Head Start Family Advocate
About The Position
The Family Advocate is responsible for a caseload of 36 families served by the Head Start Program in Watertown. He/she will make a minimum of one home visits every two months to each family and will provide information and referrals to families in the health and family service area. This person acts as an advocate for families, assists families in determining their needs and in identifying and developing goals to meet those needs. The Family Advocate will be responsible for performing a comprehensive health intake, completely sensory screening and tracking health follow-up for their assigned Head Start children; recruitment and enrollment of children and families; and facilitating a Parent Committee meeting monthly. He/she will be expected to maintain complete and accurate documentation of all required agency forms and computer database; and accurate statistical data for reporting purposes.
Requirements
- Associate Degree in Human Services or related field required.
- One year of experience in the human service field required.
- Basic personal computer skills that include the ability to send and receive email messages, post information to a database or spreadsheet, and perform basic word processing, and/or data entry.
- Knowledge of child and family development.
- Ability to maintain confidentiality of program and agency related information.
- Strong time management, planning and organizational skills.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
- Ability to maintain accurate records.
- Knowledge of community resources.
- Ability to work with diverse groups and individuals.
- Ability to work as a member of a team and to cooperate with all Head Start staff to provide quality programming for children and families.
- Employment is contingent pending satisfactory physical exam including TB test.
- Employment is contingent pending Policy Council approval.
- Employment is contingent pending receipt of clearance form the NYS Central Register of Child Abuse and Maltreatment, NYS Office of Children and Family Services, and the NYS Division of the Criminal Justice Services at the time of hire.
- Employee will be required to sign an affidavit annually which states that he/she has not been indicated with a child abuse or neglect case within the past year.
- Applicant must be able to provide independent transportation to perform job duties.
- Applicant must possess a valid driver's license.
Nice To Haves
- Family Development Credential (FDC) or other specified training within two years of hire if offered by the agency.
- Qualified in-house candidates.
Responsibilities
- Make a minimum of one home visits every two months to each family.
- Provide information and referrals to families in the health and family service area.
- Act as an advocate for families.
- Assist families in determining their needs and in identifying and developing goals to meet those needs.
- Perform a comprehensive health intake.
- Complete sensory screening and track health follow-up for assigned Head Start children.
- Recruit and enroll children and families.
- Facilitate a Parent Committee meeting monthly.
- Maintain complete and accurate documentation of all required agency forms and computer database.
- Maintain accurate statistical data for reporting purposes.
Benefits
- Academic schedule
- Paid school vacations
- Agency Flexible Benefits Plan
- Summer hours for applications and registrations.
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Part-time
Career Level
Entry Level
Education Level
Associate degree
