Family Advocate

Join The Ecs4Kids Team

Ecs4kids (formerly Episcopal Children's Services) is a top workplace that honors young children's immense potential by helping them enter school ready to learn. We cultivate lifelong learners by immersing children in enriching guided experiences and discovery-oriented approaches. Through programs like Voluntary Prekindergarten (VPK), Head Start, School Readiness, Child Care Resource & Referral (CCRR), and more, our dedicated professionals work with families and caregivers throughout Florida to promote children's well-being. These enable us to strengthen key areas including motor development, cognitive development, social and emotional development, language and communication skills, and problem-solving skills.

Partner with us to help empower communities to rise above generational poverty with comprehensive early childhood education and holistic family support. We have career opportunities available in several counties throughout Northeast and Central Florida.

Ecs4kids offers a competitive benefit package which includes:

• Medical, dental and vision insurance
• 403(b) plan with 5% employer match
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Long-term & short-term disability insurance
• Employer-paid life insurance
• Paid holidays
• Generous paid time off
• Career development
• Qualifying employer for Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program

General Description

Primary responsibilities: To enroll eligible children and families in the Head Start/Early Head Start program and maintain center enrollment. To build professional helping relationships with families in order to develop family support plans that help families towards increased self-reliance and healthy interdependence. To ensure that Families' strengths and needs are assessed and that appropriate referral and follow-up services are provided.

Major Responsibilities

1. Work with Childcare Resource & Referral to obtain referrals of prospective eligible children and families.
2. Recruit children/families, interview applicants, complete applications and enter applications into Childplus.
3. Maintain an accurate prioritized listing of eligible children waiting to enter the program.
4. Enroll and re-enroll eligible children who have the highest priority according to the selection criteria.
5. Maintain qualifying roster and child participation forms for USDA food program.
6. Maintain on-going maximum center enrollment.
7. Monitor children's attendance for excessive absences or irregular attendance.
8. Maintain current health records on all children enrolled.
9. Assist with screenings as needed.
10. Work with the Head Start support staff to ensure children receive the health, mental health, and/or special needs services they may be eligible for.
11. Gather and maintain accurate non-federal share records and other documentation of parent involvement activities.
12. Meet with families to gather information regarding family strengths and needs and develop a family support plan that includes goals, tasks, timelines and follow-up.
13. Provide referral to families to appropriate service providers that will help meet the families' interests and needs.
14. Provide timely follow up to referrals and family support plans.
15. Maintain accurate documentation of family files and family services provided.
16. Use the Office of Head Start Parent Family Community Engagement Framework and the Head Start Early Learning Outcomes Framework as a tool to provide families will support and services.
17. Plan and attend monthly parent meetings, workshops, trainings, and other parent engagement and literacy activities.
18. Develop and distribute center newsletters, calendars, and flyers.
19. Attend community inter-agency meetings to inform and update the community of services offered by Head Start and encourage collaboration.
20. Ensure policy council representation is met for each scheduled meeting.
21. Participate in school readiness transition committee.
22. Advocate on behalf of ECS Head Start and the children and families enrolled in the program.
23. Submit accurate reports as requested.
24. Continue to pursue education and/or professional development goals.
25. Perform other job related functions as required.

(These essential job functions are not to be construed as a complete statement of duties performed. Employees will be required to perform other related marginal duties as required.)

Organizational Relationship

• This position reports to the Family Services Manager.

Requirements

Education and experience: High school diploma or equivalent required; associate degree in social work, psychology, or other human services related field and experience working with populations served by the grant, expectant women and children birth through age four preferred. Staff hired after November 7, 2016, must have within eighteen months of hire, at a minimum, a credential or certification in social work, human services, family services, counseling or a related field.

Skills, Knowledge And Abilities

• Ability to safely transport families to appointments, central office, etc. when necessary
• Knowledge and experience related to child development and early childhood education; the principles of child and expectant women health, safety, and nutrition; adult learning principles, and family dynamics
• Ability to effectively present information and respond to questions from all members of the staff and the general public with varying abilities
• Ability to communicate with and motivate families to achieve set goals
• Knowledge of community resources and the skills to link families, especially those coping with crisis, with appropriate agencies and services
• Able to maintain a flexible working schedule in order to accommodate families and program activities, which include some evenings and weekends
• Ability to demonstrate problem solving skills, counseling skills, and empathy toward needs of parents
• Knowledge of applicable safety and abuse-reporting procedures
• Ability to work independently with little direct supervision
• Knowledge of Microsoft Office products at an intermediate to advanced level
• Ability to maintain confidential information
• Ability to set up and maintain accurate records & files
• Ability to plan and organize work as well as maintain records and prepare reports
• Ability to multi-task, prioritize and work in fast-paced environment

Licenses, Certification Or Registrations

• Valid driver's license and proof of automobile coverage
• Satisfactory driving record (as outlined in vehicle driving policy)
• Complete 24 hours of in-service/professional development training hours each fiscal year (July-June)
• Must have current first aid and pediatric cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) training

Environmental Conditions

• Works inside in a child care setting
• Travel to multiple sites required

Essential Physical Skills

• Acceptable eyesight (with or without correction)
• Acceptable hearing (with or without correction)
• Ability to communicate both orally and in writing
• Ability to access file cabinets for filing and retrieval of data
• Ability to sit at a desk and view a display screen for extended periods of time

(Reasonable accommodations will be made for otherwise qualified individuals with a disability)

Background requirements: A level ii background screening which consists of a local, state, and federal criminal check will be completed on all employees and any contracted employee position, intern position or volunteer position in which individuals have contact with children, have access to confidential information and / or are in a position of special trust.