CHAT Field Student

Child-Centered Health & Advanced Therapies (CHAT)

SUMMARY: Provides support in the provision of CHAT services. Provides direct service to clients ages 2-8 and their families including: assessment for individual needs, coordinating service provision, facilitating support groups, providing consultation services, and navigating clients through the array of CHAT services. 

TO PERFORM THIS JOB SUCCESSFULLY, AN INDIVIDUAL MUST BE ABLE TO PERFORM EACH ESSENTIAL DUTY SATISFACTORILY. THE REQUIREMENTS LISTED BELOW ARE REPRESENTATIVE OF THE KNOWLEDGE, SKILL, AND/OR ABILITY REQUIRED. REASONABLE ACCOMMODATIONS MAY BE MADE TO ENABLE INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES TO PERFORM THE ESSENTIAL DUTIES. 

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES: 

• Under the supervision of the CHAT Navigator, conducts developmental and socio-emotional assessments as part of the intake process into CHAT services which include Speech Therapy, Occupational Therapy, and Social Skills groups.
• Meets regularly with the immediate supervisor as a mean of enhancing professional growth, reviewing and processing the provision of case management services. • Provides an integrated case management, and therapeutic/support service for children and their families while participating in the program which includes consultation services and referrals.
• Develops curriculum and programming for the Social Skills Support groups.
• In collaboration with CHAT Navigator, facilitates and coordinates support groups (i.e. parent support group, Social Skills Support Group).
• Serves as a liaison between families and service providers.
• Coaches families/caregivers on learning activities that promote a child's acquisition of skills in a variety of developmental areas, including motor development, cognition, communication, personal social interaction and self-help skills.
• Participates in ongoing supervision, group consultation, as well as team and clinic meetings.
• Attends professional development meetings and training opportunities.
• Performs other related duties as assigned by the CHAT Navigator.

QUALIFICATIONS: 

Education: Minimum education is working towards a Master’s Degree in Child development or related field 

Licensure: Not applicable. 

Experience: Minimum 1 years in direct service working with children and families 

Special Training/Skills: Trained in administering developmental screenings, ie. Early Screening Inventory (ESI-R), Ages and Stages. Familiarity with developmental diagnosis and DSM-5. 

Demonstrated Competencies: Excellent verbal and written communications skills required in both English and Spanish.

KNOWLEDGE REQUIREMENTS: 

• Strong knowledge of child development as well as developmentally/culturally appropriate practices for children who are neurodiverse, with disabilities, or with developmental delays and their families.
• Familiarity with developmental/therapeutic approaches (ie. DIR® Floortime, ABA, PECS, RDI, SCERTS, TEACH).
• Uses a collaborative strengths-based family -centered approach.
• Familiarity with assessment, treatment planning, progress monitoring, and case management.
• Familiarity with Early Intervention, Special Education systems, and other family serving systems.
• Commitment to social justice and cultural responsiveness
• Knowledge of and skills in working with culturally and linguistically diverse populations
• Strong computer skills including intermediate to expert level proficiency in Microsoft Office products and word processing.

COGNITIVE REQUIREMENTS: 

• Ability to speak, read, and write fluently in English and Spanish and to communicate effectively.
• Ability to formulate case conceptualization, assess and integrate psychosocial information.
• Ability to work independently possessing good planning, organizational, and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to work within transdisciplinary teams.
• Ability to problem solve, prioritize, and decision making.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS: 

• Ability to be mobile in our facility including, but not limited to various settings within the agencies upper and lower levels and various public settings.
• Ability to use children’s play equipment and audio/visual equipment.
• Ability to hear and speak clearly.

EQUIPMENT USED: 

• Table and chairs
• Telephone
• Audio-visual equipment
• Computers
• Sensory room per OT instructions.
• Children’s therapeutic toys

Cynthia Arias-Cardoso, CHAT Navigator. - ariasc@iwsfamilyhealth.org