Family Advocate

BASIC FUNCTION: Responsible for service planning, delivery and system coordination to Head Start families and children. Work with parents to assess their needs and assist in meeting those needs through implementation of their Family Partnership Agreement (FPA) and our program area plans. Assist in the support of families and their needs and provide opportunities for families to gain self-sufficiency.

QUALIFICATIONS:

1. Associates or Bachelor Degree in social work, human services, family services, counseling, or a related field.
2. Demonstrate an aptitude for accurate record keeping, reporting and writing.

3. Maintain flexibility in meeting job responsibilities.

4. Show the ability to function effectively and appropriately with various community agencies, programs and professionals. Maintain a professional image while representing Head Start.

5. Demonstrate flexibility, willingness and commitment to attend professional meetings and training.

6. Exhibit the ability to communicate and remain courteous and professional with children, parents, staff and community members.

7. Must have a valid driver’s license.

8. Exhibit the ability to cope with stressful situations.

9. Demonstrate the ability to accurately input data entry.

10. Demonstrate a sincere commitment to the philosophy of Head Start and to the objectives of an early childhood intervention program.

SPECIAL CONDITIONS: The Family Advocate must have the ability to demonstrate the physical and cognitive capabilities to fulfill the essential functions of the job.

Physical demands: The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to talk or hear. The employee is occasionally required to stand, walk, sit, use hands to manipulate, handle or feel objects, tools or controls, reach with hands and arms and taste and smell.

The employee must regularly lift and/or move up to ten (10) pounds, frequently lift and/or move up to (25) pounds and occasionally lift and/or move up to (50) pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and the ability to adjust focus.

SUPERVISOR: Parent, Family & Community Engagement Manager

ESSENTIAL RESPONSIBILITIES AND FUNCTIONS: INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING, OTHER DUTIES MAY BE ASSIGNED.

1. Facilitate and complete Family Partnership Agreement's (FPA's) on all families to establish goals and assist in attaining the services to meet those goals.

2. Document all services to families on home visit forms or FPA's.

3. Promote communication with parents through home visits and parent activities with sensitivity to family structure, language, religion, culture, education and socio-economical background.

4. Allow flexibility of work schedule in order to encourage the participation of as many parents as possible in home visits, training, meetings, parent related activities and when providing emergency or crisis intervention.

5. Be familiar with and adhere to the Head Start Performance Standards and all program policies and procedures.

6. Assist with agency recruiting efforts and orientation to maintain full enrollment and waiting list.

7. Maintain current and accurate records as required, turning in required forms to Supervisor (i.e., monthly monitoring form).

8. Assist in achieving active parent participation in the center program.

9. Enter required information on all families in Child Plus software. Specific documentation and case notes in Child Plus on families you serve.

10. Help families find resources for crises interventions to prevent parents from having utilities disconnected, becoming homeless, medical emergencies, domestic violence, and any other crises situation to resolve the issues (with support from the Parent, Family, & Community Engagement Manager and the Health Nutrition &Safety Manager). Complete referral forms.

11. Assist and secure information in the following areas:

Education:

· Communicate with classroom Teacher.

· Follow-up on Individual Child Home Activity Plan with Teacher and Families.

· Assist families in eliminating barriers for them to attend class.

· Complete Family Outcome data on Child Plus on specific dates assigned. Develop strategies with parents to achieve desired results.

Health:

· Ensure physicals/dentals are completed on all children.

· Schedule and provide transportation for physicals and dental exams on children in the enrollment process.

· Ensure all follow-up is completed and documented on all children after each contact with family.

· Assist with Health questionnaires as needed, remind families of upcoming due dates, help assure a medical and dental home and ensure release of information signed health. Keep record of physical and dental completion and work with families to complete.

Parent Engagement:

· Recruit, encourage, train, assist and schedule parent volunteers in the center.

· Conduct parent events/parent meetings.

· Support and assist family outcomes.

· Assist families in scheduling physicals, dental and dental treatment appointments.

· Provide transportation to appointments, if needed.

· Keep written documentation of all family contacts by using Family Contact notes and Home Visit documentation forms.

· Assist Parent, Family & Community Engagement Manager to help families find resources for crisis interventions by referring to local agencies for assistance.

· Work with families to build a positive relationship.

· Maintain a current Parent Corner at each site that you work at.

· Post the Policy Council minutes after each meeting in the Parent Corner.

· Explain Policy Council to families at the orientations and other times when questions are presented.

Parent Committee:

· Describe the responsibilities of the parent committee during orientation: organize, communicate and hold parent meetings at sites-work with the teachers to make an agenda and notes, forward to PFCE Manager. Work with other staff and parent to plan classroom programming and parent training, according to their needs.

Mental Health:

· Retrieve necessary consent forms.

· Complete ASQ-SE follow-up forms with families.

· Share pertinent information with supervisor pertaining to issues or concerns.

Disabilities:

· Retrieve necessary consent forms, if bus aide is unable.

· Share basic information with families, refer to Disability Manager if needed.

12. Respect the confidentiality of children, families and staff.

13. Dress appropriately for the job at all times. Avoid provocative clothing, as well as, hats or shirts with sexual slogans, curse words, etc. Avoid loose or dangling jewelry that children could grab or become caught in equipment, or sharp objects or pins that could injure children. Wear footwear that minimizes the possibility of slips and falls. Wear clean clothes and practice good hygiene.

14. Attend and participate in site staff and full staff meetings, orientation training, staff development and program planning as well as PFCE meetings and Family Engagement Reflection meetings.

15. Perform other duties as assigned by the Education Manager & Parent, Family & Community Engagement Manager.

16. Read and adhere to all policies and procedures set forth in the Child Care Resources, Inc. Policies and Procedures Manual.

BASIC JOB RESPONSIBILITIES AND EMPLOYEE STANDARDS

All staff must possess the desire and competency necessary to contribute to the growth of the Child Care Resources Programs through its objectives and standards. In order to comply with this standard each staff member must be able to:

1. Work with children without recourse to physical or emotional punishment.

2. Praise and encourage children.

3. Communicate with parents, children, supervisors, and co-workers.

4. Recognize and act against hazards to the physical well being of children.

5. Demonstrate dependability, patience, maturity of judgment, warmth, flexibility and understanding.

6. Develop and maintain knowledge of Performance Standards, State and Federal laws as pertains to the program, and additional rules and policies as required in the completion of individual jobs.

7. Attend parent and staff meetings and events as requested.

8. Complete all reporting in a timely manner.

9. Complete other duties as assigned.

10. Participate in any or all efforts to support family engagement as appropriate to the position.

11. Maintain current training in bloodborne pathogens, communicable diseases, child abuse, child CPR, and first aid which is a collateral duty of all Child Care Resources, Inc. employees.

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $16.64 - $18.02 per hour

Expected hours: 40 per week

Benefits:

• Dental insurance
• Health insurance
• Health savings account
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Retirement plan
• Vision insurance

Schedule:

• 8 hour shift
• Day shift
• Monday to Friday

Education:

• Associate (Required)

License/Certification:

• Driver's License (Required)

Willingness to travel:

• 25% (Required)

Work Location: On the road

Salary : $17 - $18