Family Advocate

The Family Advocate works together with no more than thirty-eight (38) families enrolled in the Early Head Start, Head Start and Community Development Programs to assess family functioning and enhance parent(s)' ability to meet their own needs through the appropriate use of community resources. Additionally, the Family Advocate implements recruitment, enrollment, and transition activities. Family Advocates serve as the primary contact with families. Position may require evening and weekend hours.

Minimum Qualifications: BA Degree in Human Services or related field with knowledge of child development or completion of a degree and/or Family Development Credential within 18 months of employment. Job requires traveling within area served by the program. Must have valid driver’s license and reliable vehicle. Position may require evening and weekend hours.

Responsibilities include:

• Communicates with families in a positive manner providing a supportive social and emotional climate.
• Establishes a positive rapport with families and is sensitive to their needs.
• Facilitates the Family Partnership Assessment process.
• Develops, implements, and follows up on an individual plan with each family.
• Utilizes a case management system with each family to ensure efficient/effective service delivery.
• Conducts monthly home visits with each family, either in person or remotely based on the needs of the family (average 1 hour per family).
• Empowers families to advocate for their own needs.
• Actively seeks information about child development, parent education, family functioning, and health/mental health/nutrition and shares information with the families.
• Forges collaborations and positive working relationships with other agencies to advocate for needs of shared families.
• Works within a team to communicate, monitor, and follow-up on results of child assessments and evaluations with parents.
• Acts as liaison between classroom and homes.
• Spend time in the classroom setting for a minimum of three (3) hours per week.
• Attends weekly Team Meetings with classroom teams and completes communication forms for all siblings.
• Plans and carries-out successful family transition to and from the Head Start program.
• Assists parents to advocate for their children in the public school system.
• Maintains ongoing communication with elementary schools by encouraging parent participation in transition activities, ensuring completion of kindergarten registration forms, and completing year-end summaries.
• Ensures that families are made aware of opportunities for program involvement including: site committees; parent workshops; and Policy Council. Assists other staff in coordinating those activities.
• Projects a positive attitude about Head Start and Family Enrichment Network.
• Participates in workshops, in-service training, and regular staff meetings. Shares appropriate information.
• Participates as a staff liaison to a committee of the Head Start Policy Council, another Agency committee, and other community affairs as requested.
• Works within a team to conduct a comprehensive Head Start program for each family.
• Supports involvement of parents in the classroom, during home visits, and in center base activities.
• Facilitates the Family Partnership Assessment process. Develops, implements, and follows up on an individual plan with each family.
• Assists in implementing and adheres to Head Start Performance Standards, specifically 1302.
• Integrates Head Start Performance Standard goals and objectives into home visiting.
• Prepares for and participates in case conferencing and team meetings.
• Keeps accurate and confidential home visit and family contact records. Updates forms on a regular basis.
• Arranges for parent transportation and childcare when needed.
• Assumes responsibility for the care and maintenance of home visit supplies.
• Actively participates in ongoing recruitment of families to the Head Start and Early Head Start programs and attends monthly recruitment meetings.
• Responsible for reporting daily attendance to the ERSEA Office.
• Responsible for submitting weekly reports to the ERSEA Office.
• Responsible for making transportation changes for the child.
• Completes pre-screenings and enrollments for the Head Start and Early Head Start program.
• Meets with ERSEA Staff to discuss recruitment, enrollment, and attendance activities as appropriate.
• Meets with Family Community Partnership Coordinator monthly to discuss caseload, job performance, and recruitment activities.

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: From $16.50 per hour

Expected hours: 40 per week

Benefits:

• 401(k)
• 401(k) matching
• Dental insurance
• Employee assistance program
• Flexible schedule
• Flexible spending account
• Health insurance
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Vision insurance

Schedule:

• Monday to Friday

Education:

• Associate (Required)

Experience:

• working with families of low income: 2 years (Preferred)

License/Certification:

• NYS Drivers license and reliable vehicle? (Preferred)

Work Location: In person

Salary : $17