Early Language Coordinator at Team Up AmeriCorps

View All Opportunities

Industry: Hospitality, Human Services & Education

Type of Job: Hospitality, Human Services & Education

Type: Internship

Location: In-Person in Durango

Age Requirement: 18 and Up

$ Paid

Starts: Jan. 14, 2026

Ends: Aug. 31, 2026

Enrollment End Date: Dec. 31, 2025

Hours Per Week: 22

Available Days of the Week: Monday

Available Time of Day: Generally 9-5

Description

Program Overview: Team Up AmeriCorps places AmeriCorps members at organizations throughout Southwest Colorado. While these members serve as part of a regional cohort and participate in regional cohort trainings and activities, they spend the majority of their term serving directly at a specific host site organization. Through collaborative service, Team Up AmeriCorps members develop their own professional skills and passions, expand effectiveness of southwest Colorado organizations, and ultimately support people to thrive. Team Up has been utilizing collective impact initiatives since 2015 to collaborate across sectors and promote communication towards common goals within rural Southwest Colorado communities.

Community Connections (CCI) provides many programs for people with disabilities in Southwest Colorado. CCI’s mission is to connect people with disabilities, developmental delays, and complex needs to the resources they choose to lead healthy and fulfilling lives. For many years, CCI has offered an early intervention program for children ages 0-3. In 2023, CCI began partnering with San Juan BOCES and Team Up to move the LENA Home program to CCI for regional implementation. LENA programs use technology to measure verbal interactions between caregivers and young children and education to increase those interactions. Additionally, the Talk, Grow, Learn Action Team has identified LENA Grow as an in-demand program for professional development of educators in early childhood settings.

Service Position Summary: The Early Language Coordinator will deliver the LENA Grow program primarily to childcare centers that are not served by San Juan BOCES. Additionally, the Coordinator will deliver 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 Early Language Coordinator will serve directly with center staff to support students’ language and overall brain development through increasing the adult interactive talk in the childcare center environment. Furthermore, the Coordinator will help 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 be based in Durango but 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. In particular, this member will collaborate closely with the San Juan BOCES team that will also be delivering LENA Grow in childcare centers. The Early Language Coordinator will also communicate and partner with additional family resource agencies in the region. The Early Language Coordinator will also be involved with early childhood’s efforts to help to recruit families and centers to LENA and other early childhood programs by supporting families who are using the phone app known as “Baby BEE Ready.”

Responsibilities

Duties and Responsibilities: Team Up AmeriCorps members serve directly at their Host Site organization to develop, implement, and enhance programs, projects, and activities through direct and indirect service. Duties include:

Actively recruit LENA childcare centers for LENA Grow professional development programming
Supported by the San Juan BOCES team, facilitate and support implementation of LENA Grow program to childcare centers by providing information and coaching to empower teachers and staff to increase interactive talk and learning in the child’s environment, particularly in La Plata County
Offer LENA participation to CCI’s Children and Family Services department with referrals from CCI’s speech language pathologist providers
Actively recruit LENA participants for continuous LENA programming with outreach to

underserved communities and families who do not qualify for Early Intervention services
partner agencies and local organizations serving families with young children

Attend local events to inform and actively recruit and enroll families in LENA programming
In collaboration with CCI, and independently with families, facilitate and support implementation of LENA HOME program to families in a home, family group, in-person or online setting by providing information and coaching and empowering families 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 Early Intervention providers through CCI to deliver the program to families involved in Early Intervention
Participate in CCI’s staff committees as appropriate
Develop plans and metrics for serving a representative cross-section of the region with the LENA team and in collaboration with CCI staff
Participate in and be an active member of the Talk, Grow, Learn (TGL) Action Team and/or LENA group
Manage the Baby BEE ready app for families utilizing program (a place to find early childhood supports and earn incentives) including: Serve as the point-of-contact, manage the point-system, update activities, and distribute prizes
Conduct 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

Qualifications / Career Path

Physical, Emotional, and Intellectual Demands:

Willingness to learn, adapt, and grow in a position

Ability to serve independently, take initiative, and be motivated by the projects they are doing

Compassion and awareness: self-awareness, awareness of cultural differences, social differences and understanding of implicit bias

Desired Qualifications:

Ethic of national and community service and a strong desire to create positive change

Ability to communicate effectively both verbally and in writing; computer literate

High School Graduate required (GED accepted,) college graduate or equivalent work experience preferred

Ability to pass criminal history check

Reliable transportation & proof of auto insurance

U.S. Citizenship or lawful permanent resident status required
Understanding of culturally diverse populations
Self-motivation, ability to take initiative
Ability to plan, coordinate with others, and organize schedule, including travel time
Skills or experience preferred

community and volunteer organizing
early childhood development, family training experience
Those who understand the importance of a rich home language environment in the first three years of life in supporting a child’s overall later success, and who want to support the health and success of the children in a rural community, are encouraged to apply
Bilingual applicants are encouraged to apply

Term of Service - Time Commitment: This is a Reduced Half Time (675 hours total) national and community service position requiring approximately 22 hours/week. The position begins January 14, 2026 and ends August 31, 2026*. Flexible hours are required, including occasional evening and weekend commitments. Service on the following dates is required:

January 14-15: Team Up AmeriCorps Member Orientation

January 15: Meet n’ Greet with all Members & Site Supervisors

January 16: First Day at Host Site/Host Site Orientation
Jan 19: Dr. MLK Jr. Day Activity
March 31: Cesar Chavez Day of Service
April TBD: Spring Convening of Members & Site Supervisors
2nd Wednesdays, monthly: Cohort Connections

in-person in February, April, and June

*The option to continue as a full or part time AmeriCorps member into the 2026-2027 Program Year is available and encouraged for the right applicant.

Training and Support Provided: 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. Members will be supervised and supported by Scott Kuster (skuster@communityconnectionsco.org), as well as by Team Up AmeriCorps program staff. The PY 25-26 cohort of Team Up AmeriCorps members serving throughout the region will also act as additional resources and support for each other.

Location and Service Conditions: This position is based at Community Connections, 281 Sawyer Drive Durango, CO 81301. Regular travel in the five counties served is expected, as well as occasional off-site engagement and partnership activities, meetings, etc.

Benefits:

A living allowance of approx. $590.63/per pay period (twice per month). Taxes are deducted and the living allowance is distributed by direct deposit to the member’s bank account.
An education award of $2,817.14 upon successful completion of term of service.
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 and gatherings
Non-tangible benefits including extensive training, valuable experience, networking, and the opportunity to serve the local community in a crucial area of need
Additional Site Benefits: Monthly housing stipend.

Diversity and Equal Opportunity: Team Up values the diversity of our community. In principle and in practice the diverse nature of our board, staff, and volunteers is recognized as one of our best assets. We respect each individual’s unique gifts and prohibit unfair or discriminatory practices against anyone because of age, race, color, religion, national origin, disability, gender, sexual orientation, and any other protected category.

AmeriCorps prohibits all forms of discrimination and harassment based on the protected categories of race, color, national origin, sex, age, religion, sexual orientation, disability (mental or physical), political affiliation, marital or parental status, pregnancy, reprisal, genetic information (including family medical history), or military service.

To Apply:

Step 1. Email a cover letter and resume to Team Up AmeriCorps Coordinator Anne Poirot @ AnneP@TeamUpSW.org. Be sure to indicate which position(s) you are interested in.

Step 2. Create an account on myAmeriCorps.gov and submit an application for the >https://my.americorps.gov/mp/listing/viewListing.do?fromSearch=true&id=127963. Please complete BOTH steps to apply.

Parking Information