CAREER OPPORTUNITIES
Parent Educator
Overview:
The Parent Educator is responsible for helping families statewide to understand and navigate special education and healthcare services; conduct training workshops; assist families to access resources, information and services; assist parents in collaborating with schools and health providers to develop appropriate Individualized Education Programs and/or health plans.
Key Responsibilities:
Family Services and Community Partnership Engagement and Outreach:
• Provide individual assistance and support to parents of children with disabilities regarding special education, and health care access.
• Conduct trainings.
• Outreach to underserved communities to identify and recruit families of children with disabilities and special healthcare needs participating in our programs and services.
• Promote parent/educator partnership by supporting families of children with disabilities, special educators, specialists, and administrators to increase parental engagement in special education and healthcare.
• Work as a collaborative team member with other community organizations to conduct family events and fulfill other project related responsibilities.
• Outreach to diverse communities by distributing materials at community gathering places and resource fairs to ensure program visibility.
Administration:
• Maintain accurate and up-to-date files and documentation online for complete and timely reporting.
• Maintain confidentiality of family information.
• Attend program and staff meetings and training as determined by leadership.
• Other duties as assigned by the supervisor.
Qualifications:
• Strong verbal and written communication skills.
• Family member or parent of child with a disability and/or special healthcare needs is preferred.
• Prior experience assisting other families to obtain appropriate services and supports for their child and family members a plus.
• Familiarity with state and local resources and how to access them.
• Strong computer skills and able to use Microsoft Office software, such as Word, Excel, and Power Point effectively
• Track record of respect for others’ experiences, opinions, language, values, culture, and knowledge
• Demonstrated commitment to teamwork and collaboration
• Knowledge of special education, healthcare, DDA system, social services, resources, and information for people with disabilities
• Proven ability as an effective communicator and strong advocate for people with disabilities and special healthcare needs and their families
• Available for flexible work hours (some evenings and weekends as needed)
• Have a car to drive for work purposes and a valid MD state driver’s license and vehicle insurance
Salary will be determined depending upon qualifications and experience. Parents of children with disabilities and/or special health care needs are encouraged to apply.
Health Information Specialist
POSITION: Health Information Specialist
SUPERVISOR: Executive Director
STATUS: Full-time, 40 hours per week, 12-month position, non-exempt
OVERVIEW:
Join our fast-paced, equal opportunity, disability friendly- team in an informal and supportive
environment that values diversity. The Health Information Specialist is responsible for providing
program management, development, and grant reporting for PPMD’s health programs. The
Health Information Specialist is responsible for creating family friendly resources/materials, and
developing and conducting trainings. This position is also responsible for helping underserved
families understand navigate healthcare services; assisting families with accessing resources,
information and services; advocating for multicultural families of children with disabilities and
special healthcare needs. This position may qualify for remote working within the state of
Maryland.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:
– Promote family/professional partnerships by supporting families of children with disabilities and special healthcare needs, special educators, specialists, and administrators to increase parental engagement in healthcare.
– Create and facilitate health-related trainings/fact sheets to satisfy deliverables for the health grants.
– Work with the PPMD team to conduct outreach to diverse communities by distributing materials at community gathering places and resource fairs to ensure program visibility.
– Conduct outreach, and trainings across the state.
– Ensure that project deliverables are met by working collaboratively with the PPMD team.
– Create and maintain relevant partnerships around the state to further the mission of PPMD and ensure the growth and viability of health programs.
– Provide individual assistance and support to underserved parents of children with disabilities regarding health care access.
– Maintain accurate and up-to-date files and documentation online for complete and timely grant reporting.
– Attends necessary and mandatory training activities, including the PPMD staff in-service.
– Other duties as assigned by the Executive Director.
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS, SKILLS and KNOWLEDGE:
– Proficient in English with strong verbal and written communication skills
– Critical Thinking and Reasoning Skills
– Prior experience assisting other families to obtain appropriate services and supports for their child and family members.
– Familiarity with state and local resources and how to access them.
– Ability to use Microsoft Office software such as: Word, Excel, and Power Point effectively.
– Demonstrated commitment to teamwork and collaboration.
– Strong knowledge of special education, DDA system, Maryland’s healthcare system, social services, resources, and information for people with disabilities.
– Proven ability as an effective communicator and strong advocate for people with disabilities and special healthcare needs and their families
– Available for flexible work hours (some evenings and weekends as needed).
– Reliable transportation.
Family member or parent of child with a disability and/or special healthcare needs is preferred.
Bilingual Parent Educator
Full Time Bilingual Parent Educator to Support Families Navigating Special Education and Healthcare
Join a fast-paced team in an informal and supportive environment with a commitment to diversity and equity. Help families navigate the special education and health care system to become their child’s best advocate. Responsibilities include providing accurate and timely information, training and assistance to parents and professionals on special education services. This position may qualify for remote working within the state of MD.
ESSENTIAL JOB RESPONSIBILITIES
- Fluent in Spanish and English, both spoken and written.
- Respond to inquiries from families and professionals on special education and healthcare policies and procedures.
- Assist families with children birth – 26 years of age become advocates for their children in the educational, health, and community settings.
- Develop and implement trainings (electronically and in-person) to meet the needs of families.
- Assist in development and distribution of informational materials and newsletters.
TECHNOLOGY
- Collect and enter data using a CMS system, Salesforce
- Proficient in Zoom and Teams
- Proficient in Microsoft Office, Salesforce Experience a Plus
EDUCATION:
- High School diploma- 2-year degree in social sciences preferred
EXPERIENCE:
- Parent/guardian of a child with a disability or special healthcare needs age birth – 26
- Experience with special education laws, policies, processes and procedures
- Public speaking and/or trainings
SKILLS & KNOWLEDGE:
- Knowledge in special education and general education systems.
- Outstanding oral and written communication skills including clarity and articulation of thought, appropriate grammar, style, form and punctuation.
- Problem solving, motivational and excellent listening skills.
- An ability to multi task while being detail oriented.
OTHER
- Represents PPMD, as assigned, at meetings of selected task force groups, interagency councils, advisory board, commissions, etc., attend event fairs and other meetings/trainings to share PPMD information.
- Ability to lift, on occasion, up to 20 pounds
- Maintain a current Driver’s License and insurance
Hours: 30-40 hours per week, some nights and weekends
Applicants MUST include a statement highlighting your passion as to why you want to work with families of children with disabilities and special health care needs.
Salary will be determined depending upon qualifications and experience.
Parents of children with disabilities and/or special health care needs are encouraged to apply.
Due to the anticipated volume of responses, we will contact only those candidates who most closely match the job requirement.
INTERNSHIP OPPORTUNITIES
We have no opportunities at this time.
The Parents' Place of Maryland (PPMD) is an EEO employer. PPMD values diverse perspectives and life experiences. The organization encourages people of all backgrounds to apply, including parents of individuals with disabilities, people who are bilingual, people of color, immigrants, refugees, women, LGBTQ, people with disabilities, veterans, and those with lived experiences. It is the policy of PPMD that all of the programs, employment practices, and activities of the organization or any of its contractors, vendors, grantees or volunteers will be conducted without regard to any person’s race, color, national origin, marital status, disabled or Vietnam era veteran status, sex, disability, religion, creed, age, sexual orientation, HIV/AIDS, or any other protected class.