Lead Family and Community Advocate - Head Start Program

Job Description

Job Description

Description:

Status: Non-Exempt

Pay Rate: $27.88 - $28.46 /hour

Internal applicants: Submit resume and letter of interest

The Lead Family and Community Advocate (LFCA) will work to assist their supervisor in supporting the Family & Community Advocates (FCA) and family and community engagement functions. The position serves as lead contact for questions and requests reports/data from CiviCore. This position supports compliance with State of Colorado child care licensing, Colorado Child Care Assistance Program, and Head Start Program Performance Standards (HSPPS).

Family and Community Advocates (Lead included) provide family resource services for families enrolled in Head Start/Early Head Start. This position monitor compliance in accordance with HSPPS, and recruits and enrolls families. The LFCA facilitates ethnically & culturally responsive approaches to problem solving for children and families and participates in the development and delivery of parent education materials and classes.

Responsibilities for the Lead Family Advocate include:

• Support with compliance issues relating to ERSEA (Eligibility, Recruitment, Selection, Enrollment, and Attendance) and HSPPS requirements.
• Ensure full program enrollment guidelines for all program options though various types of recruitment activities including fairs and community outreach.
• Manage agency customized database; provide reports for grants and as requested; conduct quality assurance protocols.
• Complete the PFCE Family Needs/Goals Assessment twice a year
• Provide leadership, coordination, and organization tracking for all parent engagement activities.
• Complete child and family file audits as required; conduct file management for compliance.
• Prepare reports for supervisor regarding program demographics.
• Attend DGKHS meetings for family services.
• Collect, monitor and analyze information to problem solve new solutions for continual improvement of services.
• Serve as a resource to FCAs to analyze problems, obtain resources, and develop strategies to meet family needs including seeking and delivering needed resources.
• Maintain own caseload of families and support caseload management for absent FCAs.
• Provide training and support to other FCAs and family services interns
• In conjunction with the disabilities/mental health staff, provide ongoing consultation and support for and recruitment of families of children with disabilities.
• Support supervisor as needed on community coalitions and task forces representing all facets of MHEL programs and to ensure that the agency’s interests are represented in collaborations of social and human services organizations to develop effective and integrated delivery systems.
• Maintain professional and effective working relationships with co-workers, agency staff and community partners.
• Guide parents in accessing strengths, needs, and goals of families in the establishment of Family Partnership Agreements; follow-up completion of the Agreements.
• Engage effectively with parents, staff, and community members who are educationally, economically, culturally, and racially diverse and/or whose first language may not be English.
• Work with Enrollment Coordinator and Program Director to facilitate child transitions from classroom to classroom; work with parents and areas schools to facilitate transitions from Early Head Start to Head Start and preschool to kindergarten.
• Coordinate and plan parent meetings and parent involvement activities in conjunction with the Program Director.
• Provide case management to families including providing resource and referrals for families and following up on referrals; ensuring parents have access to resources that extend the child’s classroom learning into the home environment; and encouraging parents in activities that support self-sufficiency.
• Assist parents in learning the skills necessary to advocate for their children’s services.
• Research, plan, and coordinate family literacy activities including reviewing the literacy sheets for accuracy and send them to the on a monthly.
• Assist parents in whatever ways appropriate to meet CCCAP requirements to assure compliance.
• Accompany teachers on home visits as requested.
• Identify child abuse and report situations to appropriate center or Agency personnel according to Agency and state reporting requirements.
• Manage and maintain center waitlists for all children.
• Make attendance calls to homes of absent children and enter notes as appropriate; conduct home visit after three consecutive days of a child’s absence; follow up on attendance contracts and tardiness forms.
• Cooperate with the Program Director in coordinating the day-to-day operations of the center to ensure a safe and healthy environment for children and staff and smooth operational functioning of the center as needed.
• Assist with hiring and training of FCAs and provide input to performance evaluation.

Essential Job Functions: Operational

• Collect and compile report data, maintain recordkeeping, including written documentation, scheduled reports in a timely, accurate and confidential manner
• as required by HSPPS and Agency policy
• Collect and compile report data related to enrollment, recruitment, selection, eligibility and attendance as required by HSPPS and Agency policy.
• Respond to questions and concerns from parents, licensing representatives, and the community in a timely and professional manner.
• Maintain efficient and effective communication via email, phone, and in-person
• Ensure that all BLS forms are accurate and complete and submitted to the Billing Coordinator weekly on the day requested as needed.
• Work with the Program Directors to assure compliance and guide staff in complying with requirements of, child care licensing, HSPPS, Child Abuse reporting, and all agency program policies.
• In the absence of Program Director (and Assistant Director as applicable), maintain classroom staff/child ratios at all times, including but not limited to schedule breaks, lunches, and planning time as needed.
• Assure the daily accuracy of the ATS
• Maintain confidentiality related to all aspects of the parents / children enrolled as defined by the Agency, State of Colorado and Federal regulations.
• Participate in regularly scheduled meetings.
• Maintain professional and effective working relationships with co-workers and Agency staff.
• Effectively resolve conflict; remain calm in a very busy or emergency situation.
• Develop relationships with other community-based providers targeting the needs of our families served.
• Work collaboratively with community-based organizations serving our families
• Support with verbal and written translation
• Perform other duties as assigned.

#ID23

Required and preferred qualifications for the Lead Family Advocate:

• Bachelor’s degree in Social Work, Psychology or related field
• Must have a minimum of two years experience working in a HS/EHS program
• Proficient knowledge of child development and parent involvement activities
• Clear understanding of verbal, written and oral communication
• Compliance with other regulatory requirements as applicable
• Valid State of Colorado driver’s license with current State of Colorado automobile insurance with at least minimum liability requirements
• Pass CBI background check and post-employment medical examination
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office and CiviCore

Work Environment:

Mile High Early Learning is a leading provider of early care and education for children 6 weeks to five years focused on growing great young minds and preparing them for kindergarten and the world using a Montessori inspired curriculum approach.

Consider joining a learning organization that is as focused on growing great teachers and family-oriented professionals as we are on providing a high-quality educational experience for our students and comprehensive services to our families. Mile High Early Learning invests in our staff with ongoing professional development including college courses, certifications, conferences, and workshops. Our professional development programs include semi-annual Child Development Associate certification trainings, annual Inclusive Practice in Early Childhood training, and a Bachelors Residency program.

Mile High Early Learning is seeking candidates who are committed to educational equity and anti-racism, and willing to engage in the hard work it takes to bring positive, impactful change. As an inclusive, learning-centered organization, we embrace innovation, reflection, and assessment to continuously improve.

We are always looking to add thoughtful, energetic, honest, positive, and creative people to our team. Must be an outstanding communicator and rapport builder with parents.

Mile High Early Learning Offers:

• 4+ weeks of paid time off

• Employee discount for child care (65%)

• Health insurance (as low as $139/mth)

• Dental insurance (at no cost for employee only coverage)

• Short term, Long term, and Life Insurance (no cost)

• Retirement Plan with employer match

• Flexible spending for Health & Dependent Care expenses

Note: This job description is not intended to be an exhaustive list of all duties, responsibilities, or qualifications associated with the job.

Mile High Early Learning is a drug-free work place and we perform pre-employment drug screenings.