Family Advocate - California State Preschool Program

JOB TITLE:Family Advocate

DEPARTMENT: Early Childhood Educ.

PROGRAM: EHS, HS, and/or CSPP

STATUS: Full Time - Non-Exempt

REPORTS TO: Quality Systems & Planning Specialist

HOURS PER WEEK: 40

SALARY RANGE: $24 - $28

TERM: 12 Months (Full-time)

The Organization:

Human Services Association (HSA) is a private nonprofit agency whose principal mission is to provide families with compassionate and comprehensive care to promote wellness and build strong communities. HSA was founded in Bell Gardens in 1940 and today, HSA serves over 20,000 clients annually on a non-sectarian basis with a range of services that addresses the unique and shared needs of clients of all ages.

Program Overview:

Our Early Childhood Education Department provides services to 800 children over three distinct programs (Early Head Start, Head Start and State Preschool) at ten school sites. The California State Preschool Program provides a pre-school experience for children ages 3 to 5 in the cities of South Gate and Huntington Park. The Early Head StartProgram is a federally funded program that provides a home based and center based program for pregnant women and children ages 0-3 that reside in zip codes of 90201 and 90280. The Head Start Program offers a comprehensive child development program for low-income preschoolers ages three to five years old that reside in zip code 90280.

Position Summary:

Under the supervision of the Quality Systems & Planning Specialist, the Family Advocate is responsible for the recruitment and enrollment of eligible families. Responsible for identifying the needs of children and families in Head Start/Early Head Start and for providing comprehensive case management services in an effort to empower them to achieve and maintain self-sufficiency. The Family Advocateprovides case management support services to assigned families to improve living conditions and quality of life for children and families; refer families to community agencies to meet educational, health care and other specialized needs; promote and encourage parent involvement, activities and training in the Head Start program; perform related duties as assigned.

Duties And Responsibilities:

• Recruits eligible children for the Head Start/Early Head Start/ CSPP program to meet enrollment requirements, including children with disabilities.
• Completes applications, parent interviews, and enrollment process.
• Schedules, facilitates and documents Family Partnership Agreements in accordance with procedures and ensures follow up is complete.
• Provides case management to support families in identifying needs and goals, develop family partnership agreements, make referrals as necessary, and provide follow up.
• Collaborates with health services staff to ensure compliance with all child health requirements.
• Connects families with community resources to meet basic needs in times of crisis.
• Documents all aspects of the case management process in ChildPlus
• May assist in scheduling initial home visit for teaching team as required by program and provides subsequent visits as deemed necessary.
• Prepares, maintains, and updates child/family files/records in accordance with policies and procedures.
• Supports families in coordinating, preparing and actively participating in parent meetings and annual parent activities.
• Prepares, coordinates, and facilitates presentations and training for parents and families as required by performance standards and as deemed necessary through the results of the Family Needs Assessment. Is an active participant in all parent events.
• Coordinates with center staff and parents in planning one or more family-focused, center-based events per year.
• Provide case management support services to assigned families to improve living conditions and quality of life for children and families; work with families to identify existing strengths and develop plans to move toward inter-dependence.
• Serve as a liaison among program staff and community agencies in order to provide children and families quality integrated comprehensive service.
• Design, monitor and evaluate family services component activities such as health screening and tracking, parent involvement and family partnership building; review administrative activities for the family services components for consistency and accuracy.
• Establish and maintain contact with agencies within the community that serve at-risk children and families; review and update community resources and referral lists.
• Provide information to families about community associations, health care resources, social service agencies and other resources that are able to assist them; collaborate with these entities to expand services for these families.
• Participate in community meetings and advisory meeting as needed, to increase community awareness of the needs of children and families.
• Perform a variety of outreach activities and recruit eligible children and families for the program; prepare and deliver informational presentations, meet with community agencies and staff to promote involvement in the program.
• Initiate and facilitate the enrollment process; accept referrals from agency staff; complete eligibility applications with parents; assure accuracy and completeness of enrollment forms.
• Support and encourage parent participation and involvement in the program and related activities to increase parent awareness of community services and involvement in the program.
• Communicate with families, teachers, staff, community, social service and health care agencies and others to assess the needs of families and develop plans and strategies to obtain needed services; make referrals to appropriate resources and agencies; arrange for transportation for parents and children as needed.
• Conduct home visits with families; interview and assess the needs of families; assist families with identifying long and short term goals to strengthen the socioeconomic, emotional, health and educational well-being of the family; follow up on status of meeting goals.
• Monitor daily attendance of children; meet with families to assist in identifying and resolving frequent absenteeism issues.
• Provide crisis intervention referrals and continuous support to families; observe children for signs of abuse/neglect; refer possible child abuse cases to appropriate agency.
• Provide a variety of health and nutrition services for children in accordance with established policies and procedures; participate in the implementation of health plans for identified children.
• Review child immunization records and verify required immunizations are current; explain immunization laws to families; notify parents of needed immunizations; assure emergency cards are completed and updated monthly.
• Participate in the facilitation and preparation of health screenings; schedule and conduct vision, hearing, weight and height screenings; facilitate dental screenings; obtain parental consent forms prior to scheduled dental screening appointments; provide appropriate and timely referrals to health care providers; follow-up on health care provider referrals.
• Complete data entry (Child Plus) and ensures data entry for all enrolled families.
• Provide pertinent child and family information to be documented in Individual Education Plan (IEP) for identified special education children.
• Prepare and maintain a variety of records (Child Plus), files and reports related to assigned activities and families; assure compliance with applicable laws, codes, rules and regulations; maintain confidentiality of sensitive and privileged information.
• Support family transition activities into and out of Head Start and provide assistance as requested.
• Operate a variety of office equipment; use own vehicle to drive to various sites to conduct work.
• May serve as a translator for teachers and interpret for parents and staff as assigned by the position.
• Attend a variety of meetings, in-service trainings and conferences; maintain current knowledge of program laws, codes, rules and regulations.
• Assist families in the development of Family Partnership Agreement Goals and other necessary follow up.
• Assess family goals and provide recommendation and referral for relevant community resources.
• Maintain monthly contacts i.e. - phone calls, group activity, home visits, and classroom visits to promote partnership and provide for regular communication.
• Provide crisis intervention, as needed.
• Prepare and distribute follow up containing pertinent information requested by the family in a timely manner.
• Enroll families into the program and work with parents to establish and maintain regular attendance for their child.
• Conduct recruitment efforts/activities for assigned sites.
• Plan and facilitate parent orientations to the program.
• Assist and participate in monthly parent meetings assisting parents to take the leadership role.
• Actively encourage parents to participate in the program i.e. parent meetings, field trips, policy council and classroom help
• Advocate and collaborate with community agencies to support child, family and agency outcomes.
• Maintain on-going contact with teaching staff in order to share relevant home information and gain information regarding child performance in the classroom.
• Provide information relative to Head Start health and nutrition requirements: support families in completing vaccinations, physical, dental and nutrition screenings.
• Attend team meetings, trainings,
• Report, document and monitor child abuse.
• Document and track follow-up needs, Family Partnership Agreement Goals, health, dental, nutrition, hearing and vision concerns. Monitor progress on Family Partnership Agreement goals.
• Responsible for case management; conduct regular, case reviews of all files and cases assigned.
• Visit classrooms assigned (weekly) and check monthly attendance document for absenteeism;
• Analyzes the causes of absenteeism, and when average daily attendance falls below 85% percent, an action / improvement plan in concert with center services staff/ parents.
• Implements a monitoring methodology that will ensure that the assigned sites will meet their overall eligibility, recruitment, selection, enrollment and attendance services goals and requirements.
• Attend department, agency, and community meetings and trainings, as assigned.
• Communicates with children, families and other staff in respectful and culturally sensitive manner
• Report to work at scheduled times and maintain good attendance.
• Participate with a positive attitude and behavior in all program activities.
• Model the Standard of Conduct Policy when interacting with parents, community members and Colleagues
• In accordance with our "team" philosophy, the person filling this position may occasionally be required to carry out or assist with other tasks in addition to the duties listed on this job description
• Staff must believe in and act in accordance with both the Agency's and the program's mission/vision statements, adopted theoretical frameworks, and philosophy.
• Identify and report any suspected incidents of child abuse (following the Mandated Reporter Guidelines)
• Communicates with children, families and other staff in respectful and culturally sensitive manner
• Maintains confidentiality of children, families and employees of HSA
• Works as member of agency team by promoting the mission and philosophy of HSA
• Represents HSA at community and professional functions, as needed.
• Attend department, agency, and community meetings and trainings, as assigned. Continue professional growth by participating in classes, training programs, workshops and/or conferences, as the budget allows.
• Willing to work evenings, weekends and to travel locally and out of the service area for trainings.
• Performs other duties as assigned by supervisor and/or Department Director

Knowledge, Skills And Abilities:

• Multi-tasking
• Diverse Families
• Basic principles of child development and early childhood education.
• Basic social work and case management principles.
• Operation of office equipment.
• Record-keeping and basic report preparation techniques.
• Oral and written communication skills
• Interpersonal skills using tact, patience and courtesy
• Learn, interpret, apply and explain applicable laws, codes, rules and regulations.
• Learn to utilize a variety of general health instruments.
• Work independently with little direction.
• Determine appropriate action within clearly defined guidelines.
• Communicate effectively both orally and in writing.
• Plan and organize work and meet schedules and timelines.
• Handle difficult situations and provide crisis intervention referrals to assigned families.
• Bilingual (English/Spanish)

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE:

• Bachelor's Degree in Human Services, Psychology, Sociology or related field that includes coursework in the principles of social work, child development, counseling, and or psychology, and (preferred) 6 units in Child Development OR Family Development Credential Certificate
• Must have at least 6-months of experience in family social services setting, including knowledge and experience relating to community resources for referrals to families in need of services.
• Knowledge and experience working with Head Start Performance Standards, Title V, Title 22, CACFP Regulations and other State and Federal Regulations

Licensing/Certification Requirements:

• Occasional driving is required.
• Must provide own vehicle, valid California driver license and proof of full insurance coverage.
• First Aid certification, Child CPR certification (preferred)
• Health screening:o Physicalo Negative tuberculosis screen (TB)(required)
• TDAP or DTAP clearance (required)
• MMR Clearance (required)
• Must pass criminal background check including LiveScan (fingerprinting)

Work Environment/Physical Demands:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job or that an employee encounters while performing the essential function of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

The Family Advocate work location can be in any one of the following cities: Bell Gardens, Huntington Park or South Gate, CA. As needed, the Family Advocate will drive to different site locations and training sites (this includes HSA’s main office, Clarendon office, or location to be announced). The majority of the job duties are performed in the office (Clarendon office). These tasks require the following physical demands which include but are not limited to: constant walking, bending; occasional lifting (25 pounds), pushing, squatting and climbing stairs (as needed) in the office or at one of the preschool sites. The employee will complete required documentation (as indicated in the job description) in the office, a location with moderate noise levels, peanut free, and that is a non-smoking facility.

Human Services Association is an Equal Opportunity Employer and is committed to complying with all applicable laws providing equal employment opportunities

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $24.00 - $28.00 per hour

Expected hours: No less than 40 per week

Benefits:

• 401(k)
• 401(k) matching
• Dental insurance
• Employee assistance program
• Health insurance
• Life insurance
• Mileage reimbursement
• Paid time off
• Parental leave
• Retirement plan
• Vision insurance

Schedule:

• 8 hour shift
• Monday to Friday

Application Question(s):

• Are you willing to get a Live Scan (background clearance)?

Education:

• Bachelor's (Required)

License/Certification:

• Driver's License (Preferred)
• First Aid Certification (Required)

Work Location: In person