Family Advocate (part-time)

JOB SUMMARY: Under the direction and supervision of the Family Services Manager or Family Engagement Coordinator, provide support and advocacy service to Head Start families. Family Advocates utilize case management skills, crisis intervention and positive communication skills to build partnerships with families.  Family Advocates support families as their children transition through early childhood education into kindergarten and beyond.  Family Advocates work in collaboration with all program areas, families, and community partners to promote positive child and family outcomes, including disabilities and mental health.

Essential Functions:

Duties and Responsibilities:                                                                                               

● Build and maintain strong relationships with program staff, including other CAPRW departments, community partners and Head Start/Early Head Start participants and their children.

● Monitor Head Start services to ensure adherence to performance standards reporting any discrepancies to the Head Start Director.

● Complete a Parent Orientation with families before actual enrollment to review program options, services available to families, Parent Handbook, etc.

● Implement a strength based Family Partnership that holistically identifies family strengths and goals.

● Develop and maintain relationships with families that promote ongoing progress toward family goal attainment.

● Provide home visits to support and track family progress toward family goal attainment.

● Assist families in the completion of Child Care Assistance and/or Pathway Scholarship paperwork and monitor to ensure eligibility is maintained, when applicable.

● Provide families with accurate and complete information about community resources, and assist and advocate for them in accessing services to best meet identified needs. 

● After referrals are made, provide follow up to ensure that family needs are met and to maintain required documentation of referrals and outcomes.

● Assist families in transitioning into and out of the Early Head Start/Head Start Program.

● Performs data entry functions to keep files up to date and maintain data for the annual Program Information Report (PIR).

● Track and calculate attendance per center and child. Follow-up with families about absences and attendance concerns documenting all reasons for absenteeism. 

● Work with families with child attendance under 85% to develop goals related to school readiness and the understanding of the importance of attendance for their child.

● Assist in the collection of required medical information and help families to remove barriers in obtaining health care.

● In conjunction with the health staff, support families in developing a dental and medical home and access to appropriate health insurance.

● Provide resource referral services to families requesting crisis services and who indicate a need for intensive family service coordination.

● Complete necessary documentation of contacts and case management provided on behalf of families.

● In collaboration with center staff, facilitate the election of parents for Parent Center Committees and Policy Committee Representatives.

● In conjunction with the Center Education Coordinator & Assistance Center Education Coordinator, develop and facilitate parent groups, and family fun events. 

● Coordinate the offering of research-based Parent Education opportunities.

● Initiate and maintain working relationships with other service providers (in areas such as housing, MFIP, chemical dependency, mental health, parenting, employment, etc.)

● Serve as an advocate on behalf of low-income families in the community to outside groups, committees, agencies and policy makers as needed.

● Assist in the recruitment of children

● Participate in ad hoc assignments ad agency/program committees and/or outside agency committees

● Participate in program and agency-wide training and special events.

● Other duties as assigned.

Safety: Responsible for conducting all duties in a safe manner.

Affirmative Action: Responsible to follow affirmative action plan as set forth and signed by the Board of Directors.

Requirements

Qualifications:

Education & Experience: AA Degree in Human Services or Behavioral Sciences or related degree and 2 years of experience working with children and/or families in diverse communities, or an equivalent combination of education and experience to successfully perform the essential functions of the job.  Bachelor’s Degree preferred. 

Abilities and Skills: In order to be successful in this position, the person will at minimum need to possess the following abilities and skills:

● Ability to relate to and communicate effectively with a variety of multi-ethnic and socio-economic groups and/or individuals.

● Must have knowledge of community resources.

● Excellent written and verbal communication skills required. 

● Must be proficient with Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Outlook).

●  Must be able to navigate and enter data in a complex database.

●  Strong organizational skills needed.  Must be able to work weekend and evening hours, as needed.

●  Knowledge of Head Start is preferred.

●  Understanding of and experience with child care subsidies and/or scholarships is preferred.

●  Credential or certification in social work, human services, family services, counseling or related preferred.

Core Technology Competency:  Level 2 - Intermediate 1

Certifications: Must obtain CPR/First Aid Certification within 90 days of hire; must maintain certifications.

Driver’s License: Because of the multiple locations of centers and home visits, a valid driver’s license and reliable transportation on a daily basis is required.

Physical Requirements:

● Normal office physical exertion.

● Must be physically able to participate with children in the Head Start classroom and on fieldtrips. 

● Must be able to lift 50 pounds.

● Ability to drive, climb stairs and perform home visits out in the community.

● At home visits: Ability to tolerate possible strong odors, temperature variations, possibility of seeing rodents/bugs, etc..

● This position requires the ability to handle and prioritize multiple complex tasks and deadlines and function effectively, independently and as a team member.

Mental Requirements: Must be able to relate to and communicate with people of varying multi-ethnic and socio-economic backgrounds.

Environmental Requirements: Environment will include:  normal office environment, Head Start Centers, unaccompanied home visits, travel between sites and to and from home and community agencies/organizations.

Benefits

Salary Range: $24.86 - 27.96 – Bilingual

Language: Karen, Hmong, Somali, Spanish

Schedule: 18 hrs weekly/Varies based on program needs

Seasonal, 9 – 10 months yr.

Benefits: Community Action offers excellent benefits including generous paid time off (PTO), 14 paid holidays, health, dental & life insurance, retirement, employee discount programs and more.

Posting Dates: 07/26/2024 - 08/09/2024