The Child Development Specialist works under the supervision of the Director of Early Care and Education and with the guidance of the Head of Educational Excellence. The Child Development Specialist (CDS) partners with a team of CDS’s to ensure comprehensive, high quality early education experiences for children/families enrolled in Allies’ network of contracted licensed family child care home providers (Providers). The Child Development Specialist plays a critical role in client and Provider recruitment, ongoing training, health/safety monitoring, comprehensive family services and lesson plan processes.

Every child needs a childhood. Allies for Every Child (Allies) exists to give at‑risk children and children living in poverty the foundation they need to increase their life choices and lead fulfilling lives. For nearly 40 years, Allies has been providing thousands of at‑risk children and their families with critical, high‑quality child development and family wellness programs (including comprehensive early education and Early Head Start services), family strengthening interventions, foster care and adoption services, and a range of vital, integrated services, including mental health services, educational assessments, trauma and disabilities screenings/advocacy, nutrition services, dental and vision screenings, and pediatric health consultations. In 2024, Allies expanded its reach, serving even more children and youth in foster care and those transitioning to adulthood through Extraordinary Families, a program of Allies for Every Child.

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skills and/or abilities required.



Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Early Education Duties

Children

- Schedule and perform observations and developmental assessments of children (include parent and provider input); responsible for completion of Desired Results Developmental Profile assessments for children in the FCCHEN and EHS Program.
- Complete semi-annual developmental screenings (Ages and Stages Questionnaires- 3 and Social-Emotional) with parents during home visits; assist in referring children to inclusion team and or local agency, if needed; partner with parents and families through the formal evaluation process

Families

- Conduct two home visits per fiscal year for each family on your caseload to ensure appropriate resources and provide emotional encouragement
- Identify child social or health needs and provide referrals to parents regarding public assistance, health, housing, counseling, etc. as needed
- Support completion of semi-annual 5 protective factors surveys, annual family survey, etc.
- Confer with parents on an as‑needed basis, offering them resources and mediating parent/provider conflict, as well as discussing children’s assessments, needs and interests, and strategies to use in facilitating children’s growth and development




- Actively support parental involvement by planning and facilitating responsive and directed parent activities
- Facilitate opportunities for parents and families to participate in program’s education services and trainings
- Participate in implementation of program-wide parent advisory group
- Support Family and Community Specialist in assisting, guiding and educating each family during transition process to a preschool, Head Start Program and or Kindergarten.
- Assist in planning parent activities, encourage parent participation in program activities, and obtain feedback from parents regarding the level of satisfaction with the services they received
- Provide support in the follow‑up and retrieval of health, nutrition, mental health and disability requirements
- Collaborate with Health Services Coordinator, Family and Community Specialist, Mental Health Specialist and/or Inclusion Specialist to ensure the health, nutrition and special needs of children are addressed
- Working closely with each family on caseload to support goals identified and provide needed referrals to community agencies and effectively communicate with Family and Community Specialist or other relevant team members
- Supports families in completion of paperwork and documentation requirement for Early Head Start and CDSS and provides follow‑up
- Provides support and strategies to address any attendance concerns

Family Child Care Home Education Providers

- Mentor, coach, model, and provide individualized training and technical assistance for Providers and their staff in child development, and other areas identified; Ensure monthly meetings, semi‑monthly home visits, telephone consultations as needed, and support m

📌 Child Development Specialist (Montreal)
🏢 CharityFinders
📍 Montreal