Child and Family Advocate

Ross County Community Action Commission•Chillicothe, OH

About The Position

The Child & Family Advocate is a full-time, part-year position with Ross County CAC Head Start, working 40 hours per week. The role supports children and families through family outcomes assessments, family partnership agreements, health-care coordination, social-service follow-up, parent engagement, and transitions to kindergarten. The Advocate records family contacts and follow-up in Child Plus and helps ensure children receive required health services and that program records and practices meet applicable standards. The position also includes classroom support and child safety, maintaining a clean and orderly classroom, assisting with food service and meal records, organizing volunteers, and sharing information with families and colleagues. The Advocate works cooperatively with Head Start personnel, attends relevant training and meetings, follows agency safety procedures, and performs other tasks as directed by the supervisor.

Requirements

Must be able to handle confidential information.
Must pass a pre-employment drug test and complete a pre-employment physical, TB test, and drug screening.
Must complete BCI and FBI background reviews and background checks for child abuse and the sex offender registry.
Must be familiar with community resources.
Must be able to lift 40 pounds and stop and bend to speak with children at their level.
Must be patient and caring.
Must be insurable under the agency's insurance policy.
Must provide the agency with proof of personal vehicle insurance.
Must permit Ross County CAC to obtain a Motor Vehicle Record.
Must adhere to agency safety policies and procedures; training will be documented in the personnel file.

Nice To Haves

Bachelor's degree in Early Childhood, Social Work, or Case Management (first preference).
Associate degree in Early Childhood, Social Work, or Case Management (second preference).
High school diploma and at least two years' experience working with preschoolers and their families (third preference).
High school diploma or GED (fourth preference).

Responsibilities

Complete the Family Outcomes Assessment and Family Partnership Agreement process with families within the specified time frame and enter information into Child Plus.
Assist the Health Manager in coordinating care for children on the caseload, including supporting timely immunizations, physical and dental exams, and follow-up services.
Help parents arrange transportation to appointments and locate childcare when needed; provide other support to help ensure appointments are kept, including transporting families when necessary.
Educate parents about prevention, early intervention, and well childcare, and encourage them to provide documentation of well-childcare and prenatal visits.
Participate in the annual program self-assessment.
Use discretion when working with other professionals to protect confidential child information.
Help keep the classroom clean and orderly and be responsible for children's safety when assisting in the classroom.
Assist with the transition to kindergarten.
Distribute important information to families, maintain open communication, and encourage parents to participate effectively in the educational process.
Organize and maintain a daily volunteer log, obtain required in-kind forms, know center rules, and serve as a role model for volunteers.
Work cooperatively with Head Start personnel and maintain a positive attitude.
Follow up on families' social-service needs and record follow-up and contact information in Child Plus.
Perform duties to help ensure program compliance with federal and state performance standards, Department of Education rules and regulations, Department of Job & Family Services regulations, and the Head Start Act.
Assist with food service as required by CACFP, Head Start Performance Standards, and local health regulations, including serving meals, maintaining accurate attendance and meal counts, monitoring special diets, and obtaining CACFP Enrollment Forms.
Attend meetings, seminars, conferences, and training sessions related to the position as directed or required, and share relevant information with other staff.
Follow agency safety policies and procedures.
Perform other tasks as directed by the supervisor.