Family Advocate Early Childhood Impact

POSITION SUMMARY:

These general functions will be carried out in keeping with the Goals, Mission and Policies of the YMCA of the East Bay. The Family Advocate II facilitates and takes leadership on goal-setting and coaching with families/parents and serves as a liaison between family/client and community services to ensure the best possible educational outcomes.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

1. Develop positive, respectful and trusting relationships with and serve as a liaison between Community School partners and services and families.

2. Conduct outreach, recruitment, and enrollment, meeting Head Start Performance Standards and Funding Terms and Conditions.

3. Provide orientation on philosophy of program and services provided.

4. Implement strategies including home visits to learn about families and the changing community.

5. Develop strengths-based assessments with families that describe their goals, strengths, resources and support networks, as well as necessary services and supports that include health concerns.

6. Develop an individualized family plan in partnership with the family that includes health, follow up regularly with the family and collaborate on resolving obstacles.

7. Facilitate families’ problem-solving and support enhancing problem-solving skills.

8. Coach, consult, educate, and utilize counseling skills, where appropriate.

9. Advocate for families and support them in advocating for themselves.

10. Support the health and wellness of children and families in the program.

11. Ensure all health requirements are met upon entrance into the program and track all health, dental and nutrition-related data, and ensure routine follow-up.

12. Assist with all health screenings required for completion within 45 calendar days of child’s enrollment in the program.

13. Identify common interests and needs of parents in order to plan appropriate activities, training and groups.

14. Engage parents in volunteering, community service and other ways of contributing to program activities and services.

15. Work with other program staff to support interactive literacy activities and other learning approaches between parents and their children.

16. Serve as a productive team member on an interdisciplinary team of professionals, participate and facilitate case conferences to promote holistic service delivery.

17. Promote and support parent involvement and leadership throughout the program.

18. Research and keep up-to-date on program and community resources, analyze community resources to family needs and refer families to community resources as appropriate.

19. Listen and support families in making decisions and taking active steps to resolve current crises and be prepared to address future crises.

20. Learn about and be sensitive to each family’s values, beliefs, traditions, cultural influences, makeup, and circumstances using a culturally competent and flexible approach.

21. Perform record-keeping and internal and external reporting tasks in a timely and objective fashion.

22. Contribute to and participate in strategic planning, program self-assessment and other efforts to improve program services and agency responsiveness to families.

23. Make decisions and act based on family support principles, theories, practices, and code of ethics while maintaining professional boundaries and confidentially.

24. Complete other duties as assigned.

MEASURE OF EFFECTIVENESS

This position has a primary impact on the YMCA's ability to support the Head Start/EHS program. Therefore, the effectiveness of the fulfillment of this position should be measured by:

1. Communications will be based on mutual trust, culturally appropriate, accurate and timely;

2. Positive relationships will be developed with families and outside community partners;

3. Program reports and documentation are completed and submitted on-time;

4. The targeted number of youth and families are served.

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. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

· Sufficient strength, agility and mobility to perform essential functions of position and to supervise program activities

· Visual ability to clearly monitor activities

· Mobility to quickly respond to emergencies

QUALIFICATIONS:

• BA or BS in family development, psychology, sociology or related field
• One year of related experience in a non-profit and/or human services setting
• A high degree of cultural awareness and competency in cross-cultural practices with children and families
• Experience working with low-income communities
• Strong written and verbal communication skills
• Ability to negotiate and mediate to attain win-win situations
• T.B. and other required health clearances at the time of employment
• Fingerprint clearance by the DOJ and CCL agencies
• Valid California Drivers’ License and use of a personal automobile including evidence of auto liability insurance coverage
• Bilingual in English and Spanish preferred
• Proficiency in Microsoft Word, Outlook and other computer programs