Job Responsibilities
As an EIS, I have two main responsibilities. The first is being
a service coordinator. I coordinate all the appropriate
services for each child that qualifies for our program. I also
assist families in utilizing local social resources, for example
WIC and HUD. Some of the services we provide directly are
speech therapy, occupational therapy, physical therapy,
nutrition services, counseling and developmental services.
Developmental services constitute my second job. I am a
rehabilitation teacher. When a child has developmental delays,
I visit their home and teach the family how to incorporate
educational activities into their natural routines.
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Job Requirements
A bachelor's degree is required. EIS's can have a degree and
background in psychology, sociology, health, education, and some
science fields. Being an EIS can be an entry level job for
those who have just graduated, or a long term career, depending
on one's individual goals. There is also a certification that
takes place the first year of employment.
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Uppers
The best parts of my job are the kids and families. To see that your work has
helped improve lives make all the tedious parts worth it.
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Downers
Like most professional jobs, the downside is the paperwork. In
a social and educational field, everything must be documented at
least once, and often in a number of ways.
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Lifestyle
The work hours can be fairly flexible. We set our own schedule to accomadate
the families we work with. Most of us work early mornings and late evenings
every now and then. But fortunately we can then take an afternoon off for
errands. The administration keeps a close eye, but as long as your work is being
done quickly, and your families are getting what they need, your schedule is
yours to make. But to do a good job as an EIS, we work more than 40 hours a
week. The environment is typically relaxed and friendly. All of us work closely
with families so we get to know eachother well. We also have alot of training
every year, often out of town. I've found that some trainings become fun social
gatherings.
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Compensation
An EIS position starts at just over 24,000 a year. After three
years, I now make around 26,000. We have a good retirement
plan. Our employer matches 8% to every 5% that we put into
retirement. Of course, salary packages are mostly determined by
the organization that we are affiliated with locally. Some ECI
programs are under MHMR, local school systems, and departments
of rehabilitation.
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Advice to Jobseekers
The most important qualities for an EIS position are
consideration and understanding for other people, attention to
details and facts, and ability to be professional and friendly
at the same time.
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