Family Advocate Intern, Early Childhood Services (Unpaid)

Catholic Charities, Diocese of Joliet•Joliet, IL

3d•Onsite

About The Position

This is an unpaid internship opportunity at Catholic Charities, Diocese of Joliet, within their Head Start program, which is NAEYC Accredited, a Gold Circle Quality program, and a US Model Head Start Program. The program operates from 7 am to 5:30 pm. The Family Advocate Intern will assist the Site Supervisor and other staff in implementing the Head Start Performance Standards, focusing on Health and Nutrition Services, Family and Community Partnerships, and Program Design and Management. This role involves supporting family services, including home visits and community outreach for recruitment. The organization emphasizes making a lasting difference, treating people with dignity and respect, and offers a better work/life balance with excellent growth potential in a fast-paced environment.

Requirements

Currently acquiring a Bachelor's or Master's Degree in Social Work, Physiology, Human Services, Applied Behavioral Science, or a related field.
Knowledge of local community resources.
Knowledge of child development.
Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications (Outlook, Word, Teams).
Must pass a complete background clearance, physical, and Tuberculosis (TB) Test.
Reliable means of transportation and proof of liability insurance.

Nice To Haves

Master's degree is preferred.
Preferred Head Start experience.

Responsibilities

Assists the Site Supervisor in accepting and processing applications and helps families obtain necessary medical requirements for program enrollment.
Cooperates with interdisciplinary team members, parents, and specialists to evaluate and develop treatment and/or intervention plans for children and families.
Implements parent training in conjunction with the Manager of Family and Community Engagement.
Provides opportunities for Parent Involvement activities.
Works with families to help them determine family action plans, assess needs, and educates them on available community resources.
Conducts the intake process to enroll eligible families in the program.
In the presence of a Family Advocate (FA), conducts periodic home visits to build relationships with families and implement required follow-up services.
Accompanied by a Family Advocate, escorts/translates or acquires assistance in translating/advocates and/or represents families in obtaining services or benefits.
Ensures full enrollment within thirty (30) days of the program year start.
Follows established referral procedures, documents, and follows up on all referrals made.
Participates in center meetings, agency meetings, parent committee meetings, and case coordination as required.
Participates in community outreach activities for networking and recruitment purposes.
Monitors families' progress towards established Family Action plans.
Reports any problems, crisis, emergency situations, or suspected abuse/neglect immediately to the Site Supervisor.
Completes monthly reports by maintaining an accurate family tracking system and documentation.
Maintains all required forms in the file system, including case notes, referral forms, attendance, and health-related information.
Summarizes significant information in family contact notes.
Follows up with children not picked up at the end of each school session.
Inputs and maintains data in the Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information Systems (PROMIS) Child and Family Tracking System and Ready Rosie Data Base.
Coordinates transportation information between the client, Transportation Coordinator, and Site Supervisor.