JOB TITLE: Part-Time Developmental Referral Specialist
REPORTS TO: Program Specialist
Status: Non-exempt, Hourly, 20 hours per week, benefited.
Compensation: $26-$28 an hour, depending on experience.
SYNOPSIS OF DUTIES:
Assists with all incoming calls from parents and caregivers with questions or concerns about their child's development, or from community partners with developmental questions or concerns about a child they may be serving. Provides knowledgeable, reassuring guidance and connections for families to the right screening, program, or service. Will support intake process from initial referral receipt through family outreach, documentation, and hand-off to the appropriate program or outside agency, ensuring every referral is handled promptly and accurately. M-F or T-S schedule available. Willing to work early evening hours a plus.
RESPONSIBILITIES:
1) Field phone calls from parents and caregivers with questions or concerns about their child's development, responding with accurate, age-appropriate information and a calm, reassuring manner, and determining next steps (e.g., screening, referral, or connection to a program).
2) Monitor the referral inbox daily and log all new referrals promptly and accurately.
3) Maintain the referral call log, recording type of referral, date received, child's last and first name, date of birth, and referral source.
4) Initiate outreach to families following receipt of a referral and document all contact attempts, including dates, methods, and outcomes.
5) Record in the call log whether a parent declines services or fails to respond after multiple contact attempts.
6) Upon completion of a referral, prepare the referral summary and route it to the appropriate receiving program or outside agency (e.g., Early Start, NBRC, SELPA, or other community/internal services), and update the call log with the date of completion. Note level of connection success of referrals made.
7) Enter new client information into the database and create a client file for ongoing documentation.
8) Monitor referral timelines across all programs, identify delays or barriers in the process, and report concerns to supervisors in a timely manner.
9) Build working familiarity with ELI programs and community resources in order to match referrals to the right services and answer partner questions about process and status.
10) Maintain strict confidentiality of all client, family, and referral information in accordance with program policy and applicable law.
11) Attend required staff meetings and trainings.
12) Other duties as assigned.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:
1) High school diploma required; associate or bachelor’s degree in human services, early childhood education, or a related field preferred.
2) Prior experience with intake, referral coordination, customer service, or case management strongly preferred, ideally in an early childhood, healthcare, or social services setting.
3) Solid working knowledge of typical early childhood development (birth to age 5), sufficient to field parent/caregiver questions and recognize when a concern warrants screening or referral.
4) Warm, patient, and reassuring phone manner, especially when speaking with parents and caregivers who are worried about their child's development.
5) Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail, with the ability to manage multiple referrals, deadlines, and programs simultaneously.
6) Strong written and verbal communication skills, including comfort communicating by phone and email with families, healthcare providers, and community partners.
7) Working knowledge of, or ability to quickly learn, community resources, referral pathways, and program eligibility requirements.
8) Proficiency with databases, email, and standard office software; comfortable learning and maintaining program-specific tracking systems.
9) Ability to exercise discretion, sound judgment, and maintain confidentiality in a sensitive, family-facing role.
10) Ability to work both independently and collaboratively as part of a team.
11) Bilingual (English/Spanish) a plus.
Fingerprint clearance required. Evidence of any and all health and safety training and/or credentials and certifications required by law or licensing. Must provide proof of basic immunizations. Must be cleared to work in the United States.
The Early Learning Institute is committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment. The Early Learning Institute prohibits discrimination or harassment based on the following categories: race, color, religion, religious creed (including religious dress and grooming practices), national origin, ancestry, citizenship, physical or mental disability, medical condition (including cancer and genetic characteristics), genetic information, marital status, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding, or related medical conditions), gender, gender identity, gender expression, age (40 years and over), sexual orientation, veteran and/or military status, protected medical leaves (requesting or approved for leave under the Family and Medical Leave Act or the California Family Rights Act), domestic violence victim status, political affiliation, and any other status protected by state or federal law.