Preschool Disabilities Specialist

YMCA OF METROPOLITAN LOS ANGELES

The LA Y is the Center for Community Well-Being in Los Angeles, committed to building stronger communities by providing equitable programs and services to empower all. We are focused on fighting food insecurity, providing equity in education, making sure every child has the opportunity to experience the joy of sports, ensuring kids and teens have a safe place to grow, learn and live a healthy lifestyle. The LA Y’s health and wellness initiatives offer medical and mental health resources to ensure everyone has access to basic health needs. Our mission is to provide services and resources that contribute to the well-being of our community. The LA Y operates 29 Centers and over 200 program sites across LA County.

POSITION SUMMARY

Under the general supervision of the Mental Health and Disabilities Program Manager, the Disabilities Specialist ensures that children with disabilities and children with concerns for disabilities receive the services and support necessary to succeed in the Early Education Program and assists YMCA teaching staff in working with children related to developmental disabilities and/or conditions. Assist staff in implementing plans to accommodate children’s needs in the learning environment. Collaborate with staff, families, and external agencies to meet the needs of children with disabilities and ensure compliance with Head Start Performance Standards and State Standards related to disability services.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

DISABILITIES SERVICES

• Under the direction of the Mental Health and Disabilities Program Manager, the disabilities specialist mentors teaching staff in early identification of developmental delays and the internal referral process as needed.
• Supports teaching staff in implementation of IFSP/IEP goals, and individualization of services, in the classroom and in the child’s natural environment; completes monthly classroom observation and provides feedback to Site Directors.
• Under the supervision of the Mental Health and Disabilities Program Manager provides support to YMCA teaching staff to ensure provision of appropriate environmental accommodations.
• Conducts classroom observations to monitor individualization of services and inclusion of children with special needs and/or disabilities.
• Under the supervision of the Mental Health and Disabilities Program Manager, provides training and technical assistance related to the children’s individualized needs, strategies, modeling, and recommendations to teaching staff working with special needs and/or disabilities, as well as parents of children who have special needs and/or disabilities.
• Supports with conducting developmental screenings for children 0-5, agency wide.
• Monitors, tracks, and processes completed developmental screenings, in collaboration with the Mental Health and Disabilities Manager.
• Collaborate with the Mental Health and Disabilities Program Manager to ensure YMCA of Metropolitan Los Angeles preschool teaching staff have access to children’s current IFSP/IEP to facilitate lesson planning and individualization.
• Support the Mental Health and Disabilities Program Manager to ensure IFSP/IEP is reviewed with the child’s primary educator.
• Maintains understanding of relevant State and Federal regulations and Los Angeles County Office of Education (LACOE) GIMS.
• Refers and connects children and families to community agencies and appropriate services.
• Maintains electronic data and documentation (disabilities) in Child Plus for children enrolled in the Early Education program (Head Start/Early Head Start/CSPP).
• Participate in agency multidisciplinary team meetings, Response to Pre-Referral Intervention and/or interagency collaborative meetings.
• Assists in developing and implementing tracking systems that monitor progress through IEP or IFSPs; evaluates the types of curriculums, instructional materials, and traditional and alternative teaching methods being used.
• In collaboration with the Mental Health and Disabilities Program Manager, supports parents with the IFSP/IEP process, including attending IFSP/IEP meetings, and participating in IFSP/IEP goal setting.
• Attends required meetings, weekly supervision, Multidisciplinary Team Meetings (MDT), training, and evaluation meetings.
• Inputs data into Child Plus data system, related to updates on IFSP/IEP goals, maintain IFSP/IEP documents in child files and Child Plus, and collaborates with outside agencies to assist in monitoring progress towards goals.
• Assists with recruiting children with disabilities into the program.
• Collaborate with the Mental Health and Disabilities Program manager to collaborate with school districts or resource groups to set up agreements to provide disabilities services for incoming and transitional students.

OTHER SUPPORT

• In collaboration with the Mental Health and Disabilities Manager facilitate staff and parent trainings supporting Early Intervention.
• Prepares and presents reports related to disabilities services; assists program management in researching related questions and provides information for children and families regarding community resources to address disabilities needs.
• Maintain confidentiality; obtain and maintain legal releases of information and consent documentation for confidential information.
• Comply with all applicable federal, state and county regulations, policies, and procedures.
• Perform other related essential functions, as assigned.
• Evening or weekend hours may be required.
• Attend staff meetings and training as required.
• Uphold YMCA policies for safety, supervision, mandated reporting and risk management.
• Demonstrate the Six Pillars of Character (Trustworthiness, Citizenship, Respect, Responsibility, Caring and Fairness) as well as the YMCA Core Values of Caring, Respect, Honesty and Responsibility, in all dealings with members, guests, volunteers and fellow staff.
• Demonstrate competencies in and willingness to develop in the Cause Driven Leadership areas of mission advancement, collaboration, operational effectiveness and personal growth.
• All other duties as assigned by your supervisor.

YMCA LEADERSHIP COMPETENCIES

The Y’s Leadership Competency Model is comprised of multiple leadership competencies (leadership knowledge, skills, and behaviors required for success in the Y), organized by the four disciplines of cause driven leadership:

• Advancing Our Mission & Cause: Provide visionary leadership to the organization and ensure that all resources are mobilized to adapt to new challenges and needs in the community.
  • Competencies Include: Change Leadership, Engaging Community, Philanthropy, & Volunteerism
• Building Relationships: Connect people to the Y’s cause by developing inclusive relationships, partnerships and collaborations so that Ys can co-create solutions to pressing social needs.
  • Competencies Include: Collaboration, Communication & Influence, Inclusion
• Leading Operations: ensure relevance, effectiveness, and sustainability of the organization so that we can continue to fulfill our promise to the community.
  • Competencies Include: Critical Thinking & Decision Making, Fiscal Management, Functional Expertise, Innovation, Program/Project Management
• Developing & Inspiring Others: support the holistic development of self and others so that everyone can embrace the Y’s cause, sustain the Y’s culture, and inspire others to take individual and collective action to further our impact.
  • Competencies Include: Developing Self & Others, Emotional Maturity

While all competencies are significant the following are critical to success in this position:

• Engaging Communities
• Collaboration
• Communication & Influence
• Inclusion
• Critical Thinking & Decision Making
• Developing Self & Others
• Emotional Maturity

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• EDUCATION: 
  • Bachelor’s degree in special education, Early Child Development, Psychology, or related field, required. MA preferred.
• RELATED EXPERIENCE:  
  • Three years of experience as a disability specialist with an educational or social services agency involving social work, family, special education, or mental health counseling is required
  • Experience performing developmental screenings, working with children with developmental delays preferred
  • Experience in providing case management preferred
  • Experience providing social service referrals, collaborating with multidisciplinary teams, and advocating for parents and children
• SPECIALIZED SKILLS:
  • Strong verbal and written communications skills
  • Strong Empathy & Reflective Capacity
  • Bilingual in English and Spanish, required
• CERTIFICATIONS:
  • Class “C” driver’s license, proof of insurance and access to reliable transportation required.
  • YMCA Approved Infant/Pediatric/Adult CPR/First Aid/AED Certification or willingness to obtain within 60 days of employment.
• IMMUNIZATIONS & PHYSICAL: 
  • Successful completion of pre-employment physical
  • PPD test/ risk assessment
  • proof of immunizations for pertussis (Tdap), measles (MMR), and influenza (can decline). 
  • TB Test clearance

WORK ENVIRONMENT/MINIMUM PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS 

• Ability to conduct assessments in various classrooms, homes, and community settings.
• Job is performed in indoor/outdoor environments at multiple program sites throughout the year.
• Ability to lift 25-30lbs.
• Job is based out of YMCA facility. This is not a remote position.
• Reliable transportation, as this position requires regular travel to program sites for assessments, consultations, and crisis response. This position also requires travel to off-site locations throughout LA County for meetings, training, and other work-related activities. All work-related mileage in excess to normal daily commute is a reimbursement employee expense.
• You must have the physical, visual, and auditory ability to perform the essential functions of the job with or without reasonable accommodation.