Immediate need for a Family Advocate for our Waukee Head Start program.  This is a 40hr/per week position, 40 weeks per year. Summers off, no nights or weekends. AA degree or higher in Human Services or related field, at least one year working in direct service with focus on children and families, strong interpersonal skills, the ability to communicate effectively and work independently.  Superior benefit package including IPERS.  

EXPECTATION FOR ALL EMPLOYEES: 

Supports the organization’s mission, vision, and values by exhibiting the following behaviors: excellence and competence, collaboration, innovation, respect, personalization, commitment to our community, and accountability and ownership.

GENERAL SUMMARY: 

The Family Advocate maintains the outreach and recruitment of children and families for the New Opportunities, Inc. Head Start program, assists families to fully utilize available community resources, and works in partnership with the parent(s) towards short- and long-range family-identified goals to promote healthy, self-sufficient families.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

1. Conduct outreach, recruitment and enrollment activities.
2. Plan, develop and support families in completing their individualized Family Partnership Agreements; assist families in identifying long and short-range goals; identify and link families with available resources; assist families in developing and implementing individualized action plan.
3. Provide orientation to parents on program services and policies. Participate in the planning, implementation and conducting of educational and enrichment activities for families.
4. Provide direct services to all families, including but not limited to; conducting home visits; planning/implementing parent meetings; acting as an advocate with community agencies; assisting families with community resources; and supporting parents in problem solving.
5. Provide support services to families, including but not limited to: providing crisis and/or emergency intervention and making referrals to community agencies. Following-up with families on all identified needs and concerns.
6. Work with parents to strengthen the family’s knowledge of child development, including assisting parents to understand how children grow and learn, and planning and conducting child education activities with parents to better understand the child’s emotional, social, physical, and cognitive needs.
7. Promote, support and implement parent involvement in all aspects of the program. Work cooperatively with other agency departments and components to develop meaningful opportunities for parent involvement. Attend center meetings.
8. Drive to Head Start centers to provide on-site assistance, meet with families, attend center committee meetings, and respond to emergencies. Drive to homes of parents to conduct home visits and provide assistance.
9. Maintain on-going, complete and accurate records of data for program management. Record pertinent data in family files including records of verbal and written communication with families, staff referrals to community agencies, and follow-up.
10. Conduct all communication with staff, supervisor, program participants, and community in an effective, respectful, timely and supportive manner.
11. Serve as advocate for New Opportunities, Inc. and its families in the community.
12. Perform other duties or complete other projects as assigned.

 SKILLS, KNOWLEDGE, and ABILITIES: 

1. Ability to establish priorities and meet deadlines.
2. Ability to obtain and maintain a driver’s license, automobile, and current valid insurance in order to travel to designation locations.
3. Knowledge of Agency’s policies, practices and procedures.
4. Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with staff, management, and various other business and community contacts.
5. Ability to work with confidential information.
6. Ability to work in a team-based environment.
7. Ability to adapt to the organization’s changing needs.
8. Ability to pass a physical examination.

NOTE:  A review of this position has excluded the marginal functions of the position that are incidental to the performance of essential functions.  All duties and responsibilities listed above are essential job functions and requirements and are subject to possible modification to reasonably accommodate individuals with disabilities.  To perform this job successfully, the incumbent(s) will possess the skills, knowledge, and abilities to perform each duty or function proficiently.

QUALIFICATIONS: 

Educational requirements for this position include an associate degree or higher in Human Services or related field. Minimum of one year experience working in direct service with focus on children and families. Computer experience a must.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

WORKING CONDITIONS: 

This factor measures the surrounding or physical conditions under which a job must be done and the extent to which those conditions make the job disagreeable.  Consider the presence and relative amount of exposure to dust, fuel, dirt, heat fumes, contaminants, cold, noise, vibration, wetness, etc.

Normal working conditions with the absence of disagreeable conditions

GENERAL INFORMATION:

 The statements contained in this job description are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by employees and are not to be construed as an exhaustive list of responsibilities, duties, and skills required of personnel so classified.  Individuals may perform other duties as assigned.  Furthermore, this document does not establish a contract for employment and is subject to change at the discretion of the employer.