Family Advocate(CC)

Job Description

Job Description

Description:

The role of the Family Advocate provides quality, comprehensive child/family support services to preschoolers and their families; providing support, training, and case management to assist parents in meeting the needs of their children and enhancing parents’ role as the primary influence on their child’s education and development and supporting parents in increasing their economic stability; determining eligibility for the program, enrolling families in the program, enlisting parental involvement in child educational programs; working with parents in identifying and achieving goals; accessing support services; creating training programs; and facilitating positive parent, school and student relationships. Family Advocates play a key role in engaging parents in leadership roles and empowering parents as advocates for their families.

• Administers and abides by Head Start program standards for the purpose of ensuring program eligibility and compliance with mandated regulations in the areas of ERSEA, Health, Family, and Community Engagement.
• Recruits select and enroll eligible children and families for the purpose of providing comprehensive services, child/family support services, and encouraging family involvement, maintaining full enrollment, and serving families most in need of services according to federal guidelines, and tracks and maintain a cumulative waiting list.
• Assesses family and infant/child needs and assist parents in a variety of areas (e.g. filling out forms/surveys, health, nutrition, living skills, budgeting, job skills, goal setting, etc.) for the purpose of developing an action plan to remove barriers to a child’s success in school and supporting the family in basic life skills and economic stability.
• Refer families to resources according to needs. Document referrals and progress toward goals, and follow up with families regarding referrals on a regular basis.
• Help parents access consistent health care in a “medical home” for their children, and monitor health records in collaboration with the Health and Safety Advocate.
• Responds to telephone calls, emails, and conduct home visits regarding a wide variety of child and family issues.
• Monitors Average daily attendance; develops, monitors, and follows up with any attendance action plans.
• In collaboration with other staff and parents, ensures establishments and involvement of parent committees and/or policy council.
• Develop, plan, coordinate, and facilitate family meetings and parent involvement events for the purpose of providing for family support needs and complying with program regulations. and implement educational/recreational activities for families.
• Develops individualized health, nutrition, and family support plans for all enrolled children for the purpose of furthering family goals, plans, and success strategies.
• Maintain community resource guides to assist parents in identifying and accessing local community resources to provide families with information about community organizations and events and encourages their participation and further involvement in community groups and activities to promote building parents as advocates and leaders.
• Maintain accurate, and up to date children’s information in both files and database systems by monitoring all component data on a regular basis and follow up with families missing documentation on a regular and escalating basis. Use phone calls, home visits, and any other necessary means to contact families and obtain missing items; document all efforts and for the purpose of providing the required information and/or documentation and submit all agency reports in a timely manner.
• Accurately completes data entry on time to meet progress monitoring requirements and maintain updated and consistent data in COPA/Childplus, Childware, Pelican and all other databases used for regular reporting.
• Facilitates and Delivers the Parent Curriculum with Fidelity.
• Be the Team Leader for the Family Advocates
• Other duties assigned by the Center Director

Professionalism:

• Participate in ongoing reflective coaching and self-assessment.
• Participate in the mandate and ongoing professional development identified by assessment, interest, and needs. Develops own professional development plan on PA Keys.
• Report to work at a scheduled time and maintain good attendance. Perform all duties in a safe, timely, and professional manner. Participate with a positive attitude and behavior in all program activities.
• Attend all staff meetings, training, workshops and conferences in accordance with Head Start Performance Standards, NAEYC, Keystone Stars, and childcare licensing requirements.

Team Work:

• Collaborate with other staff in the center.

Integrity:

• Responsible for reporting potential child abuse, neglect, and maltreatment according to the Head Start/Early Start Policies and Procedures
• Maintain confidentiality of all information regarding children, families, and staff.

Qualifications and Experience Requirements:

• Minimum of a Family Service Credential. (Associates in Social Work, Human Services, counseling, or other closely related fields preferred).
• Minimum of two years experience in a comprehensive Head Start program.
• Ability to adapt the curriculum to meet the needs of all families.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to converse, read and write Spanish and English (preferred).
• Commitment to dual language learning (English and Spanish).
• Awareness of Puerto Rican culture/community (preferred).
• Ability to analyze and use data to inform decision-making.
• Intermediate to advanced computer skills, internet, and e-mail.
• Ability to secure clearance for PA Child Abuse, PA Criminal History, FBI, and National Sex Offenders Clearance (required).
• Possess or ability to secure PA Drivers License and insurance (preferred).
• Ability to secure health clearances every two years and TB once (required).
• Hold certification for Infant/Child CPR and First Aid, or ability to complete the required training within one month of hire.