Family Advocate 10 / 30 / 24Full Time Manhattan
Job ID : 007336
Description :
Drew Hamilton Early Childhood Center (2672 Fred Douglass Boulevard)
35,604 - 53,665
The Family Advocate III is responsible for ensuring positive family and child outcomes through strong family partnerships and community engagement. Family Advocates connect their work to a child and a family getting ready to be successful in Kindergarten and in life. They support the center in meeting and exceeding Head Start Program Performance Standards and other relevant regulatory requirements, maintaining detailed records across relevant areas. This position reports directly to the Program Director and is supported by the Central Leadership Team.
Essential DutiesWith support of the Program Leadership, and Central Team, the Family Advocate works to ensure the following :
Strategic OversightUnderstand and promote the organization's Mission, Vision, and Core Values to ensure alignment with organizational policies and proceduresProvide leadership in implementing family engagement strategies that align with Head Start Program Performance Standards.Ensure that family engagement practices are regularly monitored and evaluated for effectiveness.Family EngagementAdhere to the Family Engagement policies and procedures as outlined in the Early Childhood Policy and Procedure ManualPursue positive goal-oriented relationships with families in support of strong family and child outcomesProvide necessary support to families based on their strengths and needs, including but not limited to appropriate referrals, moral support and coaching, accompanying to appointments, and other forms of direct assistanceRegularly monitor COPA reports to ensure data is accurately captured in timely mannerTrack and monitor children's medical records and work with parents to ensure continuity of careSupport children and families through the special needs processConduct a minimum of two home visits per year, per child, with additional visits as neededParticipate in child case conferences and parent teacher conferences where requiredSupport families during a crisisFacilitate parent workshopsRecruit new families for our program through tabling, advertising in the school community, and hosting recruitment eventsCommunity EngagementFoster effective and strategic community partnerships in order to meet the needs of familiesIdentify opportunities for parent workshops and link families to relevant resourcesRepresent Children's Aid at relevant neighborhood events, such as community / resource fairs, etc.Seek and maintain current knowledge of services offered in the community that can benefit familiesShare highlights of families, kids, staff, and community partnersEducate and engage our online social media community with the EC Instagram committeeEligibility, Recruitment, Selection, Enrollment, AttendanceIdentify eligible families and support them through the application and enrollment process at Children's AidFamiliarize with eligibility and enrollment requirements for program models relevant to funding streams at respective sitesMonitor children's attendance and provide supports to minimize absencesMaintain accurate and complete records in both physical and electronic files. Ensure confidentiality of client records and information at all timesRecord Maintenance, Screening and AssessmentAdhere to the Assessment and Screens policies and procedures as outlined in the Early Childhood Policy and Procedure ManualProvide feedback to the team with respect to child and family development that may require additional focusOversee and maintain accurate records on each childData AnalysisCollect, analyze, and report on data related to family engagement and child outcomes to inform continuous improvement efforts.Utilize data to identify trends, gaps, and areas for improvement in family services and support.Ensure that all data is accurately recorded and maintained in compliance with organizational and regulatory standards.Professional DevelopmentMaintain comprehensive knowledge of Head Start Program Performance Standards (particularly the Parent, Family and Community Engagement Framework and its requirements), DOH regulations, city guidelines, and CA Early Childhood policies and proceduresParticipate in offered trainings, workshops, in-service days, and / or all-staff conferencesMaintain proof of attendance in professional activitiesComplete all Early Childhood required trainingsEngage in self-assessment and reflection coaching experiences such as completing self-assessment surveys, video recording, coaching, and collaboration sessions.Minimum Qualifications :The Family Advocate must have qualifications that satisfy Federal Head Start requirements, the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene Article 47 regulations.Depending on one's education and certification, a Family Advocate may fall into one of the following categories :
Family Advocate IMust possess a High School Diploma and aFamily Development Associate (FDC) credential.Family Advocate IIMust possess an Associate's Degree or equivalent credits (in any areaDepending on the nature of the degree and relevant experience, it may be required to have a Family Development credential (FDC) or be enrolled in a FDC credential program that will be completed within 18 months, which is a condition of employment that cannot be extended.Family Advocate IIIMust possess a Bachelor's Degree (in any areaDepending on the nature of the degree and relevant experience, it may be required to have a Family Development credential (FDC) l or be enrolled in a FDC credential program that will be completed within 18 months, which is a condition of employment that cannot be extended.Family Advocate IVMust possess a Master's Degree in Social Work.Staff who work directly with families on the family partnership process have within eighteen months of hire, at a minimum, to obtain a Family Development Associate credential or Degree in social work, human services, family services, counseling or a related field.Key Competencies :Experience advocating for families and a passion for doing soAdvanced bilingual speaker in English and SpanishExcellent, verbal, written and non-verbal communication skillsSelf-motivated with a professional approach, resourceful and reliableVery strong computer skills, outlook calendar, data entry, and database experienceExcellent organizational and time management skillsEnergetic and a strong collaborator, with great capacity to prioritize and juggle multiple projects efficientlyMust abide by privacy laws, including HIPAA, etc.Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) StatementIt is the policy of Children's Aid to provide equal employment opportunity to all employees and applicants for employment and is dedicated to maintaining a work environment that is free from harassment and discrimination. Children's Aid will not to tolerate discrimination, harassment or retaliation on any basis, including race, creed, color, national origin, ethnicity, alienage or citizenship status, gender / sex (including pregnancy), disability, religion, source of income, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, familial status, caregiver status, military status, marital or partnership status, status as a victim of domestic violence, sexual violence or stalking, predisposing genetic characteristics, arrest or conviction record, credit history, unemployment status or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local law. Children's Aid is committed to complying with applicable state and local laws governing non-discrimination in employment. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including, but not limited to, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training.
Children's Aid will conduct a prompt and thorough investigation of all allegations of discrimination, harassment, or retaliation, or any violation of the Equal Employment Opportunity Policy in a confidential manner and will take appropriate corrective action, if and where warranted. Children's Aid prohibits retaliation against employees who provide information about, complain about, or assist in the investigation of any complaint of discrimination or violation of the Equal Employment Opportunity Policy.
The incumbent is expected to work a schedule, whether in-person or hybrid, as determined by the department's needs to facilitate effective collaboration with the team. This flexibility is essential for maintaining seamless communication, fostering teamwork, and ensuring the smooth operation of the department's processes. The position's requirements are subject to periodic review and adjustment based on organizational needs and changes in work dynamics.
Requirements : Job Type Full Time
Location Manhattan
