RIPIN
Salary Range: $20-$22/hour
Knowledge of EI Services Required
Bilingual Spanish Preferred
About RIPIN:
RIPIN deploys a peer model to support people with special healthcare and education needs across the whole lifespan. Founded in 1991 by a group of parents of children with special needs, RIPIN continues to be peer-led: a majority of our board and more than three-fourths of our staff are parents or caretakers of loved ones with special needs. RIPIN’s peer professionals now help more than 45,000 Rhode Islanders every year navigate healthcare, schools, and other support systems.
Job Summary:
The RIPIN Early Intervention Parent Consultant Program is funded through the Executive Offices of Health and Human Services, the lead agency for Rhode Islands Early Intervention system. RIPIN oversees the hiring, training and placement of a parent consultant in each of the Early Intervention Programs, located throughout the state. The primary purpose is to provide the Early Intervention system with an authentic parent voice and to support, educate and inform families whose children are enrolled in an Early Intervention Program (EIP).
Essential Functions:
• To help the Early Intervention Program (EIP) by using the skills you’ve gained as a parent or primary caregiver of a child who has been in an EIP
• To act as a resource to families and Early Intervention Providers
• To help families by providing support, education, accessing community resources and facilitating workshops and support groups
• To empower families with information and support as they transition from the EIP
• To help families get more involved with the EIP and understand their important role
• To represent the families in EI and their voice/perspective at various meetings
• Attend RIPIN, program, and other meetings as assigned
• Complete and submit all required paperwork accurately and in a timely manner
• Promote RIPIN programs in Rhode Island
• Accept other duties and responsibilities as assigned
Qualifications
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:
• Strong communication skills to speak to groups, including staff, providers and parents
• Ability to work both independently and in collaboration with others
• Knowledge of Early Intervention Services and the Transition Process
• Ability to work across cultures in community and professional settings
• Ability to work with a diverse group of parents and professionals
• Ability to cooperatively work on a team
• Ability to work a flexible schedule to meet the needs of RIPIN and the community
• Bilingual/Spanish-speaking skills preferred
Education and Experience:
• Parent or family member of a child recently involved with an Early Intervention Program
• High school diploma/GED required
• A combination of education and skills to effectively carry out responsibilities and assignments
• Community Health Workers certification preferred; non-certified incumbents are expected to earn certification within 18 months of hire date
Physical Demands:
- Regularly required to talk or hear
- Regularly required to stand, walk, sit, use hand to finger, handle or feel objects, tools, or controls; and reach with hands and arms
- While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to climb stairs, reach, stretch, stand and bend
- The employee frequently lifts and/or moves up to 25 pounds
- Parent Consultants are required to conduct home and community visits and travel between multiple provider sites
Working Conditions/ Work Environment:
• May need to work in a variety of uncontrolled venues/environments
• Night/weekend hours required to meet the needs of the program
• Travel to any and all cities and towns in Rhode Island as assigned
• Provide own reliable transportation with proof of RI minimum requirements of auto insurance
The physical demands and work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
RIPIN provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, marital status, or status as a covered veteran in accordance with applicable federal, state and local laws.