Family Advocate

DEADLINE TO APPLY: July 22, 2026

POSITION SUMMARY:

This position supports the work of the Y, a leading nonprofit committed to strengthening community through youth development, healthy living and social responsibility. The Family Advocate is responsible for implementing the core family partnership, parent engagement, and community partnership functions for the center based Head Start program of the YMCA of Frederick County. The Family Advocate recruits, and enrolls children for the program and uses a family centered model to support and assist their assigned families and children to meet their school readiness goals, desired child outcomes, and the goals established in the Family Partnership Agreements. This position may assist with the completion of health requirements, screenings and assessments. This position is part of the broad system of community social services coordinated by Head Start which support the school readiness goals of the program.

The Family Advocate will ultimately be evaluated on a combination of skills, dispositions and behaviors, some of which are related to the specific service area of this position and others that represent general expectations of all program employees. They will use knowledge of the principles of family support and case management to collaborate with related service areas and communicate with internal and external stakeholders. They will provide opportunities for families to become involved in the program and to interact with one another at a variety of parent activities. Applying a family-centered philosophy in services delivered to children and families, they will assist families with building peer support networks in the community. The Family Advocates will have high expectations for families and works to motivate and inspire them to increase their participation and engagement with their children's education.

BENEFITS:

We offer an extensive benefits package for our full-time employees which includes:

• Free Household Membership
• Medical Dental & Vision
• Life insurance
• Short and Long Term Disability
• Retirement benefits will vest at 12% after 2 years of employment
• Discount on childcare and other Y programs
• Paid Time Off
• Bereavement leave

KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS:

• Knowledge of the principles and practices of social work and/or human behavior
• Knowledge of human development and health
• Knowledge of community, social, and health services available in the area
• Knowledge of computer data entry processes
• Knowledge of family-centered, strength based practices
• Knowledge of customs and languages of various cultures helpful
• Ability to communicate ideas and instructions orally and in writing.
• Ability to speak read and write English well enough to understand and be understood by others.
• Ability to write reports and business correspondence.
• Ability to read, analyze, and interpret general social services journals and technical procedures.
• Ability to speak before groups of individuals.
• Some Bilingual fluency helpful (English/Spanish).
• Ability to calculate amounts by adding, subtracting, multiplying, dividing, and figuring percentages.
• Ability to understand and implement the Head Start Performance Standards and requirements and policies of YMCA Head Start
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with staff, children, parents, outside agencies and the public
• Ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions
• Ability to interpret an extensive variety of instructions
• Ability to summarize conclusions and instructions, then make recommendations and develop implementation strategies.
• Ability to maintain strict confidentiality at all times, including the ability to recognize situations in which confidentiality is required.
• Ability to project professionalism in conducting daily activities.
• Basic computer skills.
• Ability to use computer for data entry and retrieval functions
• Knowledge of Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, etc.)

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

• Coordinates with center staff to integrate family partnership goals with classroom efforts and to ensure integrated child and family curriculum
• Participates in team management functions of planning, implementing and evaluating Family and Community Partnership goals and objectives
• Participates in in-service, workshops, conferences and college courses to enhance skills
• Recruits prospective families and assists with enrollment process
• Conducts home visits to facilitate family plans, assists families in achieving identified goals and follow-up on referrals
• Acts as a case manager and works cooperatively with local agencies to assist families in obtaining appropriate services in the local community
• Conducts and documents follow-up on referrals as assigned
• While respecting family confidentiality, regularly shares information with teachers to ensure coordinated services that meet the needs of individual children and families
• Coordinates with center staff to promote parent involvement in the program as a classroom visitor, volunteer, employee, and/or participant in other family events
• Develops a working knowledge of community resources
• Refers families for emergency or crisis assistance as appropriate
• Participates in child file audits and child profile development
• Coordinates or refers families to opportunities for continuing education, employment training and other employment services through formal or informal networking in the community
• Assists other program staff to offer (either directly or through referral to local entities) to parents of participating children the following:
  1. training in basic child development
  2. assistance in developing communication skills
  3. opportunities to share experiences with other parents
  4. regular in-home visitation
  5. Any other activity designed to help parents become full partners in the education of their children
• Completes with each participating family, a family partnership agreement and interest survey that includes consultation with such parents about the benefits of parent involvement and about the activities in which parents may choose to participate
• Participates in community outreach opportunities
• Attends parent/teacher conferences, as requested
• Work cooperatively with teaching staff to plan Family events, and other parent activities.
• Assists families in making the transition into and out of the Head Start Program
• Provides information to parents/family in the language and manner preferred by the family members
• Documents efforts to assist families in identifying their strengths, needs and goals
• Performs data entry functions as required in a timely manner
• Tracks family partnership efforts and outcomes in approved child tracking data base
• Records, monitors and provides follows up on referrals for support/social services as required
• Submits reports as needed and requested
• Maintains and provides data for the annual Program Information Report (PIR), utilizing the approved child tracking data base
• Understands, generates and documents in-kind and other allowable costs applied toward the non-federal share requirement
• Attends all workshops and meetings as deemed necessary by the immediate supervisor.
• Attends all required staff and parent meetings and activities.
• Responsible for understanding Head Start Performance Standards and local child care licensing regulations.
• Expected to be knowledgeable of the regulations associated with prevention of occupational disease and injury, including the exercise of universal precautions and the prevention of contamination.
• Positively promotes Head Start in the community.
• Maintains strict confidentiality with respect to Head Start children, families and staff in accordance with established policies and procedures.
• Becomes thoroughly familiar with YMCA Employee Handbook: Human Resources Policies and Procedures, YMCA Head Start Operations Manual and all other YMCA HS handbooks, manuals and resources and adheres to them.

QUALIFICATIONS/REQUIREMENTS:

• Minimum requirement is an Associate's degree in Social Work, Psychology, Human Services, or Early Childhood Education. Other related human services fields will be considered. A bachelor's degree is preferred.
  1. Family Advocate I requires an Associates Degree
  2. Family Advocate II requires a Bachelors Degree
• Experience working with children and families, including those living at or below the federal guidelines for poverty is preferred.
• Bilingual fluency is preferred (English/Spanish)
• Must meet YMCA Transportation Policy requirements and be deemed insurable.

YMCA CERTIFICATES/TRAININGS:

• Blood borne Pathogen Training
• Code of Conduct Training
• Active Supervision Training
• CPR, AED, and First Aid Certifications
• Acceptable screening results to include comprehensive background check and initial health exam
• Must have a valid driver's license and be insurable by the YMCA insurance carrier and have a Motor Vehicle Record acceptable to the YMCA