Family Advocate - Hooper Bay Head Start

Vacancy Name
FAMILY ADVOCATE - Hooper Bay Head Start
Vacancy No
VN552
Employment Type
Full Time Non-Exempt
Location
Hooper Bay HS
Salary Range
20.22
Salary Period
Hourly
Benefits
Full time-eligible to participate in the benefit programs on the first day of the month after your 60th day of employment.
Job Details
JOB SUMMARY: This position is 35 hours per week, 38 weeks per year with a summer layoff. Promotes a healthy relationship between Head Start families and their community by implementing a strengths-based approach to family services. Encourages family involvement in the Head Start program and act as a liaison between the classroom and the home. Fosters the belief that parents are the child's first and most important teacher.
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS, DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Ensures compliance with all applicable federal and state regulations, Head Start Performance Standards, agency and Child Development Division Head Start/Early Head Start Policies and Procedures, Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP), and the Head Start Work Plan.
• Establishes partnerships with parents that are respectful, culturally sensitive, and nonjudgmental.
• Involves parents in identifying and addressing their family's goals, strengths, and needs.
• Assists and supports parents to schedule, attend and participate in monthly Parent Committee meetings and Parent Experiences.
• Provides a minimum of two home visits, with monthly contacts, to each family throughout the school year and provide additional home visits as appropriate.
• Communicates observations, concerns and important information about children and families during Monthly Staffing with Teachers and Teacher Aides.
• Participates in Family Checks twice a year with Teachers, Teacher Aides and Family/Health Coordinators.
• Works to ensure mandatory health screenings and immunizations are completed, documented, tracked and submitted to Central Office.
• Provides support to families when health referrals are made, providing continual follow-up and documentation until services have been received.
• Develops new and strengthens existing partnerships with local, regional and state providers.
• Develops and maintains on-site community resource files.
• Documents all services provided for families.

OTHER RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Participates in Family Partnership meetings when appropriate.
• Participates in weekly staff meetings, regular supervisory meetings and all required training.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

COMPETENCIES, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES:

• Ability to read, comprehend, and follow established policies and procedures.
• Ability to manage work time well, prioritize and meet deadlines.
• Ability to establish good rapport with people of diverse cultures and belief systems.
• Ability to respond quickly to children's needs and emergency situations.
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively in a team environment.
• Must demonstrate sound judgment, professional boundaries, ethics, and ability to maintain confidentiality.

WORK ENVIRONMENT/JOB CONDITIONS:

• General office working environment and families' homes.
• Capable of reading, understanding, and following written procedures and policies related to job responsibilities.
• Develops and maintains constructive and cooperative working relationships with others.
• Uses computers and computer programs effectively to enter data, create spreadsheets and process information, and to develop documents, and program and training materials.
• Develops specific goals and plans to prioritize, organize, and accomplish work.
• Must be willing and able to flex schedule for evening and weekend work to accommodate parent schedules for home visits, Parent Committee meetings and Parent Experiences.
• Communicates with others outside the organization, representing the organization to customers, the public, and other external sources in person, in writing, or by telephone or e-mail in keeping with current policies & procedures.
• Must have the ability to operate the following equipment: desktop computer, telephone, copier, PC printer, and fax machine.
• Agency is a mandated tobacco, drug and alcohol free workplace.

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.

• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly to grasp, type, see, talk, hear, and lift and carry 40 pounds of weight by utilizing proper lifting techniques and working in a safe manner. This position will also be performing physical activities such as climbing, lifting, balancing, walking, stooping, bending, and handling materials.
• Occasionally performs sedentary activities that require sitting for long periods and repetitive use of hands, wrists and arms for handling, positioning, moving materials, and manipulating things.
• Must be in good general health and free from serious physical, mental health and/or substance abuse problems

POSITION TYPE/EXPECTED HOURS OF WORK:
This is a full-time position. Days and hours of work are Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. or hours vary with location. Occasional evening and weekend work may be required as job duties demand.
TRAVEL:
Travel is primarily local during the business day.
EMPLOYMENT REQUIREMENTS AND REQUIRED EDUCATION:

• Must be at least 18 years of age.
• Must pass state and federal background checks, including fingerprints.
• High School diploma or GED and experience raising/working with young children and/or parents.
• Must have, or have the ability and willingness to earn, at a minimum, a credential or certification in social work, human services, family services, counseling or a related field within 18 months of hire.
• Responsible work ethic with reliable attendance.
• Must pursue an ongoing professional development plan including formal training certification or college degree as recommended by the program.
• Must attend 15 hours of professional development training annually.
• Proven ability and willingness to be self-directed in problem solving and decision-making and perform basic assignment with little or no direct supervision while also working effectively as a team member.
• Demonstrated intermediate level of computer skills necessary in order to use and create documents and reports, spreadsheets, workshop materials and slide presentations, and to enter data into intricate database programs and proficient use of Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Publisher, and Outlook.
• Must keep all matters concerning participants in strictest confidence as required by HIPAA privacy and the 42 CFR, Part II confidentiality regulations.
• Must provide a TB screening and basic physical exam within thirty (30) days of hire with follow-up every three (3) years at employee's expense.
• Must complete and maintain CPR and First Aid Training certification and Alaska Food Worker's Card within thirty (30) days of hire with follow-up every three (3) years at employer's expense.
• Must be able to demonstrate effective oral and written communication skills including expertise in cross-cultural communication.
• Must be able to provide own transportation to meet work schedule requirements.

PREFERRED EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE:

• AA or BA degree in social work, human services, family services, counseling or a related field.
• Two to three years of experience working in Social Services, Family Services, or Mental Health fields
• Demonstrated skills in crisis intervention, counseling and providing self-help skills training to adults.
• Familiarity/experience with Head Start philosophy.

BENEFITS:
As a full-time, regular employee, you will be eligible to participate in our competitive benefits programs on the first day of the month after your 60th day of employment, including but not limited to:

1. Medical, Dental & Vision
2. Life & Supplemental Insurance
3. 401K/Pension Plan
4. Flexible Spending Account/Health & Dependent Care
5. Health Savings Account
6. Employee Assistance Program
7. 20 days (160 hours) of accrued Paid Time Off
8. 12 Established paid holidays
9. Monthly Wellness Reimbursement