Head Start Family Advocate Job Opening

This agency is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate based on race, color, creed, sex, marital status, age, national origin, physical handicap, disability, or federal, state, or local protected classes. This agency strives to hire the most qualified person for each job. Listed below is an attempt to describe the normal responsibilities for this position. Please realize that this is not an all-inclusive list, and other duties may be assigned as necessary.

Under the supervision of the Family Services Coordinator and the Family Services Manager, the Family Advocate will be responsible to:

• Assist parent/guardians with the completion of the enrollment application package to ensure forms are complete and accurate. Assist families in acquiring necessary documentation to enroll child, when a need is identified.
• Prepare an official file on enrolled applicants and maintain the file throughout the program year to ensure that all files are in compliance with the Head Start Policies and Procedures, Alabama Minimum Standards, and the Parent, Family, and the Community Framework. Family Advocate must audit and maintain each enrolled child’s file to ensure that accurate information is on hand. All pertinent data must be entered in the Child Plus data system.
• Actively recruit weekly to maintain an active waiting list throughout the program year to include children with disabilities. Recommend children from the waitlist to the Family Services Coordinator to fill vacant spots per regulations and procedures.
• Follow established procedures to monitor and document daily attendance. Support families to promote the benefits of regular attendance. Follow-up on absenteeism to ensure the child’s well-being. Make necessary home visits or other direct contact with a child’s parents if a child has multiple unexplained absences.
• Maintain close communication and correspondence relationship with the Family Services Coordinator. Complete all task within the allotted time given by the Family Services Coordinator.
• Greet Head Start families during arrival and departure to initiate and build relationships with families that are receptive, responsive and respectful. Assist the center director with parent meetings, Family Engagement Friday, and any other activities that involve interacting with Head Start families.
• Collaborate with families to ensure health, dental, immunizations are completed per Head Start policy and procedure. Maintain records and work with families while completing these tasks in the allotted amount of time accordingly. Monitor follow-up on health services and help ensure that these tasks are completed.
• Maintain a cooperative relationship with the Health and Disabilities Manager, Special Needs Coordinator, Nutrition Manager, Nutrition Coordinator and correspond necessary reports and referrals in a prompt manner.
• Complete the Individualized Family Assessment and Family Partnership agreement on each Head Start family to assist in developing short-term and long-term goals for the family. Maintain and update plan as needed.
• Council parents during enrollment to ensure understanding of the Head Start program and serve as an advocate by listening, identifying and providing assistance in meeting individual family needs. Conduct routine home visits throughout the program to assess individual family needs.
• Build relationships or assist in establishing community partners in order to maintain emergency/crisis resources for food, clothing, housing or any other need expressed by the families.
• Assist the Parent, Family, and Community Engagement Specialist with implementing Head Start Parent and Family Engagement Outcomes.
• Housekeeping specific item listing is as follows (but may not include every item):

Office must be kept neat and clean every day. Files must be kept in their designated area (except when files are in use by the family advocate or other authorized persons).

All job offers/work agreements are contingent on:

- the approval of the Policy Council,

- a negative State Child Abuse/Neglect registry check,

- negative results of a State/Federal criminal history background check,

- a valid driver's license, acceptable MVR report, possesses minimum insurance coverage limits (including Liability coverage of $100K per person/$300K per accident for Bodily Injury and $50K for Property Damage)

- and negative results on drug/alcohol screening (pre-employment and random).

**After successful completion of the 3-month probationary period, employee will be offered benefits and regular employment status.

Required Education and Experience

Preferred: Bachelor of Science in Sociology, Social Work, Psychology or other related field with 1 year of work experience in a related area.

Required: Associate’s degree in Sociology, Social Work, Psychology or other related field with 2 years of work experience in a related area.

Knowledge and Abilities

• Knowledge of Windows and applications such as Word and Excel.
• Extensive knowledge of the Head Start Parent, Family and Community Engagement Framework
• Ability to monitor and evaluate program systems and procedures, and maintain reports.
• Ability to establish and maintain cooperative and effective working relationships with parents, employees, and other professionals.
• Sensitivity to the needs of low income families and multicultural beliefs and practices.
• Ability to maintain strict confidentiality.
• Attention to detail with accurate record keeping skills.

Physical Abilities

Must be physically able to lift (up to 50 Lbs.) repetitively, bend, and stoop in the care of young children throughout the workday.

Positions requiring the use of personal owned vehicle to perform job tasks; successful applicants must:

• Be 21 years of age
• Have a current valid driver’s license
• Provide proof of current automobile liability insurance with a minimum bodily injury limit of $100,000 per person $300,000 per occurrence on personal owned vehicle and $50,000 for property damage.
• Provide a current Motor Vehicle Report in order to be insurable by the program’s non-owned insurance plan

General:

• I understand that Cheaha Regional Head Start/Early Head Start operates centers in Talladega, Clay, Randolph, Coosa, Calhoun, and Cleburne Counties and that it will be necessary for me to travel to any of these counties to perform my job as assigned.
• I also understand that my refusal to go as assigned will be considered as a resignation and or my being terminated from Cheaha Regional Head Start/ Early Head Start.
• I understand and have received a copy of the Cheaha Regional Head Start/Early Head Start internal dispute policy and agree to follow it if needed.
• I understand that I am responsible to participate in the recruitment of children with special needs and all eligible children without regards to race, creed, color, ethnicity and religion.
• I understand that I am responsible for helping to obtain In-Kind to help meet Cheaha Regional Head Start/Early Head Start Non-Federal share of 20% of funding each program year.

Job Type: Full-time

Experience:

• Relevant: 2 years (Preferred)

Education:

• Associate (Required)

Work authorization:

• United States (Required)

Benefits:

• Health insurance
• Dental insurance
• Vision insurance
• Retirement plan
• Paid time off

Pay Frequency:

• Monthly