Early Childhood Specialist

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The Early Childhood Specialist (ECS) provides developmental, therapeutic, and rehabilitative services to children from birth through age seven and their caregivers. The ECS delivers support across all appropriate settings—including the home, school, clinic/office, community, telehealth, and other natural environments—as medically necessary. This position integrates developmental assessment, caregiver psychoeducation, and direct in-the-moment coaching to strengthen caregiver-child relationships, promote early intervention, and support long-term family stability.

The ECS helps caregivers interpret child cues, foster secure attachment, and address developmental, behavioral, and emotional needs through evidence-based strategies. This includes providing psychoeducation and developmentally appropriate guidance to help children and their caregivers build the skills and understanding necessary for sustained success.

Services are provided within Arizona’s Children’s System of Care under AHCCCS, consistent with the 12 Principles and the Child and Family Team (CFT) model. The ECS ensures that all interventions are family-driven and youth-guided, culturally and linguistically appropriate, trauma-informed, strengths-based, community-based and least restrictive, and coordinated with natural supports and other service providers. Practice emphasizes timely access, measurable outcomes, and successful transitions.

The role is guided by program goals that include promoting early intervention to support developmental progress, increasing family stability and permanency, improving caregiver-child relationships, reducing safety risks for young children and families, and supporting school readiness.

• Conduct comprehensive developmental and relational assessments (e.g., Birth to Five protracted assessments) to gather information on child development, trauma history, family dynamics, and presenting concerns.
• Observe and assess behaviors across settings (home, clinic/office, community, school when applicable, and telehealth) to identify triggers, drivers, and reinforcing factors.
• Use assessment results to guide individualized service planning and identify appropriate interventions and supports.
• Provide caregiver education and in-the-moment coaching using evidence-based parenting and early childhood resources focused on trauma, attachment, and social-emotional development.
• Support caregivers in interpreting child cues, strengthening attachment, and promoting consistent, nurturing routines.
• Teach developmentally appropriate coping, emotional regulation, and adaptive skills through individual and caregiver-guided interventions.
• Deliver rehabilitative and supportive services consistent with AHCCCS standards (e.g., skills training and development, psychosocial rehabilitation, and family education).
• Deliver programmatic clinical hours per week as required by agency standards.
• Collaborate with families, interdisciplinary teams, and community partners to develop and implement individualized service plans.
• Participate in or facilitate Child and Family Team (CFT) meetings to support coordination of care and family goal attainment.
• Coordinate communication and care with providers and systems (e.g., primary care, psychiatry, schools, DCS, courts/probation, and community agencies).
• Support transition planning and sustainability by strengthening natural supports and reducing dependency on formal systems.
• Complete documentation, assessments, and treatment plan updates accurately and within required timelines in the EHR (Credible).
• Ensure compliance with AHCCCS, Arizona’s Children’s System of Care (CFT), and agency policies.
• Communicate progress, risks, and barriers to supervisors promptly and assist in developing solutions to improve outcomes.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

• The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by a teammate to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with…