Program Therapist

The Center for Development and Disability (CDD), established in 1990, is New Mexico's University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities Education, Research and Service. These centers, authorized by the Developmental Disabilities Assistance and Bill of Rights Act, build the capacities of states and communities to respond to the needs of individuals with developmental disabilities and their families.

The CDD Early Childhood Home and Family Services, Parents As Teachers, are seeking full-time Program Therapists to deliver services in Bernalillo and Valencia counties.

The Program Therapist will

• provide evidence-based home visiting prevention services to families with children during the prenatal stage through kindergarten entry;
• design individualized services using the Parents as Teachers evidence-based model and curriculum;
• deliver services in the home and other community settings using a trauma-informed approach, with cultural appropriateness, and infant mental health competencies. Services will include, but are not limited to, teaching developmentally appropriate parenting strategies, encouraging healthy parent-child interactions, conducting screenings with children and caregivers to assess risks, partnering with families to develop goals, and supporting families in achieving those goals;
• share community resources including referrals to early intervention services, mental health services, and others as needed;
• work under direct administrative, clinical/reflective, and field supervision provided by the program manager or designee.

The goals of the program are to increase parent knowledge of early childhood development, improve parenting practices, provide early detection of developmental delays and health issues, prevent child abuse, and neglect, and increase children's school readiness. The Program Therapist will have demonstrated skills working with the community served and the ability to provide services using a culturally competent and family centered approach. The individual hired for this position will be able to work independently in delivering services with fidelity to the evidence-based model. This individual will travel, using their personal vehicle, in Bernalillo and Valencia counties to conduct home visits and will be compensated for mileage at standard rates. Services are also delivered via telehealth using a hybrid approach.

The Program Therapist will

• document all services into the state's database system. All service documentation will be well-written providing a narrative that explains what services were delivered and assessing the needs of the families. All services will be documented in a timely manner according to funder's periodicity schedule;
• engage in regularly scheduled individual and group reflective and administrative supervision in support of quality services;
• come prepared to each session ready to reflectively discuss progress of enrolled families with their supervisor;
• develop and co-facilitate developmentally appropriate family group connections in support of program goals;
• use the Parents as Teachers curriculum to create the group connection;
• facilitate group activities in a culturally appropriate manner;
• focus on the Parents as Teachers areas of emphasis: developmentally appropriate parenting, parent-child interactions, and family well-being.

This position may require out-of-state and overnight travel for training. The position will require local travel and participation in training to develop necessary knowledge and skills of the home visiting model.

See the Position Description for additional information.

• Must pass a pre-employment criminal background check.
• Successful candidate must submit to post-offer, pre-employment physical examination and medical history check.

Bachelor's degree; no previous experience required.

Completed degree(s) from an accredited institution that are above the minimum education requirement may be substituted for experience on a year for year basis.

***Address in your cover letter how your experience and skills align with our preferred qualifications***

Bilingual English and Spanish.

Experience in home visiting.

Knowledge of and experience with diverse communities, cultures and families.

Ability to learn and implement a new model of service.

Strong written and verbal skills with ability to pay attention to details and be highly organized.

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visit UNMJobs to submit an application.

To Be Considered for This Position, Please Submit the Following:
* Completed Application: Include all relevant work experience and clearly note the number of hours worked per week for each position.
* Current Resume: Your resume should include three professional references, preferably current and/or former supervisors.
* Cover Letter: Please address how your experience and skills align with our preferred qualifications.
* Note: Incomplete applications may not be considered.

Positions posted with a Staff Type of Regular or Term are eligible for the Veteran Preference Program. See the Veteran Preference Program webpage for additional details.

The University of New Mexico is committed to hiring and retaining a diverse workforce. We are an Equal Opportunity Employer, making decisions without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, veteran status, disability, or any other protected class.

The University of New Mexico requires all regular staff positions successfully pass a pre-employment background check. This may include, but is not limited to, a criminal history background check, New Mexico Department of Health fingerprint screening, New Mexico Children, Youth, and Families Department fingerprint screening, verification of education credentials, and/or verification of prior employment. For more information about background checks, visit https://policy.unm.edu/university-policies/3000/3280.html. Refer to https://policy.unm.edu/university-policies/3000/3200.html for a definition of Regular Staff.