Family and Health Advocate - Bilingual Arabic

Major Functions/Accountabilities

• Evaluate needs and provide support to sites in meeting Head Start Program Performance Standards and PFA/PI requirements.
• Build trusting relationships with families and provide ongoing support through at least one significant monthly contact, family assessment and goal setting, referrals and services, follow-up, and advocacy.
• Provide two family visits per year to each family in their home.
• Develop and maintain a regular schedule of site visits to ensure implementation of HS/EHS/PFA/PI services and ongoing contact with families, including flexibility to meet the schedules of families.
• Promote literacy by increasing families' access to materials and encouraging involvement in classroom activities.
• Maintain full enrollment of Head Start/Early Head Start/PFA/PI children at assigned sites through ongoing recruitment and following the eligibility, selection, acceptance, and enrollment process.
• Implement attendance follow-up procedures, including attendance home visits as needed.
• Work with Easterseals and site staff to ensure children remain up-to-date on well-child visits, physicals, immunizations, EPSDT-required screenings, vision and hearing, and dental exams; educate families on the purpose of preventive health care; follow up with families and doctors’ offices as needed.
• Measure the heights and weights of children ages 2 and up according to a twice-yearly schedule.
• Collaborate with teachers and instructional coaches to communicate with the parent as needed when there are developmental, social-emotional, or behavioral concerns for which a referral is recommended, including participating in SRT and Social Emotional Review Team meetings, providing resources, and supporting families through the IEP/IFSP process and in advocating for their goals for their child.
• Work with sites to encourage parent participation in site-level Parent Committees and agency-wide Policy Council; coordinate parent elections for Parent Committee officers and Policy Council Representatives.
• Plan an annual Parent Involvement Activity Calendar and Budget, including annual Parent Orientation, Parent Committee meetings, parent workshops, and parent-child activities. Ensure that activities take place according to current requirements for frequency, content, etc.
• Maintain complete and accurate records in the ChildPlus system.
• Maintain complete and accurate child/family binders at sites.
• Utilizing ChildPlus, implement tracking to ensure required timelines are met.
• Participate in community engagement activities and relationship-building, including recruitment, developing linkage agreements, and attending agency/network meetings and community events.
• Maintain complete and updated Community Resource Board at sites.
• Submit all required paperwork accurately and in a timely manner, and attend all required meetings.
• Complete and submit site verification forms and maintain Outlook calendar.
• Participate in Enrollment/Recruitment Campaign, annual self-assessment, community assessment, and PIR.
• Contribute to the achievement of Program Goals and School Readiness goals and promote a culture of safety.
• Based on caseload sizes, FHAs may provide regional support with family engagement and recruitment.

Education/Certification

• Bachelor’s degree or higher in social work, human services, family services, counseling, or a related field.
• Associate’s degree in social work, human services, family services, counseling, or a related field, plus a minimum of 1 year of experience in social services or early childhood education.
• Degree in another field* plus a minimum of 1-3 years of experience in social services or early childhood education.
• No degree* plus a minimum of 1-3 years of experience in social services or early childhood education.
• *If no degree, or if degree is in another field, family specialist credential must be earned within 18 months of hire.

Experience Required

• Bilingual ability (English/Arabic) may be preferred or required for some positions.
• Microsoft Office Suite or related software, including Microsoft Teams.
• Vehicle/Transportation Requirements: Valid driver’s license, auto insurance, reliable vehicle, travel to Easterseals and partner sites regularly.

Skills/Abilities

• Able to establish rapport and build trusting relationships with families.
• Demonstrates a non-judgmental, compassionate, and culturally sensitive approach to working with families.
• Demonstrates a communication style that is open, adaptable, reflective, engaging, honest, and culturally sensitive.
• Ability to visit families in home and community settings, and to work flexible hours, including evenings, to meet family needs.
• Ability to engage in reflective learning practices and to utilize constructive feedback in order to inform work with families.
• Ability to work well with all levels of the organization, partner sites, other agencies, and funding source personnel.
• Demonstrates the ability to conceptualize and articulate program outcomes.
• Ability to manage multiple projects.
• Well organized, highly detail-oriented, and accuracy-driven.
• Excellent interpersonal skills.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.