FY27 Family Services Advocate

Job Goal:


To help meet the Head Start Performance Standards by focusing on the Family Service needs of the Preschool program.

Essential Responsibilities:

• Understand, with sensitivity, the issues of low-income families and children, community members and fellow staff with positive regard as defined in the program's mission statement.
• Follow and implement all Head Start/Early Head Start/Voluntary Preschool standards, scopes of services, state licensing to ensure compliance.
• Identify and recruit prospective families and volunteers for Head Start program
• Provide open line of communication between parents and school
• Maintain confidentiality and professionalism when dealing with Head Start families, staff, and the general public
• Establish and maintain accurate health and social service records (both in files and online) for Head Start children/families enrolled in the program
• Orient families to the program and encourage active participation in the Head Start Program
• Implement intake and family assessment procedures to identify family strengths and needs related to the family engagement outcomes as described in the Head Start Parent Family and Community Engagement Framework, including family well-being, parent-child relationships, families as lifelong educators, families as learners, family engagement in transitions, family connections to peers and the local community, and families as advocates and leaders.
• Assist Head Start families in identifying interests, concerns & strengths
• Develop and assess family goals throughout the year using needs assessment data
• Build a trusting, collaborative partnership with each family, respecting diverse values and cultures, identifying risk and protective factors, and recognize and promote families' readiness or willingness to participate in the Head Start Program
• Collaborate with parents of enrolledchildren to implement strategies and activities that will help parents advocate for and promote successful transitions to kindergarten for their children, including their continued involvement in the education and development of their child.
• Maintain a directory of community resources and link families to those resources and providers and follow up on results of provided resources.
• Gather and analyze data from family surveys and other resources.
• Assist with parent training activities with teachers and other staff.
• Assist with community assessment and self-assessment.
• Make home visits and provided transportation as needed or required by agency plans and procedures.
• Assist with basic operations of school including but not limited to answering phones, assisting families, assisting with arrival and dismissal of students.
• Attend appropriate pre-service and in-service training as well as team and staff meetings.
• Conduct job with professionalism and in compliance with Oak Ridge City Schools Staff Handbook and policies and procedures
• Perform other reasonable job-related duties required by principal or school district

Qualifications (minimum education, licensure, and/or experience):

(Hire date after November 7, 2016) At a minimum, have or be able to obtain within 18 months of hire, a credential or certification in social work, human services, family services, counseling or a related field. Experience with working with families and children.

Physical Requirements:


Lift up to 20 pounds