Family Advocate

Family Advocate Reports to: Assistant Director of Family Services and Community Partnerships Division/Department: University Relations/School for Early Childhood Education Job Location: Los Angeles Direct Reports: None Job Overview This position provides advocacy for families in the community, co‑leads with parent representatives, coordinates and staffs the Center Parent Committees Meetings, and takes responsibility for child services, health services, tracking comprehensive services, forming relationships with community agencies, creating partnerships, linking families to community resources, and ensuring compliance with agency policies, goals, and objectives. Recruits, certifies and enrolls children into the Head Start and/or the California State Preschool Programs and assesses each family's strengths, concerns, and priorities to provide services that improve their prospects of supporting their child through school using a case management methodology. Manages a small caseload of families (up to 45) and engages families in activities that support their and their child's school readiness development. Assists children and families in accessing a broad array of health services, including screenings and referrals, maintenance of immunization schedules, nutrition assessments and follow‑ups, mental health, and disability assessments as part of initial screenings, and determines if any mental or physical delays are present. Conducts the Family's Needs Assessment and Family Partnership Agreements with each currently enrolled family to identify problems and concerns and links families with the appropriate resources and referral systems and services. Ensures completion of all program requirements and is familiar with and follows the Head Start Performance Standards and California State Preschool Regulations, including licensing requirements related to enrollment, health, child rights, and program policies. Ensures children receive health and dental services and access ongoing, acute, routine health and dental care. Supports classroom care and supervision of children, as needed, when the class is temporarily understaffed; provides auxiliary services such as food preparation, set‑up, and clean‑up to allow teaching staff to supervise children adequately. Establishes and maintains outreach and recruitment to ensure the assigned Head Start and State Preschool sites are fully enrolled with eligible children, and monitors attendance to ensure children are actively involved in the program. Collaborates with teachers, site supervisors, family service coordinators, and other support staff to help families make choices and decisions that respond to each family's unique culture, roles, values, strengths, and beliefs. Minimum Qualifications Bachelor's degree or combined experience/education as substitute for minimum education. 1 year of experience performing administrative support services. Knowledge of Head Start Performance Standards. Minimum of 6 months of experience monitoring, entering, and tracking data. Minimum of 6 months of casework management. Experience networking with community partners. Bilingual: English/Spanish. CPR & First Aid Certificate (may be obtained after applying but before starting). Strong commitment to USC's Unifying Values of integrity, excellence, diversity, equity and inclusion, well‑being, open communication and accountability. Preferred Qualifications AA or BA degree in Human Development, Social Work, or a related field. 12 units of child development. Family Development Credential or obtaining within 18 months of employment. 2 years of experience performing administrative support services program support services in directly related field. Physical Requirements Must be able to climb stairs, reach, bend, lift 20‑30 pounds, crawl, kneel, stoop, twist, grasp with hands and fingers, use arms and legs, walk, and climb ladders if applicable. The usual and customary methods of performing the job's functions require the following physical demands: lifting, carrying, pushing, and/or pulling; significant stooping, kneeling, crouching, and/or crawling. Pre‑Employment Requirements Physical exam TB test Background/fingerprint clearance MMR and Tdap vaccinationsCPR Child Abuse Mandated Reporter Training Compensation and Work Schedule The hourly rate range for this position is $23.00 – $24.00 per hour. This position may require evenings and/or weekends. When extending an offer of employment, the University of Southern California considers factors such as the scope and responsibilities of the position, the candidate's work experience, education/training, key skills, internal peer equity, federal, state, and local laws, contractual stipulations, grant funding, as well as external market and organizational considerations. #J-18808-Ljbffr