and prepare paperwork as required for the program evaluation process.
• Complete necessary written documentation as required by programs and funders.
• Organize a weekly schedule with supervisor to accommodate needs of participant families.
• On a frequent basis transports self, also carrying program materials and resources to participant homes and additional community-based settings.
• May assist in the development of marketing materials for educational events.
• Assist supervisor with public awareness in the form of impact statements, articles for progress/ annual reports, or news releases.
• Participate in outreach activities, collaborate with service providers to help ensure that program family has access to available community services and assist with educational activities related to parenting and child development. Make referrals to appropriate community programs and services.
• Maintain strong communication with the Healthy Families New York program and Sullivan County Public Health Services in order to convey participant needs throughout Healthy Families New York enrollment period.
• Maintain a strong network of peers working in other community agencies and programs with the goal of connecting participant families with the educational and other resources they need in a timely manner.
• Maintain confidentiality of information regarding all program participants.
• Perform routine data collection utilized by the program.
• Perform general coordination activities including but not limited to attending staff meetings, timely reporting of expenses, working with other staff and general marketing of Extension programs.

Professional Improvement - 5%

• In cooperation with Supervisor and/or Executive Director, jointly develop and pursue a professional development plan as a means to increase competencies relative to position accountabilities and to address changes and Association priorities.
• Collaborate in activities that are in general support of Cornell Cooperative Extension and perform other duties as assigned.

Health and Safety - Applied to all duties and functions.

• Support the Association to maintain a safe working environment.
• Be familiar with and strive to follow any applicable federal, state, local regulations, Association health and safety policy/procedure/requirement and standard.
• Act proactively to prevent accidents/injuries and communicate hazards to supervisors when identified.

EEO/EPO and Policy - Applied to all duties and functions.

• Appreciate and embrace diversity in all interactions with clientele, staff, volunteers and the public.
• Assist the Cornell Cooperative Extension system in reaching out to diverse audiences.
• Aware of, and adheres to, established Cornell Cooperative Extension Association of Sullivan County policies, procedures and Cornell Cooperative Extension Skills for Success.
• Contribute to the overall success of the organization by performing all assigned duties in a professional, timely and accurate manner.

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $19.68 per hour

Benefits:

• Dental insurance
• Employee assistance program
• Employee discount
• Flexible schedule
• Flexible spending account
• Health insurance
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Parental leave
• Professional development assistance
• Retirement plan

Schedule:

• 8 hour shift
• Day shift
• Evening shift
• Monday to Friday
• Weekend availability

COVID-19 considerations:
Masking and social distancing required. Enhance cleaning protocols.

People with a criminal record are encouraged to apply

Work Location: In person

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