Service Position Summary: The LENA Provider will deliver the LENA Home program to engage and empower families with evidence-based practices that support the learning and growth of children, birth to three years old. The LENA Provider will serve directly with families to support their child’s language and overall brain development through increasing the adult interactive talk in the child’s family environment, and may also help to engage other CCI staff in delivery of the program. This member will serve Archuleta, Dolores, La Plata, Montezuma, and San Juan Counties and collaborate with other LENA providers in the region to maximize the use of resources, including equipment and incentives. As a member of Talk Grow Learn, the Team UP of Southwest Colorado collective impact action team, the LENA Provider will also communicate and partner with additional family resource agencies in the region. The LENA Provider will also help to recruit families to LENA and other early childhood programs by helping the Action Team to manage families who are using the phone app known as “Baby BEE Ready.”
Service Activities
Through hands-on-service, Team UP AmeriCorps members engage with organizations to develop, implement, and enhance programs, projects, and activities that develop their own skills, expand effectiveness of southwest Colorado organizations, and support local people to thrive. These duties include:
● Facilitate and support LENA HOME program to families in a home, family group, in-person or
online setting by providing information and coaching and empowering them to increase
interactive talk and learning in the child’s environment
● Schedule and provide home visits, in person or online, with interested and participating families
● Collaborate with other CCI staff to enable others to deliver the program as well
● Actively recruit LENA participants for continuous LENA programming, with specific focus on
outreach to underserved communities
● Attend local events to inform and actively recruit and enroll families in LENA programming
● Collaborate with partner agencies to recruit participants, and organize and facilitate LENA
programming in the region
● Participate in CCI’s Diversity Committee
● Develop plans and metrics for serving a representative cross-section of the region through Early Intervention
● Participate in and be an active member of the Talk, Grow, Learn (TGL) Action Team
● Serve as the point-of-contact for families utilizing the Baby BEE Ready app (a place to find early childhood supports and earn incentives)for the TGL Action Team
● Outreach to the community via stakeholder meetings, communications, and presentations
● Manage curriculum and materials for the program, including inventory sharing with
collaborating organizations.
● Communicate with Site Supervisor on progress and anticipated program supply needs
● Track host site and AmeriCorps data
● Attend Team UP AmeriCorps regional trainings, cohort connection days, and Days of Service
Community Need Addressed
Community Connections (CCI) provides many programs for people with disabilities in Southwest Colorado. CCI’s mission is to create opportunities for children and adults with
intellectual and developmental disabilities to lead healthy and fulfilling lives within our community. For many years, CCI has offered an early intervention program for children ages 0-3. In 2023, CCI will begin partnering with San Juan BOCES and Team UP to move the LENA Home program to CCI for regional implementation.
Position Outcomes
Facilitate and support LENA HOME program to families in a home, family group, in-person or
online setting by providing information and coaching and empowering them to increase
interactive talk and learning in the child’s environment
Benefits
Childcare assistance if eligible, Education award upon successful completion of service, Health coverage, Living allowance, Student loan forbearance, Training
● An education award of $6,895 upon successful completion of term of service.
● Health Insurance
● Childcare Assistance, if qualifications are met
● It is possible to temporarily postpone repayment of qualified student loans through forbearance
while serving as an AmeriCorps member
● Mileage reimbursement for travel to required AmeriCorps trainings, events, and days of service
● Non-tangible benefits including extensive training, valuable experience, networking, and the
opportunity to serve the local community in a crucial area of need
Education Benefits
Team UP AmeriCorps members receive significant training and experience in community engagement, project implementation, leadership, diverse populations, and more. Up to 20% of total hours served may be spent in applicable, approved trainings.
Competencies You Will Develop
Communication
Demonstrate sensitivity and empathy, Lead group discussion, Listen to and consider others' viewpoints, Maintain open lines of communication with others, Speak clearly, in precise language and in a logical, organized and coherent manner, Turn taking, Write cleary and effectively
Creativity & Problem Solving
Able to identify and define the problem, Capable of generating possible solutions, Communicate the problem to appropriate personnel, Improvise, Provide relevant expertise, Select and implement well-considered solution
Teamwork
Derive consensus, Develop constructive working relationships and maintain them over time, Establish a high degree of trust and credibility with others, Interact professionally and respectfully with supervisors and co-workers, Stay positive and outcome oriented, Use appropriate strategies and solutions for dealing with conflicts and differences to maintain a smooth workflow
Decisions
Accepts responsibility, Anticipate the consequences of decisions, Identify and prioritize the key issues involved to facilitate the decision making process, Involve people appropriately in decisions that may impact them, Quickly respond with a back-up plan if a decision goes amiss
Tools
Carefully consider which tools or technological solutions are appropriate for a given job, Consistently choose the best tool or technological solution for the problem at hand, Operate tools and equipment in accordance with established operating procedures, safety standards, and ethical guidelines, Seek opportunities to improve knowledge of tools and technologies that may assist in streamlining work and improving productivity
Planning
Able to prioritize various competing tasks, Create environment of contribution, Create plan of action, schedule tasks so that work is completed on time, Demonstrate the effective allocation of time and resources efficiently, Drive decision making, Effectively delegate tasks, Facilitate group planning, Set goals
Service
Be pleasant, courteous, professional and respectful when dealing with internal and external customers or clients, Evaluate customer or client satisfaction, Honor the privilege of being able to work with and for those being served, Provide personalized, prompt, and efficient service to meet the requirements, requests and needs of customers, Recognize the importance of maintaining privacy and confidentiality of those being served, Understand and anticipate the needs of others, Understand the importance of one's role in the functioning of the organization, Understand the significance of maintaining a healthful and safe environment