Tribal Home Visitor - Mi'kmaq Nation

Wabanaki Public Health & Wellness (WPHW) is growing, and we are excited to be adding new people to our team!  If you value inclusivity, balance, and cultural centeredness and have a true passion for serving others, you may be a great fit for our team!  WPHW is a non-profit organization that serves four federally recognized tribes located in five communities:  the Houlton Band of Maliseet Indians, the Aroostook Band of Mi'kmaq, the Passamaquoddy Tribe at Indian Township, the Passamaquoddy Tribe at Pleasant Point, and the Penobscot Nation.  Wabanaki traditions, language, and culture guide our approach and describe the ways we live in harmony with each other and the land we collectively share.  Services are available to community members living on and off-reservation across the State of Maine.

Position Summary:

Our Wabanaki Home Visitors are responsible for providing direct services to caregivers and their children from the beginning of pregnancy until age five within our T-MIECHV programs funded through the Administration for Children and Families. Relationships with families are built over time through individualized regularly scheduled visits utilizing the culturally tailored framework provided by the curriculum. Program delivery will be based on the needs of the family, with a focus on promoting positive relationships between caregivers and children, increasing caregiver skills and knowledge along the way. These positions will primarily serve one community but will coordinate with the team to ensure that all communities, as well as families in transition, receive coverage and support. This position is a full-time, 40-hour-a-week position, with a moderate amount of travel required. 

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Support recruitment, enrollment and engagement to provide direct support for caregivers and their children.
• Support coordination and implementation of community-based activities, including effectively planning and communicating with all partners.
• Conduct community programming activities to include:
  • Community-based events for families to connect through play, knowledge sharing, and responsibilities of caregivers.
  • Program promotion to support community knowledge of availability and connection.
• Obtain knowledge of internal and external resources to support connections to additional support, including precuring resources, supporting applications for resources, or referring to resources based on client needs.
• Provide support to caregivers, children, and their families through conducting individualized home visits.
  • Responsible for the scheduling and coordination of home visits, including visit planning. Plan visits to ensure model fidelity and identify the need to develop enhancements, adaptations, or supplements based on needs identified by families.
  • Support for families during pregnancy and postpartum periods, ensure families feel prepared for birthing and breastfeeding journeys.
  • Assist families in obtaining recommended medical care. This includes transportation to and advocacy during appointments, as needed.
  • Support families in obtaining optimal child development while growing parenting knowledge and skills.
  • Advocacy and navigation within the early childhood intervention system, as necessary.
  • Prepare for transition to school, supporting caregivers and their children with advocacy and care coordination, including attending IEP meetings.
• Achieve and maintain required certifications including curriculum model, developmental screening, and others as requested.
• Maintain an active support role within Advisory Councils and Quality Improvement Initiatives.
• Support compliance with regulatory standards and mandatory reporting requirements.
  
• Assure quality of documentation through timely utilization of internal programmatic data systems. Support with evaluation and reporting, as needed.
• Assist with implementing procedures for maintaining confidential and protected information.  
• Complete other duties and tasks that support the organization, as necessary.

Education and Experience Required:

• Degree in related field and/or relevant work/life experience.
• Experience working in Tribal Communities and knowledge of resources available to Wabanaki people.
  
• Experience providing direct support, education, and outreach.
• Demonstrated ability to work as part of a team, independently, and embrace a culturally diverse setting.
• Proficiency with computers and MS Office and Teams. 
  

Skills and Qualifications Required:

• Ability to communicate ideas, instructions, and other information in a clear and precise manner using both written and oral forms of communication.
• Passion for service in the areas of maternal health, childhood development and early learning, integrated family supports, child abuse and neglect prevention, and/or substance use prevention and intervention 
• Ability to meet people where they are without judgement and provide individuals and families with supportive services and resources
• Open to new ways of thinking about programming and prevention.
• Understanding of social/emotional development, or willingness and passion to learn. 
• Ability and willingness to attend required trainings and maintain certifications to provide community support and promote wellness
• Excellent problem solving and organizational skills. Must be flexible with excellent attention to detail and an ability to manage multiple tasks.
• Demonstrates a strong work ethic, enthusiastic attitude and professional demeanor.  
• Must be able to exert moderate physical effort with occasional standing, walking, reaching, stooping, bending, kneeling, crouching, typing, and lifting or carrying small children or material weighing up to 25 pounds.
  
• Willingness to travel and access to reliable transportation is required. Driving is necessary to attend meetings and to meet with clients within the program service area. This may include transportation of clients or driving to another location outside of the home.
  • Must have a valid Maine Driver’s License.
  • Must be insurable on the organization’s auto insurance plan and have access to reliable transportation.
    
• Must pass criminal background check.

Wabanaki Public Health & Wellness is an equal opportunity employer.  All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or status as a protected veteran.