Recruiter & Family Advocate I, II, Seasonal

SUMMARY OF PRIMARY FUNCTION:

The Recruiter & Family Advocate, at the local level, serves as the program's main recruiter, child and family advocate, as well as the primary liaison between families, the community and other service agencies. The Recruiter & Family Advocate assists in assuring program goals are met and practices comply with Head Start Performance Standards and other program components.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

Identification and Recruitment

1. Identifies, recruits, determines eligibility and enrolls eligible children/families in comprehensive child/family programs including Head Start and Early Head Start.
2. Determines family eligibility based on an interview with the head of household or parent/guardian.
3. Requests, completes, and records accurate information on all documentation necessary to certify eligibility.
4. Obtains parent/guardian signature for all eligible families/individuals.
5. Informs potential families about educational, health, nutritional, and social benefits of the program to help facilitate enrollment.
6. Communicates program services and qualifications with public and private community agencies to facilitate identification and make connections with potential eligible children and families.
7. Contacts potential employers (growers-farmers, nurseries, contractors, Human Resources/Personnel Managers, etc.) in order to provide leads regarding eligible children and families.

Family Advocacy

1. Provides appropriate translation/interpretation necessary for effective communication.
2. Acts as a direct communication link between the program and families.
3. Prioritizes relationship building with both mothers, fathers and/or guardians as applicable to develop ongoing relationships.
4. In partnership with families, develops and supports plans that describe families’ strengths, resources, and needed services.
5. Connects families with opportunities that support safety, financial literacy, health, and family wellness.
6. Links parents to training that contributes to self-sufficiency and to reaching goals around their education and/or career training.
7. Educates families about their vital role in their children’s health, development and learning.
8. Supports health staff as necessary to help parents advocate for their child’s health and needs.
9. Offers learning materials to families that are culturally and linguistically appropriate for children and parents that reflect families’ cultures, encourages family members to visit, observe, and volunteer in the program.
10. Provides families with appropriate information, training and connections to future early care and educational settings such as kindergarten, to help facilitate the transition process for parents and children.
11. Educates parents on Policy Council and other available committee or community opportunities that will promote parent leadership and advocacy.
12. Assists in the planning and implementation of local parent meetings and activities which include attendance at meetings, notification to parents, and encouraging parent participation.
13. Includes parents as active participants in groups and training so they can share skills, culture and talents.
14. Supports parents as they engage in volunteering, collaborating with the community, and other ways of contributing to program activities and the larger community.
15. Becomes family’s liaison to program and community services as appropriate. This could include joint visits with professionals in health, mental health, child development, and child welfare as indicated to address specific issues or family needs.
16. Follows up on the effectiveness of family referrals to community resources.
17. Ensures that pertinent knowledge about families is appropriately shared with colleagues and professionals in a way that assures confidentiality and increases service coordination.
18. Performs effective data entry to ensure accurate tracking of individual family and program progress.
19. Distributes evaluations and feedback suggestion forms during workshops, meetings and other activities for parents and families.  Uses data results to make quality improvements in these areas for the benefit of parents and expectant families.
20. Collects, enters, and monitors necessary data in online database, ensuring data is current, complete, and accurate.
21. Provides information to parents about the various program services and activities.
22. Works alongside the nutrition, health and educational team members to identify and support specific child and family needs, ensuring to prioritize education to parents regarding attendance.
23. Stays informed of family patterns, needs and issues while identifying and proposing changes to services to meet family needs. When needs and/or issues are identified, information is communicated to the Eligibility Specialist for further conversation.

Community Partnerships

1. Proactively establishes contacts and connections with public and private community agencies to facilitate effective communication and relationship building.
2. Enhances family and community awareness of the program through word of mouth and community presence while  building relationships with local partners. 
3. Contacts local community agencies/programs and creates relationships to allow the opportunity for recruitment of  children/families on their premises.
4. Serves as the primary liaison between families, the community, other service agencies and the center.
5. Develops/updates community resource directory to provide for Provides appropriate translation/interpretation necessary for effective communication. 

Safety

1. Have or obtain within 30 days of hire a First Aid and CPR Certification as well as maintain the certification during employment.