Disabilities Coordinator

Head Start

Join an exciting team of professionals making a difference in the lives of children and families! Head Start has been improving the lives of low‑income children and families in Santa Cruz County since 1965 through high quality, comprehensive child development, and family support services. Head Start supports school readiness and promotes healthy families through delivery of education, health, and social services. Head Start also provides quality training and support to employee’s individualized professional growth and development.

Position works in the Child & Family Development Programs (CFDP) service area. This service area provides early childhood education, social services, and parent education to 1,000 families with young children each year via Head Start/Early Head Start and State Preschool. Offering this support as early as possible promotes healthy families and encourages parents to nurture their child’s physical, social and cognitive development.

Position is regular, full‑time, Non‑exempt, 40 hours per week. Salary is dependent on education and experience ($27.00 - $30.00 / hour). Pay differential for bilingual skills awarded upon qualifications.

Our total compensation package includes a comprehensive medical and dental insurance plan, 403(b) retirement plan, paid vacation, holidays and sick time.

Under the supervision of the Comprehensive Services Manager, the Disabilities Coordinator is responsible for the day‑to‑day implementation of services that support the planning, administration and ongoing assessment of services and partnerships in the area of disabilities and other individualized needs. The position has a key role in the coordination of disabilities related services with other content areas, service providers, and community agencies, in order to promote high quality, individualized services to children with diverse needs.

The position provides staff training and development including on‑site consultation, coaching and mentoring to staff.

• Link children and families to an ongoing source of continuous, accessible early intervention services, as appropriate.
• Work with the ERSEA Manager to recruit, select, and enroll children with disabilities.
• Ensure that developmental screening plays a role in child development and health services planning for children.
• Ensure the timely assessment of special education/related services needs to children with disabilities, conducted in coordination with the Part C agency and/or LEA.
• Provide parents with information and assistance in understanding and advocating for services and support needed to address their child’s special needs.
• Provide staff with the information, guidance, and resources needed to help children and families meet the individualized goals and objectives in the IFSP/IEP.
• Assist in modifying activities; removing barriers; and providing support, as needed, for inclusion of children with disabilities in the full range of program activities.
• Coordinate with the Health Manager to ensure that children with suspected or diagnosed health disabilities, including children with special feeding/dietary needs, receive individualized services.
• Track provision of all child disabilities services and ensure that follow‑up services are received in a timely manner.
• As needed, recruit, hire and orient new volunteers, consultants and interns.

• Regularly required to sit; stand; walk; use hands to finger, handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms; stoop, kneel, or crouch.
• Occasionally required to climb or balance.
• Occasionally required to lift and/or move up to 20 plus pounds.
• Occasionally job may involve moderate exposure to high/low temperatures, dirt, dust, fumes, smoke, unpleasant odors and loud noises.
• Frequent repetitive use of computer keyboard/mouse, iPad, and extended time viewing a monitor.

• BA degree in a field closely related to Disabilities or Early Childhood Education with coursework and or experience related to developmental differences and diagnosed disabilities.
• Bilingual English Spanish.
• Computer competence; knowledge of Microsoft…