Family Advocate II/III bei E CENTER

Job Details

• Acts in accordance with Head Start Performance Standards in meeting health, nutrition, mental health, special needs, family services and ERSEA requirements including follow up requirements.
• Serves as an interpreter and/or advocate when necessary for Head Start parents, including translation at parent center committee meetings, parent trainings, conferences, medical/dental appointments and IEP/IFSP meetings as needed.
• Ensures all health and nutrition requirements and all follow up are met according to agency timelines, may include hearing, vision and blood pressure.
• Documents in child file for all content areas and contact with families is completed thoroughly and legibly.
• Provides education to families on community resources.
• Links families to appropriate community resources and completes referrals as needed.
• Works collaboratively with parents and teachers to identify family strengths.
• Monitors and follows up on daily attendance including working with parent to resolve children’s attendance problems.
• Maintains current community resource information.
• Provides emergency assistance or crisis intervention.
• Participates in Family Support groups such as male involvement groups and single parent groups as needed.
• Attends and participates in agency trainings, workshops, in-service and staff meetings.
• Participates in setting and achieving professional career development goals.
• Provides transportation to parents for meetings and medical appointments as assigned.
• Actively support full enrollment in assigned classroom or center as assigned.
• Supports the Agency Safety Program.
• Supports family interest in applying for the program and recruitment events throughout the Head Start season.
• Files family service, education and health related materials in files.
• Participates in the Reflective supervision process.
• Makes attendance phone calls.
• Other duties as assigned.

• Associate Degree in Social Work, Human Services, or Health.
• Two years’ experience working for a child development, social services or health related agency.

• Bachelor Degree or higher in Social Work, Human Services, or Health.
• Two years’ experience working in child development, social services or health related agency.

• State regulations require a physical examination, current tuberculosis test, and verified fingerprint and criminal records clearance before beginning work.
• Bilingual, bi-literate, English/Spanish, English/Punjabi, English/Hmong, and/or other language ability based on program needs preferred.
• Education must have previously included or must be able to successfully complete course work in child abuse, substance abuse and domestic violence within one year of date of hire.
• Prefer college coursework in child development.
• Possession of or ability to obtain Pediatric First Aid/CPR Certification within first sixty 60 days of work; must maintain current status.
• Possession of a valid drivers' license; current personal vehicle insurance, or safe driving record sufficient to ensure insurability through Agency policy. Must be able to drive to conduct agency business.

• Ability to learn and incorporate OHS Relationship based competency skills in daily work.
• Ability to read and comprehend documents such as safety rules, operating and maintenance instructions and procedure manuals.
• Ability to respond effectively to sensitive inquiries or complaints.
• Ability to write routine reports and correspondence.
• Ability to speak effectively before groups of parents or employees of organization.
• Ability to add, subtracts, multiply and divide in all units of measure, using whole numbers, common fractions and decimals. Ability to compare rate, ratio and percent.
• Ability to understand and use a variety of computer applications and appropriate software, including spreadsheets, word processing; and workplace electronic technology, including internet access and email.
• Ability to apply common sense understanding to carry out instructions furnished in written, oral or diagram form.
• Ability to deal with problems involving several concrete variables in standardized or not standardized situation.
• Knowledge of and sensitivity to diversity and understanding the needs of families from different cultures and socioeconomic backgrounds.
• Knowledge of sound medical, dental and nutritional practices for young children.
• Awareness of community resources and services.
• Effective organizational and time management skills.
• Ability to problem solve and be proactive.
• Ability to work and communicate effectively and professionally with coworkers, parents, children and members of the community.
• Ability to travel occasionally within and outside the Head Start service area.
• Ability to work some evenings and weekends for parent trainings, parent center committee meetings and recruitment events.
• Ability to learn and comply with Head Start Performance Standards, Federal, State and local laws concerning the operation of child care centers.