Family Advocate

The Family Advocate is responsible for assisting families to become more self-sufficient and provide an environment where adults and children can develop to their fullest potential. The Family Advocate ensures that families receive the support and services prescribed in the Head Start performance standards and applicable directives. The Family Advocate operates as a liaison between classroom and home settings in all areas of the program.

Specific Responsibilities:

• Carry out the mission, goals and policies and procedures of Concerted Services, Inc.’s Head Start Program
• Conduct home visits or visits at a mutually agreed upon site to complete and follow-up on Family Partnership Agreements, making appropriate referrals as needed
• Provide information on community services, make referrals, and provide follow-up services, to evaluate access to and quality of services received
• Secure resources and provide crisis intervention services
• Maintain confidentiality of all child, family and staff records
• Perform recruitment, selection and enrollment functions including publicity, answering questions, completing applications, follow-up on incomplete applications, application data entry, acceptance letters, classroom assignments, development and maintenance of waiting list, and filling vacancies as soon as they occur, and no later than the 30 day requirement.
• Family Advocates are responsible for weekly data entry of food and attendance
• Attend and assist with parent orientation and all parent meetings
• Record and track attendance. Must make a personal contact with the parent or guardian when children are absent for three (3) consecutive days and the reason for the absence is unknown
• Confer and counsel with parent(s) as needed
• Maintain thorough, accurate, and up to date records on all families enrolled in our programs
• Encourage parents to accompany children to health related appointments and provide program approved transportation as a last resort
• Provide transportation for parents to appointments and meetings if NO OTHER TRANSPORTATION IS AVAILABLE
• Compile information for monthly reports and submit to the Family Services Specialist
• Attend monthly center staff meetings
• Attend and participate in Family Advocate Staff meetings/trainings
• Participate in Pre- and In-service training and staff development opportunities for Family Service Component personnel
• Assist with planning, conducting or coordinating parent workshops to meet requirements of Head Start performance standards and assessed needs of the families we serve. Attend workshops or trainings offered to families in or from your county
• Work with community agencies and organizations which impact our program and Social Services for low-income children and families
• Develop relationships with community resources, especially the Social Services Community
• Work with community organizations keeping current resource information maintained in an up-to-date community resource directory and educate and assist parents in its use. Ensure data is entered and updated in the ChildPlus Community Resources module.
• Promote parent and community volunteers and actively seek in-kind donations. Ensure in-kind is properly documented and submitted for processing.
• Work to ensure appropriate health and dental screenings are complete, work to ensure all screenings are completed within the forty-five (45) and ninety (90) day time requirements. Continue to work with parents throughout the school year to keep health and dental exams current and to ensure follow-up treatment is received.
• Monitor and report suspected child abuse
• Other duties as assigned.

Education: Bachelor’s or Associate degree in Sociology, Social Work, Counseling or related field desirable. High school

diploma/equivalent and experience in social service field acceptable.

Other: Valid Georgia Driver’s License