Family Advocate

STATEMENT OF THE JOB: Under the overall supervision of the Early Childhood Director and the direct supervision of the Center Manager, Center Manager/Family Advocate or Center Manager/Teacher, carries out duties as assigned to ensure the implementation of the Head Start Performance Standards.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

1. Responsible for the overall implementation of the Eligibility, Recruitment, Selection, Enrollment and Attendance, content area at the center level.
2. Maintain a professional attitude and is cooperative with all staff, parents, volunteers and community persons.
3. Serve as an advocate on behalf of parents, assisting to obtain needed services, schedule appointments and complete necessary forms.
4. Work to ensure that lines of communication are open between parents and staff. Assist in providing information to parents in areas that may lead toward self-sufficiency.
5. Work in close coordination with Agency Community Advocates to ensure services for families, including case management and Family Partnership Agreements are implemented.
6. Work with the Health Coordinator to verify immunization status for potential applicants prior and during children are enrolled.
7. Coordinate with Behavior Specialist/Mental Health Coordinator and Health/Nutrition Coordinator to ensure the completion of screenings and exams as required by the Office of Head Start within designated timeframes. Assist families to ensure that health related referrals and follow-up services are completed in a timely manner.
8. Maintain positive working relationship with all service providers.
9. Enter all assigned data into MYHS.
10. Maintain accurate, complete, and up-to-date records on children and ensure their confidentiality.
11. Review tracking systems for accuracy and up-to-date information.
12. Assist in making home visits and referrals for families who are in need of assistance. Family contacts are documented in MYHS
13. Assist in obtaining and documenting In-Kind for parent and community activities.
14. Attend staffings, Quality Team Meetings (QTM), center staff meetings and parent meetings as requested.
15. Assist in mobilizing local resources in the communities served.
16. Responsible for data management in designated areas.
17. Responsible for avoidance or appearance of fraud and ensuring compliance in designated areas.

NON-ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

1. Respect confidentiality in all aspects of the early childhood programs.
2. Participate in designated trainings for professional development.
3. Able to handle stress, tension and exasperation that contact with many children and adults may bring every day.
4. May be called upon to administer first aid to children or staff at any time in the program. The incidental nature of this circumstance effectively establishes first aid as a collateral duty, rather than a primary one.
5. Perform other job-related duties as necessary for the overall operation of the program.
6. English/Spanish speaking preferred.

Requirements

1. Educational Requirements:

• High school diploma or GED. Some college preferred.
• Must have or obtain a minimum of a credential or certification in social work, human services, family services, counseling or a related field within 18 months of hire.

1. Experience Requirements:

• Six months experience working with families with lower socio-economic incomes.
• Computer literate.

1. Physical Requirements:

• Must pass tuberculosis screening annually and initial health examination within first three months of employment.

• Valid driver’s license, access to transportation with liability insurance and willing to use vehicle for Agency related travel.
• Must be able to travel out of area overnight to attend training.
• Be able to hear and communicate orally with children and adults
• Specific vision abilities required by this job include close, distance and peripheral vision,depth perception, and ability to adjust focus.
• Occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds

1. Skill Requirements:

• Ability to read, write and perform mathematical calculations.

1. Personal Traits:

1. Educational Requirements:

• High school diploma or GED. Some college preferred.
• Must have or obtain a minimum of a credential or certification in social work, human services, family services, counseling or a related field within 18 months of hire.

1. Experience Requirements:

• Six months experience working with families with lower socio-economic incomes.
• Computer literate.

1. Physical Requirements:

• Must pass tuberculosis screening annually and initial health examination within first three months of employment.

• Valid driver’s license, access to transportation with liability insurance and willing to use vehicle for Agency related travel.
• Must be able to travel out of area overnight to attend training.
• Be able to hear and communicate orally with children and adults
• Specific vision abilities required by this job include close, distance and peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus.
• Occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds.

1. Skill Requirements:

• Ability to read, write and perform mathematical calculations.

1. Personal Traits:

• Able to mobilize community resources in the social services and health related areas.
• Be in sympathy with the concepts of the Head Start Program.
• Able to keep confidential information without inappropriately divulging it.
• Have planning and organizational abilities.
• Able to make decisions and work without continual close supervision.
• Work with individuals from a variety of different cultures in a culturally competent manner.

QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS: To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential function satisfactorily. The requirements listed above are representative of the knowledge, skill, and /or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Start Date: ASAP, Currently budgeted for 10 months per year

$13.65 per hour

Hours of work: 7:30-4:00, with 30-minutes for lunch break