Family Advocate

General Description

Primary responsibilities: To enroll eligible children and families in the Head Start/Early Head Start program and maintain center enrollment. To build professional helping relationships with families in order to develop family support plans that help families towards increased self-reliance and healthy interdependence. To ensure that Families' strengths and needs are assessed and that appropriate referral and follow-up services are provided.

Major Responsibilities

• Work with Childcare Resource & Referral to obtain referrals of prospective eligible children & families.
• Recruit children/families, interview applicants, complete applications and enter applications into ChildPlus.
• Maintain an accurate prioritized listing of eligible children waiting to enter the program.
• Enroll and re-enroll eligible children who have the highest priority according to the selection criteria.
• Maintain qualifying roster and child participation forms for USDA food program.
• Maintain on-going maximum center enrollment.
• Monitor children’s attendance for excessive absences or irregular attendance.
• Maintain current health records on all children enrolled.
• Assist with screenings as needed.
• Work with the Head Start support staff to ensure children receive the health, mental health, and/or special needs services they may be eligible for.
• Gather and maintain accurate non-federal share records and other documentation of parent involvement activities.
• Meet with families to gather information regarding family strengths and needs and develop a family support plan that includes goals, tasks, timelines and follow-up.
• Provide referral to families to appropriate service providers that will help meet the families’ interests and needs.
• Provide timely follow-up to referrals and family support plans.
• Maintain accurate documentation of family files and family services provided.
• Use the Office of Head Start Parent Family Community Engagement Framework and the Head Start Early Learning Outcomes Framework as a tool to provide families will support and services.
• Plan and attend monthly parent meetings, workshops, trainings, and other parent engagement and literacy activities.
• Develop and distribute center newsletters, calendars, and flyers.
• Attend community inter-agency meetings to inform and update the community of services offered by Head Start and encourage collaboration.
• Ensure policy council representation is met for each scheduled meeting.
• Participate in school readiness transition activities.
• Advocate on behalf of ECS4Kids Head Start and the children and families enrolled in the program.
• Submit accurate reports as requested.
• Continue to pursue education and/or professional development goals.

Organizational Relationship

This position reports to the Family Services Manager

Educational and Experience Requirements

• A High School Diploma or equivalent required; Associate degree in Social Work, Psychology, or other human services related field and experience working with populations served by the grant, expectant women and children birth through age four preferred
• Staff hired after November 7, 2016, must have within eighteen months of hire, at a minimum, a credential or certification in social work, human services, family services, counseling or a related field
• An unrelated degree with six credit hours in relevant subjects (e.g., family systems, case management, counseling, social work, etc.) may satisfy the requirements

Skills, Knowledge and Abilities

• Knowledge and experience related to child development and early childhood education; the principles of child and expectant women health, safety, and nutrition; adult learning principles, and family dynamics
• Ability to effectively present information and respond to questions from all members of the staff and the general public with varying abilities
• Ability to communicate with and motivate families to achieve set goals
• Knowledge of community resources and the skills to link families, especially those coping with crisis, with appropriate agencies and services
• Able to maintain a flexible working schedule in order to accommodate families and program activities, which include some evenings and weekends
• Ability to demonstrate problem solving skills, counseling skills, and empathy toward needs of parents
• Knowledge of applicable safety and abuse-reporting procedures
• Ability to work independently with little direct supervision
• Knowledge of Microsoft Office products at an intermediate to advanced level
• Ability to maintain confidential information
• Ability to plan and organize work as well as maintain records and prepare reports
• Ability to multi-task, prioritize and work in fast-paced environment

Licenses, Certifications or Registrations

• Valid driver’s license and proof of automobile coverage
• Satisfactory Driving Record (as outlined in Vehicle Driving Policy)
• Complete 24 hours of in-service/professional development training hours each fiscal year (July- June)
• Must have current First Aid and Pediatric Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) training

Environmental Conditions

• Works inside in a childcare setting
• Travel to multiple sites required

Essential Physical Skills

• Acceptable eyesight & hearing (with or without correction)
• Ability to communicate both orally and in writing
• Ability to access file cabinets for filing and retrieval of data
• Ability to sit at a desk and view a display screen for extended periods of time