Head Start Family Advocate

Family Advocate

Family Advocate $18.00-$21.00/hr. Friends of Children and Families is a non-profit organization serving Ada and Elmore Counties specializing in services to pre-school children and their families. As a mission-based organization our employees positively impact children and families in our community by empowering them through early childhood education and family engagement. Benefits provided –

• Low cost medical and vision insurance
• Free dental, short term disability, employee assistant program, and life insurance
• Matching 4% for a 401K after one year of employment
• Paid sick, personal, and bereavement leave
• Generous paid time off
• As a 501(c)(3) Non-Profit, Friends of Children and Families is a qualifying employer for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PLSF) program.

Job Summary

Provides support and advocacy for Friends of Children and Families (FOCAF) and Head Start families by offering referrals, program information and community resource options as well as assisting families in following good health and nutrition practices.

Essential Functions (Not All Inclusive)

• Assists in the recruitment and enrollment of eligible families.
• Supports families through phone calls, home visits, community referrals and education, goal planning and setting, and through follow-up with health and nutrition practices.
• Conducts home visits with all assigned FOCAF families at least three times per year.
• Participates in developing health plans for children with identified needs before the child starts school.
• Completes and maintains records of health screenings in classroom setting and assures appropriate health authorization forms are completed prior to child's attendance at school.
• Collaborates with parents, families and co-workers to further program goals, responds to questions, problem solves, and establishes effective working relationships.
• Produces written reports of all family contacts, letters of referral, fliers, family changes, etc. in accordance with ChildPlus.
• Collaborates with classroom teaching teams to help provide quality services to children and families by interacting with children, families and volunteers in the classroom.

Qualifications

• Associate's or Bachelor's Degree in Social Work, Human Services, Family Services, or a related field awarded from an accredited university or college; or
• At a minimum, a credential or certification in Social Work, Human Services, Family Services, Counseling, or a related field within eighteen months of hire; and
• Two years' experience working in a community service organization that provides good background in working with diverse cultures and home environments.
• Complete and maintain certificates for Infant/Child CPR and First Aid
• Must have a valid driver's license and current automobile insurance if there is a need to travel locally during the course of the job duties.
• Must pass a Health Physical Screen and TB test; must be able to lift 45 pounds in emergency situations.
• Must pass a criminal background check that meets required state, federal, and FOCAF Head Start standards
• Must pass drug test and submit to random drug and/or alcohol testing.
• Ability to complete training and maintain Boise City Child Care Worker License.
• Ability to complete training and maintain certification in First Aid and CPR.

Equal Opportunity Employer/Affirmative Action Employer