Family Advocate I North Hollywood

About the role

Volunteers of America is a non-profit human services organization dedicated to serving people in need, strengthening families, and building communities. We provide a variety of social services in the Los Angeles area, including Head Start programs, Upward Bound college prep programs, veterans' services, homeless shelters, low-income housing programs, and drug and alcohol rehabilitation.

Head Start/Early Head Start

We work with children (ages 0 – 5) and their families to provide the skills, confidence, and stable home life necessary for a smooth transition into kindergarten and beyond. Children receive health and dental services, and have access to ongoing and acute health and dental care. Families receive nutritional assessments and education.

Job Summary and Purpose

The Family Advocate I recruits and enrolls children into the Head Start Program, and assesses each family’s strengths, concerns, and priorities to provide services that improve a family’s future prospects in supporting their child through school. They manage a caseload of families and assist them in all program areas, engaging families in activities that support their child’s development.

Specific Duties Include:

• Establish and maintain outreach and recruitment to ensure the assigned Head Start site is fully enrolled with eligible children, and monitor attendance to ensure children are actively involved in the program.
• Manage a caseload of families and assist them in getting their needs met, establishing ongoing goals that engage them in their child’s learning and future growth.
• Initiate, maintain, and follow up with the referral process in conjunction with the family, teachers, family service specialists, and service support personnel.
• Facilitate and ensure parent involvement in activities and trainings. Promote parent advocacy.
• Establish and maintain direct communication channels with the family, program, program staff, family service specialist, administration, and community members.
• Accurately prepare and submit required reports and administrative forms on time.

Essential Duties:

• Services for this position must be provided on-site.
• Establish and maintain outreach and recruitment to ensure the assigned Head Start site is fully enrolled with eligible children, and monitor attendance to ensure children are actively involved in the program.
• Manage a caseload of families and assist them in getting their needs met.
• Establish ongoing goals that engage them in their child’s learning and future growth.
• Initiate, maintain, and follow up with the referral process in conjunction with the family, teachers, family service specialists, and service support personnel.
• Attend Individual Education Plan (IEP) meetings when requested.
• Facilitate and ensure parent involvement in activities and trainings. Promote parent advocacy.
• Establish and maintain direct communication channels with the family, program, program staff, family service specialist, administration, and community members.
• Accurately prepare and submit required reports and administrative forms on time.

Mandated Reporter

All employees are considered Mandated Reporters and must report any instance of physical or sexual abuse to proper authorities.

Qualifications

• Must be able to pass a fingerprint clearance, background check, including criminal history, personal references, employment and education verifications.
• Must have access to an automobile with adequate insurance coverage and a valid California driver’s license, or have means to other easily accessible transportation.
• Proof at the time of hire: TB clearance within 6 months prior, Annual Influenza vaccination (between Nov. 1st - March 31st), Pertussis (whooping cough) and measles immunization, Health examination at the time of employment.
• Must be physically able to perform lifting (50 lbs.), squatting/kneeling, and move quickly.

Education

• High School Diploma / G.E.D.
• A credential or Associate's Degree in Social Services, Child Development, Counseling or a related field OR 2 or more years of case management experience in the Social Services field.
• Complete an OHS Family Services Credential within 12 months from hire date.

Experience

• Direct experience working with families in an at-risk Program, and evidence of interaction with culturally diverse low-income population.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• 1-year casework experience in social work, human services, family services, counseling or a related field.
• OHS Family Services Credential.
• 6 months experience in monitoring and tracking computer program data.
• 6 units of Child Development.
• Direct experience working with families in an at-risk Program, and evidence of interaction with culturally diverse low-income population.
• Bilingual English / Spanish (written and verbal).
• An invested interest in the community for recruitment purposes.
• Demonstrate S.M.A.R.T. Goal setting for families.
• Knowledge of Data system Child Plus & for monitoring purposes.