Family Advocate

Empower Families. Build Connections. Transform Communities.

QUICK FACTS

Location: Early Head Start East - 2820 Walton Commons, Madison, WI
Pay: $21.96/hour
Schedule: Full-time (40 hours/week), Full Year

WHAT WE OFFER

Comprehensive Benefits

• Health, Dental, and Vision Insurance
• Generous Paid Time Off & Holidays
• 403(b) Retirement with Employer Match (after 2 years)
• Company-Paid Life Insurance and Long-Term Disability
• Flexible Spending Accounts
• Public Service Loan Forgiveness Eligible Employer

Work-Life Excellence & Professional Growth

• Collaborative team environment with nurses, mental health consultants, and managers
• Comprehensive mental health support for staff and families
• Supportive, inclusive work culture focused on relationship-based practices
• Comprehensive professional development: ongoing coaching, paid continuing education, and credential support
• Career advancement pathways with organizational training support

QUALIFICATIONS YOU'LL NEED

• Education: Bachelor's degree in Child Development, Early Childhood, Social Work, Counseling, or Nursing (Master's preferred)
• Experience: Minimum 3 years working with low-income, multicultural families
• Skills: Demonstrated experience in family support, mental health support, case management, and advocacy
• Additional Requirements:
  • Valid Wisconsin Driver's License with adequate insurance
  • Bilingual Spanish preferred
  • Knowledge of community development and family self-sufficiency approaches

WHAT YOU'LL DO

As a Family Advocate, you'll serve as a trusted support and resource person for Early Head Start families by:

• Offering 90-minute weekly home visits with families using the Parents as Teachers curriculum that focuses on child development, parenting, and family well-being
• Developing trusting relationships with parents using Head Start Relationship-Based Competencies
• Organizing parent socialization events and groups to enhance parent-child bonds
• Offer home visits to pregnant participants including prenatal/postpartum education and breastfeeding support.
• Providing comprehensive case management and social service coordination
• Ensuring children's special education, health, mental health, and nutritional needs are met
• Serving as liaison to community agencies and resources
• Supporting family self-sufficiency and social competency development
• Fostering parent involvement and family growth opportunities
• Collaborating with Home Based Managers, Nurses, and Mental Health Consultants

WHO WE ARE

At Reach Dane, we're reimagining early childhood education as a powerful tool for social transformation. Our commitment to equity and inclusion includes:

• Actively dismantling systemic barriers in early childhood education
• Intentionally building a workplace reflecting our community's rich diversity
• Implementing trauma-informed and anti-racist approaches to family support
• Using Infant Mental Health principles to guide our practice

JOIN OUR MISSION

Make a meaningful difference in families' lives while growing your career in a supportive, values-driven environment that prioritizes relationship-based care.

Reach Dane is an equal opportunity employer committed to building an inclusive workplace. We provide reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities throughout the application and employment process. Please contact us to request accommodation.