Alta Mira is a non-profit organization that has been supporting individuals with developmental or intellectual delays or disabilities, and their families, since 1985. We provide services to all age groups. We support over 800 children annually through our Early Intervention Program and 1500 adults in our Family Support Services. We employ over 60 employees and 250 independent contractors. We are an excellent employer with a high level of schedule flexibility and very rich benefits. We are one of New Mexico’s Top Workplaces in the category of work/life balance.
EXPERIENCE:
- Current State of New Mexico Social Work License required.
- Licensed Masters Social Worker (LMSW) or Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW)
- BA/BS in Social Work, Counseling, Psychology, Nursing, Special Education, Early Childhood Education, or related field required.
- MA/MS in Social Work, Counseling, Psychology, Nursing, Special Education, Early Childhood Education, or related field preferred.
- Two years of experience working with young children required; early intervention experience preferred. Experience includes knowledge of outside agencies such as Supplemental Security Income, Medicaid, and other governmental assistance and early intervention programs.
Evaluations & Assessments
- Participate as a team member in initial developmental assessment activities with infants and toddlers in the areas of communication, play, cognition, fine and gross motor skills, adaptive behavior, and social/emotional skills.
- Administer, score, and interpret formal testing assessments as appropriate.
- Ensure testing procedures are carried out accurately and reliably, and in a manner that is culturally, linguistically, and developmentally appropriate.
- Integrate informal assessment information (such as behavioral observation, developmental history, and information regarding everyday routines and activities) with formal testing information to reflect a holistic view of the child and his or her needs in the written evaluation report.
- Service Delivery
- Build on family strengths to design, coordinate, implement, and evaluate interventions that are individualized, naturalistic, and family-centered.
b. Ensure that social work services are delivered according to the child’s Individualized Family Service Plan (IFSP); if there are missed visits or gaps in services, the reason must be documented.
c. Work with the team and family to ensure that Individualized Family Service Plan supports and services are appropriate for the child and advocate for changes needed to meet the unique needs of the child and family (i.e. placement changes, attendance, transportation, and other service delivery issues).
- Monitor progress through observation and consultations with team members.
- Maintain the family’s priorities when early intervention is provided in other settings.
- Provide parenting support and training using Parenting with Love and Logic© curriculum and/or Circle of Security© curriculum as appropriate. Trainer training for both curriculums will be provided by the agency if and/or when the courses are available.
- Relationship Building
- Support the belief that a child’s development is too complex to be addressed by a single discipline and actively refer to and consult with other disciplines to better understand and coordinate the team’s approach to each child and family.
- Share accurate information on the developmental skills of the infant/child based on observations, developmental screening tools, and/or discussion with the parent/caregiver.
- Assist the parent/caregiver in gaining more complete information on a variety of subjects that include etiology, characteristics, and classifications of common disabilities in infants and toddlers.
- Model family/caregiver strategies to support learning, including encouragement to access community resources and supports.
- Demonstrate awareness of the impact of disability on development through the identification of resources.
- Demonstrate the ability to help parent/caregiver identify how to use appropriate toys and other materials that are available to them within their home and community.
- Support and facilitate family and child interactions as primary contexts for learning and development.
- Support the family as the primary decision-maker and promote their acquisition of knowledge, skills, and confidence in identifying and carrying out outcomes for their child.
- Assist parent/caregiver in anticipating next steps in their child’s development.
- Observe, reinforce, and nurture the caregiver-infant toddler relationship to:
i. Help parents understand their role in the social and emotional development of infants and toddlers.
ii. Help parents understand what they can do to promote health, language, and cognitive development in infancy and early childhood.
iii. Help parents find pleasure in caring for their infants and/or young children.
k. Ensure that all intervention is consistent and embedded within the family’s everyday activities, including community experiences.
- Promote and articulate the role and knowledge base of the developmental specialist to service providers while supporting and offering strategies for inclusion of all young children and their families in community activities and supports.
- Serve as a consultant and resource in community settings and to community providers regarding child development and strategies for inclusion.
4. Social Work Specific Duties
a. Complete home visits to evaluate the child’s living conditions and patterns of parent-child interaction.
b. Provide staff support, including shadowing visits and evaluating for possible Children, Youth & Families Department (CYFD) referrals, when working with at-risk children and families.
c. Assist child and family with issues regarding living situation (home, community, and any center where early intervention services are provided) that may impact utilization of early intervention services.
d. Identify, mobilize, and coordinate community resources and services to enable child and family to receive maximum benefits from early intervention services and other community social welfare agencies.
5. Other Responsibilities
a. Attend and actively participate in early intervention team and staff meetings.
- Utilize Agency/program equipment and return in good condition.[SK1]
- Follow program procedures regarding documentation, billing, data, and timelines.
- Complete and follow quality assurance procedures.
- Complete other duties as required or assigned.
At Alta Mira Specialized Family Services, we value the diversity of our workforce and actively seek opportunities to incorporate Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) within our agency. We believe a diverse workforce enriches our environment and helps us better meet the needs of our employees, customers, and providers. We remain committed to attracting and retaining a diverse workforce and retaining high-performing employees who work collaboratively to carry out the agency's purpose.
Alta Mira Specialized Family Services is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer. Women, minorities, people with disabilities, and veterans are encouraged to apply.
EEO
Pay: From $33.50 per hour
Benefits:
- 401(k)
- Continuing education credits
- Dental insurance
- Employee assistance program
- Employee discount
- Family leave
- Flexible schedule
- Flexible spending account
- Health insurance
- Life insurance
- Loan forgiveness
- Mileage reimbursement
- Paid time off
- Parental leave
- Professional development assistance
- Referral program
- Retirement plan
- Vision insurance
Work Location: In person
