Family Services Advocate (bilingual)

About the role

The Family Service Advocate guides families in becoming more self-sufficient, promotes children's learning and development, sets achievable goals through the Family Partnership Process, and acts as a strong advocate for families.

Responsibilities

• Uses the Parent, Family, and Community Engagement Framework to assess and identify family strengths and needs.
• Invites families to engage in a Family Partnership Process early in the program year.
• Encourages parents to engage in their children's education, learning, and development while supporting individual parent-child relationships.
• Maintains monthly two-way communication with families while establishing a professional relationship of trust, respect, reliability, and support.
• Secures resources and provides crisis intervention services.
• Maintains accurate up-to-date documentation for all Family Service activities.
• Makes sure children's health assessments are done as required by the Head Start Performance Standards.
• Assists families in acquiring necessary health and dental screenings and additional services to help the child maintain optimal health.
• Maintains weekly attendance records and contacts families when children are tardy or absent.
• Works with Head Start Community Partners to provide a supportive environment for families.
• Works both independently and collaboratively as part of a team.

Requirements

• High School Diploma or equivalent, required.
• Must be willing to attain a credential or certification in social work, human services, family services, counseling, or related field within 18 months.
• Bachelor's or Associate degree in Sociology, Social Work, Psychology, Counseling, Human Services, or related field, preferred.
• Excellent communication skills with adults and children.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office programs including Word and Excel.
• Valid Drivers License or Commercial Drivers License (CDL) or willingness and ability to obtain license.
• CPR and First Aid Certification at hire or within the first 6 weeks of hire (training provided).
• Bi-Lingual, English/Spanish skills are beneficial.