Family Advocate

Nature of Work
To promote the Head Start programs of family wellness and parent engagement and to support the implementation of the family engagement process. Operate as a liaison between classroom and home settings in the area of education, child development, health and mental health.

Minimum Education & Experience Requirements
High School Degree or GED with a minimum of 2 years professional level experience in family social services setting preferred, including knowledge and experience relating to community resources for referrals to families in need of services.
Essential Functions
• Be familiar with and adhere to the Head Start Program Performance Standards, State of Louisiana licensing requirements, the RCCDC written work plan, and agency's policies and procedures
• Maintain an open, friendly, professional relationship with all staff and families, to include respect for culture, diversity and ethnicity.
• Participate in annual program self-assessment and continuous quality improvement initiatives of the overall program.
Position Specific Essential Functions:
Family Engagement
1. Welcome families into the program and share information about transitioning into Head Start or other educational settings if not eligible.
2. Assist families in the development of Family Partnership Goals by identifying family's strengths and needs. And completing other necessary follow up on if goals, while providing recommendation, support, and/or referral for relevant community resources
3. Maintain regular contacts based on family needs i.e. – phone calls, group activity, home visits, and classroom visits to promote partnership and provide for regular communication.
4. Provide crisis intervention as needed as related to basic life needs (i.e. Housing, utilities, etc.) and document in database.
5. Prepare and distribute follow up containing pertinent information requested by the family in a timely manner.
6. Assist with transition of child and family into next educational setting
7. Promote family literacy
8. Work flexible hours to meet the needs of families
9. Work with parents to establish and maintain regular attendance for their child.
Parent and Community Engagement
1. Participate in recruitment efforts/activities for assigned sites
2. Assist the Center Director in planning and facilitating parent orientations to the program
3. Coordinate parent meetings assisting parents to take the leadership role
4. Actively encourage parents to participate in program i.e. Parent Committee meetings, field trips, policy council, and classroom help.
5. Provide content for parent memo and flyers as needed.
6. Advocate and collaborate with community agencies to support child, family, and agency outcomes.
Prevention and Early Intervention
1. Maintain regular contact with children in the classroom settings.
2. Maintain on-going contact with teaching staff in order to share relevant home information and gain information regarding child performance in the classroom.
3. Provide information relative to Head Start health and nutrition requirements; support families in completing and follow-ups on immunizations, physical, dental and nutrition screenings.
4. Assure completion of health screenings for assigned sites to include: measurements, vision, hearing, and blood pressure screenings.
Utilize Information Systems to support family/agency outcomes
1. Ability to accurately complete on-going applications and enrollment into the PROMIS data base.
2. Document and track follow-up needs, Family Partnership Goals, health, dental, nutrition, hearing, and vision concerns in both PROMIS data base, and hard copy kept in child's master file/or case notes.
3. Document all parent contacts and home visits in PROMIS
4. Document support consultation to teachers regarding particular concerns with families.
5. Report and document suspected child abuse/neglect
Additional Job Responsibilities
1. Assist with breaks, bus monitoring and other classroom needs as requested
2. Attend team meetings, trainings.
3. Assist with generating In-Kind
4. Other duties as requested.
Required Knowledge, Skills and Abilities
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Intermediate computer skills, (i.e. keyboarding skills, computer literacy and familiarity with various applications such as a database, word processing, etc.), internet and e-mail.
• The skill and willingness to deal with sensitive family situations in a non-threatening and professional manner
• Ability to collaborate with and have working knowledge of local community resources related to Family Services.
• Knowledge of early childhood education and intervention preferred
• Must have flexible schedule to accommodate family needs, may include some evenings.
• Ability to prioritize and manage work load and deadlines.
• Ability to work independently and maintain professional boundaries and confidentiality.
• Ability to exercise tact and discretion in all staff, child and family interactions.
• Frequent significant decisions and problem solving abilities.
• Ability to work as a team member collaborating with staff, parents and community resources.
SPECIAL CONSIDERATIONS
Employees within this classification are required to:
• Pass a criminal background check.
• Pass a physical examination and Complete Tuberculosis (TB) test every three years with negative results.
• Maintain a current First Aid and CPR certification ( training provided )
• Valid driver's license with a driving record in compliance with RCCDC's insurance carrier requirements.
• Regular kneeling, bending, and sitting on the floor to attend to child's needs.
• Occasional bending, stooping and lifting up to 50 lbs.
• Frequent Driving to provide program support
Position Reports to: Center Director
FLSA Status: Hourly/Non-Exempt