Erin Chitwood
Dyersburg
Summary
Dedicated Support Professional, adept in individualized service planning and trauma-informed care. Skilled in building strong interpersonal relationships, I empower families through education and resource navigation, enhancing well-being and fostering resilience. Committed to effective communication and problem-solving to drive positive outcomes. Known for effectively adapting to evolving family situations, showcasing skills in empathy and problem-solving.
Overview
5
5
years of professional experience
Work History
Family Support Specialist
Healthy Families America West Tennessee at The University of Tennessee at Martin
12.2023 - Current
- Empowered families through education on health, nutrition, and financial literacy concepts.
- Assisted families in navigating complex social service systems to access needed supports and benefits.
- Conducted regular home visits to assess family progress and adjust support plans as needed.
- Maintained detailed case notes.
- Improved family dynamics by offering guidance on parenting strategies, communication techniques, and conflict resolution skills.
- Strengthened families' social networks through referrals to community programs.
- Empowered parents by providing education on child development milestones, effective discipline strategies, and age-appropriate activities.
- Established trusting relationships with clients, fostering a supportive environment conducive to growth and change.
- Monitored the safety and well-being of children within the household through regular check-ins and observations.
- Provided crisis intervention services when necessary to protect children from harm or neglect.
- Built solid and trusting rapport with children and families, fostering trust and communication to meet case needs.
- Implemented strategies to reduce and prevent family conflict and promote family mental health and well-being.
Early Childhood Educator
Dyersburg City School District
07.2021 - 12.2023
- Developed engaging lesson plans aligned with state educational standards.
- Implemented behavior management strategies to foster positive classroom environments.
- Collaborated with parents and guardians to support child development and learning goals.
- Mentored new educators on curriculum implementation and classroom management techniques.
- Maintained and fostered positive and constructive interactions with staff, families, and children.
- Supported children with special needs, creating customized learning strategies to accommodate various abilities.
- Observed children to identify individuals in need of additional support and developed strategies to improve assistance.
- Contributed to staff meetings and professional learning communities, sharing insights and strategies for continuous improvement of teaching practices.
- Mentored new educators, providing guidance on effective teaching approaches and classroom management techniques.
Education
Bachelor of Science - Early Childhood Education
University of Tennessee At Martin
Martin, TNSkills
- Individualized service planning
- Professional boundaries
- Interpersonal relationships
- Trauma-informed practice
- Problem-solving
- Multitasking
- Reliability
- Excellent communication
- Organizational skills
- Relationship building
- Active listening
Accomplishments
- Supervised and mentored a team of 13 educators while serving as Lead Teacher
- Served on the Superintendent's Advisory Committee
- Served on Teacher Leadership Committee
- Infant Mental Health Certified (AIMHiTN)
Timeline
Family Support Specialist
Healthy Families America West Tennessee at The University of Tennessee at Martin
12.2023 - Current
Early Childhood Educator
Dyersburg City School District
07.2021 - 12.2023
Bachelor of Science - Early Childhood Education
University of Tennessee At Martin