Family Advocate

Regina Coeli Child Development Center•Independence, LA

16h

About The Position

The Family Advocate promotes Head Start’s family wellness and parent engagement goals and supports implementation of the family engagement process. The role serves as a liaison between classroom and home settings in education, child development, health, and mental health. The position reports to the Center Director and is classified as hourly/non-exempt. The Family Advocate welcomes and supports families, helps them identify strengths and needs and establish Family Partnership Goals, and connects them with community resources. The role maintains family contact through calls, group activities, home and classroom visits, supports transitions to other educational settings, assists with attendance and family literacy, and provides crisis intervention for basic needs. It also supports parent engagement, recruitment, parent meetings, and collaboration with community agencies. The position maintains contact with children and teaching staff, supports families in meeting Head Start health and nutrition requirements, and helps ensure completion of assigned-site health screenings. The Family Advocate uses the PROMIS database and paper records to document enrollment, goals, follow-up needs, screenings, contacts, home visits, consultations, and suspected child abuse or neglect. Other duties include assisting with classroom needs and bus monitoring, attending meetings and trainings, and helping generate In-Kind. A high school degree or GED is required. Two years of professional-level experience in a family social services setting, including knowledge of community resources for family referrals, is preferred. The role requires strong communication and computer skills, discretion and confidentiality, the ability to work independently and collaboratively, and a flexible schedule that may include some evenings. Employees must pass a criminal background check and physical examination, complete a TB test every three years with negative results, maintain current First Aid and CPR certification, and hold a valid driver's license meeting RCCDC insurance requirements. The work includes frequent driving, regular kneeling, bending, and sitting on the floor, and occasional stooping and lifting up to 50 pounds.

Requirements

High school degree or GED.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
Intermediate computer skills, including keyboarding, computer literacy, databases, word processing, internet, and email.
Ability and willingness to handle sensitive family situations in a non-threatening and professional manner.
Ability to collaborate with community resources and working knowledge of local resources related to Family Services.
Flexible schedule to accommodate family needs, which may include some evenings.
Ability to prioritize and manage workload and deadlines.
Ability to work independently and maintain professional boundaries and confidentiality.
Ability to exercise tact and discretion in interactions with staff, children, and families.
Frequent decision-making and problem-solving ability.
Ability to work as a team member with staff, parents, and community resources.
Pass a criminal background check.
Pass a physical examination and complete a tuberculosis test every three years with negative results.
Maintain current First Aid and CPR certification; training is provided.
Valid driver’s license with a driving record that complies with RCCDC insurance carrier requirements.
Regular kneeling, bending, and sitting on the floor to attend to children’s needs; occasional bending, stooping, and lifting up to 50 pounds; frequent driving to provide program support.

Nice To Haves

At least two years of professional-level experience in a family social services setting, including knowledge and experience with community resources for referrals to families in need of services.
Knowledge of early childhood education and intervention.

Responsibilities

Follow Head Start Program Performance Standards, State of Louisiana licensing requirements, the RCCDC written work plan, and agency policies and procedures.
Maintain open, friendly, and professional relationships with staff and families, respecting culture, diversity, and ethnicity.
Participate in annual program self-assessment and continuous quality improvement initiatives.
Welcome families and share information about transitioning into Head Start or other educational settings when a child is not eligible.
Help families develop Family Partnership Goals by identifying strengths and needs, conducting follow-up, and recommending, supporting, or referring families to relevant community resources.
Maintain regular family contact through phone calls, group activities, home visits, and classroom visits according to family needs.
Provide crisis intervention for basic needs such as housing and utilities, and document it in the database.
Prepare and distribute requested follow-up information to families in a timely manner.
Assist with transitions of children and families into their next educational setting.
Promote family literacy and work with parents to establish and maintain regular child attendance.
Work flexible hours to meet families’ needs.
Participate in recruitment efforts and activities for assigned sites.
Assist the Center Director with planning and facilitating parent orientations.
Coordinate parent meetings and assist parents in taking leadership roles.
Encourage parent participation in Parent Committee meetings, field trips, policy council, and classroom activities.
Provide content for parent memos and flyers as needed.
Advocate and collaborate with community agencies to support child, family, and agency outcomes.
Maintain regular contact with children in classroom settings and ongoing contact with teaching staff to share relevant home information and learn about children’s classroom performance.
Provide information about Head Start health and nutrition requirements and support families with immunizations, physical and dental examinations, and nutrition screenings and follow-up.
Ensure completion of health screenings at assigned sites, including measurements, vision, hearing, and blood pressure screenings.
Complete ongoing applications and enrollment accurately in the PROMIS database.
Document and track follow-up needs, Family Partnership Goals, and health, dental, nutrition, hearing, and vision concerns in PROMIS and in the child’s master file or case notes.
Document parent contacts and home visits in PROMIS.
Document consultation and support provided to teachers regarding concerns about families.
Report and document suspected child abuse or neglect.
Assist with breaks, bus monitoring, and other classroom needs as requested.
Attend team meetings and trainings.
Assist with generating In-Kind.
Perform other duties as requested.