Family Advocate

Description:

The Family Advocate is responsible for ensuring positive family and child outcomes through strong family partnerships and community engagement. Family Advocates connect their work to a child and a family getting ready to be successful in Kindergarten and in life. He/she supports the center in meeting and exceeding Head Start Program Performance Standards and other relevant regulatory requirements, maintaining detailed records across relevant areas. He/she reports directly to the Program Director and is supported by the Family Services Team.

Responsibilities:

Family Engagement

• Pursue positive goal oriented relationships with families in support of strong child outcomes

• Provide necessary supports to families based on their strengths and needs, including but not limited to appropriate referrals, moral support and coaching, accompanying to appointments, and other direct assistance

• Track and monitor children’s medical records and work with parents to ensure continuity of care

• Support children and families through the special needs process

• Conduct a minimum of two home visits per year, per child, with additional visits as needed

• Participate in child case conferences and parent teacher conferences where required

• Support families during a crisis

Community Engagement

• Foster effective and strategic community partnerships in order to meet the needs of families
• Identify opportunities for parent workshops and link families to relevant resources
• Represent Children’s Aid at relevant neighborhood events, such as community/resource fairs, etc.

Eligibility, Recruitment, Selection, Enrollment, Attendance

• Identify eligible families and support them through the application and enrollment process at Children’s Aid

• Familiarize with eligibility and enrollment requirements for program models relevant to funding streams at respective sites

• Monitor children’s attendance and provide supports to minimize absences

• Maintain accurate and complete records in both physical and electronic files. Ensure confidentiality of client records and information at all times.

Professional Development

• Maintain comprehensive knowledge of Head Start Program Performance Standards (particularly the Parent, Family and Community Engagement Framework and its requirements), DOH regulations, city guidelines, and CA Early Childhood policies and procedures.

• Participate in offered trainings, workshops, in-service days, and/or all-staff conferences.

• Maintain proof of attendance in professional activities.

And other related duties as assigned, at the discretion of the Program Director

Qualifications: