What are the responsibilities and job description for the FAMILY ADVOCATE - SOARS position at The LJD Jewish Family & Community Services?
$48,000 - $55,000 (depending on educational level and/or prior experience)
Job Summary:
The Family Advocate works with the Jax SOARS FIE Curriculum Facilitator to help families of the Jax SOARS program identify barriers to their student’s literacy and learning success. In collaboration with the school principal and staff, the FIE support staff, Preschool SEEDS Family Advocates, the Family Advocate will collaboratively develop a plan for success for families by helping families access the support they need to ensure their student’s success; encourage family/student conversations and communication; Participate in the Jax SOARS Adventure League hosted by the partner elementary school and help families/students transition from grade to grade and on to middle school.
Minimum Qualifications
Education
Master’s degree in Social Work, Counseling, Education, or related field from an accredited college or university.
Experience
Minimum three years of successful experience in: Case management, student or social work practice with children and families, or PreK – 5 teaching or counseling experience. Candidates must be eligible to obtain a DCF Level 2 Clearance.
FIVE KEY ELEMENTS OF THE FAMILY ADVOCATE FRAMEWORK
Relationship building with families, students, and school staff: Genuine, transparent relationship building focusing on family strengths in non-judgmental environments
Family Communication: Providing families with information and experiences to enhance their abilities to verbally communicate with their students through fun, meaningful activities and removing barriers to full participation in their student’s literacy and learning success
Grade Level Transition: Assisting families and students as they transition from grade to grade and on to middle school by addressing disparities in learning opportunities, family supports, and student outcomes among students living in high-needs neighborhoods and their more advantaged peers
Direct family support: Providing families with access to and facilitating the acquisition of the resources they need to stabilize their living environment, increase the family’s sense of security and well-being, and the identification of any potential support services that would benefit their student, all of which will remove barriers to full literacy and learning success
Connected Support: Ensuring through on-going supportive services that students and families experience sustained access to quality learning experiences, services, and resources beginning at PreK and continuing through grade five
ROLE OF THE FAMILY ADVOCATE
Family Advocates are the primary implementers of this framework working in collaboration with the Jax SOARS curriculum facilitator and will accomplish key objectives by developing a relationship of trust with all families, community agencies, and students. The strength of these relationships make the other elements possible.
The Family Advocates will help families and students identify their strengths and determine the extent to which they may need additional support. They directly assist families with stabilization, and help families increase their engagement in their student’s literacy and learning success. Family Advocates will collaborate with Jax Preschool SEEDS Family Advocates to assist with Kindergarten transition and continue the services provided to those families to overcome destabilizing factors.
Regardless of the level of support required, all families benefit from opportunities to increase their social capital, make community connections, and engage more purposefully in their student’s literacy and learning.
Engaging with families in the Jax Preschool SOARS program e.g.:
Job Summary:
The Family Advocate works with the Jax SOARS FIE Curriculum Facilitator to help families of the Jax SOARS program identify barriers to their student’s literacy and learning success. In collaboration with the school principal and staff, the FIE support staff, Preschool SEEDS Family Advocates, the Family Advocate will collaboratively develop a plan for success for families by helping families access the support they need to ensure their student’s success; encourage family/student conversations and communication; Participate in the Jax SOARS Adventure League hosted by the partner elementary school and help families/students transition from grade to grade and on to middle school.
Minimum Qualifications
Education
Master’s degree in Social Work, Counseling, Education, or related field from an accredited college or university.
Experience
Minimum three years of successful experience in: Case management, student or social work practice with children and families, or PreK – 5 teaching or counseling experience. Candidates must be eligible to obtain a DCF Level 2 Clearance.
FIVE KEY ELEMENTS OF THE FAMILY ADVOCATE FRAMEWORK
Relationship building with families, students, and school staff: Genuine, transparent relationship building focusing on family strengths in non-judgmental environments
Family Communication: Providing families with information and experiences to enhance their abilities to verbally communicate with their students through fun, meaningful activities and removing barriers to full participation in their student’s literacy and learning success
Grade Level Transition: Assisting families and students as they transition from grade to grade and on to middle school by addressing disparities in learning opportunities, family supports, and student outcomes among students living in high-needs neighborhoods and their more advantaged peers
Direct family support: Providing families with access to and facilitating the acquisition of the resources they need to stabilize their living environment, increase the family’s sense of security and well-being, and the identification of any potential support services that would benefit their student, all of which will remove barriers to full literacy and learning success
Connected Support: Ensuring through on-going supportive services that students and families experience sustained access to quality learning experiences, services, and resources beginning at PreK and continuing through grade five
ROLE OF THE FAMILY ADVOCATE
Family Advocates are the primary implementers of this framework working in collaboration with the Jax SOARS curriculum facilitator and will accomplish key objectives by developing a relationship of trust with all families, community agencies, and students. The strength of these relationships make the other elements possible.
The Family Advocates will help families and students identify their strengths and determine the extent to which they may need additional support. They directly assist families with stabilization, and help families increase their engagement in their student’s literacy and learning success. Family Advocates will collaborate with Jax Preschool SEEDS Family Advocates to assist with Kindergarten transition and continue the services provided to those families to overcome destabilizing factors.
Regardless of the level of support required, all families benefit from opportunities to increase their social capital, make community connections, and engage more purposefully in their student’s literacy and learning.
Engaging with families in the Jax Preschool SOARS program e.g.:
- Encourage all families in the Jax SOARS program to participate in the program.
- Work with FIE staff to develop materials as needed.
- Conduct initial conversations with families using a strengths-based assessment that focuses on addressing barriers to their student’s success.
- Maintain contact with families who are seeking assistance in order to have conversations with them and understand the barriers to their student’s success.
- Attend parent/teacher school meetings with families as needed or requested.
Supporting families who identify barriers to their student’s success e.g.:
- Develop a map of social services available to families in the targeted community.
- Develop a smooth pathway for students to transition from grade to grade and on to middle school that families feel fit the social, emotional and academic needs of their student.
- Ensure families understand the role of the Family Advocate through face-to-face interactions, marketing materials, and presentations
- Maintain open communication with the principal and teachers so that any concerns about students can be discussed and be relayed to families through the Family Advocate
- Document all interactions, communications and services provided to families in a written record in the ECR system weekly
- Follow up on the progress of the family choices and actions identified during the assessment process during communication with the family
Family Connections e.g.:
- Increase family involvement in their student’s literacy and learning success and love of books.
- Provide books to families via the Family Advocate Literacy program.
- Increase understanding of the developmental milestones for school aged students.
- Develop a diverse series of family-centered opportunities in partnership with families, school principals, and Westside Literacy and Learning Empowerment Hub staff
Develop a diverse series of family-centered opportunities in partnership with families, Preschool SEEDS staff and preschool directors using feedback gained from family focus groups and other stakeholders
Salary : $48,000 - $55,000
