HS - FAMILY ADVOCATE

Community Services Consortium•NEWPORT, OR

7d•Hybrid

About The Position

Provides, coordinates, and implements comprehensive social services in partnership with teacher(s) and members of the interdisciplinary team to Head Start children and families. This includes home visits, parent involvement, follow-up, and data entry. The role requires a strong working knowledge of Head Start Performance Standards and other regulations. The Family Advocate creates mutually respectful relationships and maintains contact with assigned families through various methods including home, center, and community visits, phone calls, and written communication. They maintain written documentation of all family and agency contacts, plans, referrals, follow-up activities, and outcomes. Using strength-based interviewing techniques, the Family Needs Assessment, and other life-skills assessments, the Family Advocate assists families in setting goals to develop and implement their individual Family Partnership Agreement. They ensure resource and referral information, parent training and support, and needed services are provided to all families on their assigned caseload in a timely manner. The role involves facilitating access to social and health services, initiating and facilitating external agency and family staffings as needed, and working in partnership with collateral agencies to provide case management services. In collaboration with other program personnel, the Family Advocate participates in informal staffings and formal comprehensive monitorings to develop an analysis of family strengths and challenges. They communicate pertinent child and family information reciprocally with staff to inform, educate, plan, and problem-solve. When requested, they provide participation, coordination, content development, and training for CSC Head Start families during Family Nights. They work with Content Specialists to meet pertinent Performance Standards, share information, and ensure comprehensive service delivery to families. Availability for varied working hours to accommodate family schedules and regular attendance are requirements of this position. Maintaining a professional and courteous manner with co-workers and the general public, and maintaining confidentiality and exercising sound judgment concerning confidential information are also key aspects of the role. Other responsibilities that enhance program goals and objectives may be assigned.

Requirements

Credential or certification in social work, human services, family services and/or counseling, or an ability to obtain certification within 18 months of hire date.
Ability to interview, assess and provide guidance using basic counseling practices.
Experience with motivational interviewing strategies and goal setting.
Knowledge of child development and family dynamics, especially related to families living in poverty.
Thorough knowledge of local and state resources.
Demonstrated ability to develop good working relationships with community resources, agencies, parents and with staff team members.
Excellent oral and written communication skills, computer skills, excel, outlook, data entry skills.
Must possess and maintain a valid Oregon driver’s license.
Must possess and maintain Food Handler certification.
Must possess and maintain First Aid certification.
Must possess and maintain CPR certification.
Must possess and maintain health verification.
Must complete a background check including fingerprinting according to Performance Standard Requirements and the Oregon Child Care Division Criminal History Registry, including fingerprinting.
Must pass a criminal history background investigation.

Nice To Haves

Experience with Head Start and/or preschool, Health and Human Services preferred.
Knowledge of Child Plus, TS Gold, Positive Behavior Intervention and Supports is desirable.
Bilingual (Spanish/English) preferred.

Responsibilities

Create mutually respectful relationships and maintain contact with assigned families through home, center and community visits, phone calls, and written communication.
Maintain written documentation of all family and agency contacts, plans, referrals, follow up activities, and outcomes.
Use strength-based interviewing techniques, the Family Needs Assessment and other life-skills assessments to assist families in setting goals to develop and implement their individual Family Partnership Agreement.
Ensure resource and referral information, parent training and support and needed services are provided to all families on assigned caseload in a timely manner.
Facilitate access to social and health services.
Initiate and facilitate external agency and family staffings as needed.
Work in partnership with collateral agencies to provide case management services.
In collaboration with other program personnel, participate in informal staffings and formal comprehensive monitorings in order to develop an analysis of family strengths and challenges.
Communicate pertinent child and family information in a reciprocal manner with staff in order to inform, educate, plan and problem solve.
Provide participation, coordination, content development and training for CSC Head Start families during Family Nights when requested.
Work with Content Specialists to meet pertinent Performance Standards, share information and ensure comprehensive service delivery to families.
Maintain a professional and courteous manner with co-workers and the general public.
Maintain confidentiality and exercise sound judgment concerning confidential information.
May be assigned other responsibilities that enhance program goals and objectives.