Family Advocate (Early Childhood Impact Program)- Emeryville

About the role

The Family Advocate at the YMCA of the East Bay is responsible for supporting families through goal-setting, coaching, and resource connection.

Responsibilities

• Develop positive, respectful, and trusting relationships with and serve as a liaison between Community School partners and services and families.
• Conduct outreach, recruitment, and enrollment, meeting Head Start Performance Standards and Funding Terms and Conditions.
• Provide orientation on the program's philosophy and services.
• Implement strategies including home visits to learn about families and the changing community.
• Develop strengths-based assessments with families that describe their goals, strengths, resources, and support networks, as well as necessary services and supports that include health concerns.
• Develop an individualized family plan in partnership with the family that includes health, follow up regularly with the family and collaborate on resolving obstacles.
• Coach, consult, educate, and utilize counseling skills, where appropriate.
• Advocate for families and support them in advocating for themselves.
• Support the health and wellness of children and families in the program. Ensure all health requirements are met upon entrance into the program and track all health, dental, and nutrition-related data, and ensure routine follow-up.
• Aid in health screenings required for completion within 45 calendar days of child’s enrollment in the program.
• Identify common interests and needs of parents in order to plan appropriate activities, training, and groups.
• Engage parents in volunteering, community service, and other ways of contributing to program activities and services.
• Work with other program staff to support interactive literacy activities and other learning approaches between parents and their children.
• Facilitate case conferences to promote holistic service delivery.
• Promote and support parent involvement and leadership throughout the program.
• Research and keep up-to-date on program and community resources, analyze community resources to family needs, and refer families to community resources as appropriate.
• Listen and support families in making decisions and taking active steps to resolve current crises and be prepared to address future crises.
• Learn about and be sensitive to each family’s values, beliefs, traditions, cultural influences, makeup, and circumstances using a culturally competent and flexible approach.
• Perform record-keeping and internal and external reporting tasks in a timely and objective fashion.
• Contribute to and participate in strategic planning, program self-assessment, and other efforts to improve program services and agency responsiveness to families.
• Make decisions and act based on family support principles, theories, practices, and code of ethics while maintaining professional boundaries and confidentiality.
• Complete other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s or Master’s Degree in family development, psychology, sociology, or related field.
• One year of related experience in a non-profit and/or human services setting.
• A high degree of cultural awareness and competency in cross-cultural practices with children and families.
• Experience working with low-income communities.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to negotiate and mediate to attain win-win situations.
• T.B. and other required health clearances at the time of employment.
• Fingerprint clearance by the DOJ and CCL agencies.
• Valid California Drivers’ License and use of a personal automobile including evidence of auto liability insurance coverage.
• Bilingual in English and Spanish preferred.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Word, Outlook, and other computer programs.

Skills

• Cultural competence in cross-cultural practices with children and families.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to negotiate and mediate to attain win-win situations.
• Effective listening and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to develop and maintain positive, collaborative relationships with families and community partners.
• Knowledge of Head Start/Early Head Start (EHS) program standards and funding terms and conditions.
• Ability to conduct home visits and implement strategies to support families.
• Experience with record-keeping and internal and external reporting tasks.
• Ability to research and analyze community resources to family needs.
• Ability to facilitate case conferences and promote holistic service delivery.
• Ability to engage parents in volunteering, community service, and other ways of contributing to program activities and services.
• Ability to support the health and wellness of children and families in the program.
• Ability to identify common interests and needs of parents in order to plan appropriate activities, training, and groups.
• Ability to assist with health screenings required for completion within 45 calendar days of child’s enrollment in the program.
• Ability to provide orientation on the program's philosophy and services.
• Ability to develop strengths-based assessments with families.
• Ability to develop an individualized family plan in partnership with the family.
• Ability to advocate for families and support them in advocating for themselves.
• Ability to support the health and wellness of children and families in the program.
• Ability to ensure all health requirements are met upon entrance into the program and track all health, dental, and nutrition-related data, and ensure routine follow-up.
• Ability to identify common interests and needs of parents in order to plan appropriate activities, training, and groups.
• Ability to engage parents in volunteering, community service, and other ways of contributing to program activities and services.
• Ability to work with other program staff to support interactive literacy activities and other learning approaches between parents and their children.
• Ability to facilitate case conferences to promote holistic service delivery.
• Ability to promote and support parent involvement and leadership throughout the program.
• Ability to research and keep up-to-date on program and community resources, analyze community resources to family needs, and refer families to community resources as appropriate.
• Ability to listen and support families in making decisions and taking active steps to resolve current crises and be prepared to address future crises.
• Ability to learn about and be sensitive to each family’s values, beliefs, traditions, cultural influences, makeup, and circumstances using a culturally competent and flexible approach.
• Ability to perform record-keeping and internal and external reporting tasks in a timely and objective fashion.
• Ability to contribute to and participate in strategic planning, program self-assessment, and other efforts to improve program services and agency responsiveness to families.
• Ability to make decisions and act based on family support principles, theories, practices, and code of ethics while maintaining professional boundaries and confidentiality.
• Ability to complete other duties as assigned.

Benefits

• Medical, Dental, and Vision Insurance – Full-time employees are eligible for heavily subsidized coverage with several plan options.
• Basic Life and AD&D Insurance, with options for Voluntary Life and AD&D coverage.
• Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA) for health and dependent care expenses.
• Long-Term Disability Insurance for added financial protection.
• Employee Assistance and Wellness Programs to support mental health and work-life balance.
• Commuter Benefits available for eligible employees.
• 12 Designated Holidays.
• Paid Time Off for vacation and sick leave.
• Professional Development Opportunities and ongoing training to support your career growth.
• YMCA Membership Benefits and discounts on programs for you and your family.

Pay

Specific pay details are not specified in the job posting.

Schedule

Specific schedule details are not specified in the job posting.