Family Advocate-Center Based

ENRICHMENT SERVICES PROGRAM INCORPORATED•Columbus, GA

6d•$19 - $19•Onsite

About The Position

The Family Advocate helps families become self-sufficient and fosters an environment where adults and children can develop to their fullest potential. The role supports Head Start families through family partnership planning, referrals, service coordination, advocacy, and follow-up. It also supports child health services, family records, enrollment, attendance monitoring, parent communication, and implementation of the Head Start program in collaboration with center staff and community organizations.

Requirements

Volunteer and/or regular work experience in the social service field is required.
Knowledge of social work and case-management principles as they relate to low-income families.
Skills in listening, interviewing, interpersonal communication, collaboration with community organizations and people from varied backgrounds, information gathering, conducting surveys, analyzing problems, developing plans and recommendations, prioritizing, and organizing tasks.
Regularly walk, sit, use hands and fingers to handle or feel objects, tools, or controls, reach with hands and arms, and talk and hear; occasionally stand, climb, balance, stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl.
Regularly lift and/or move up to 10 pounds and frequently lift and/or move up to 25 pounds.
Vision abilities include close, distance, and peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus.

Nice To Haves

Associate or bachelor's degree in Social Work, Sociology, Psychology, Counseling, or a directly related field is preferred.

Responsibilities

Develop Family Partnership Agreements (FPAs), make referrals to agencies, advocate for families in accomplishing their FPA goals, and maintain ongoing contact and follow-up.
Provide information about community services, follow up on services, and make referrals to ensure families receive needed services.
Collaborate with Head Start parents and service providers to ensure children receive required screenings and examinations, follow-up treatment, and health services.
Maintain confidentiality of child and family records.
Co-facilitate Service Delivery Team Meetings with Teachers and Teacher Assistants.
Perform recruitment, selection, and enrollment tasks, including publicizing the program, answering questions, assisting with applications, entering application data, preparing acceptance letters, and assigning classrooms in collaboration with the Center Manager.
Develop and maintain a waiting list and fill vacancies within 30 days.
Enter family information into the Child Plus system.
Assist with Parent Orientation.
Record and monitor monthly attendance and contact families when children are absent for three consecutive days without prior notification and an excused absence.
Confer with and counsel parents as needed.
Maintain thorough, accurate, and current social service records for assigned Head Start families.
Contact the Family Partnership Specialist to identify gaps in community resources or the need for additional services, and advocate for improved or new services.
Coordinate transportation through the Center Manager for children and/or parents attending screenings, treatment, therapy appointments, services, and meetings as needed.
Provide information for and assist with distribution of program and parent newsletters.
Keep the Family Partnership Specialist, other Specialists, and Mentor Teachers—as appropriate—informed about planned and implemented service-area activities.
Assist Specialists, Center Managers, and Teachers in carrying out programmatic decisions and implementing the Head Start program.
Perform other duties as assigned by the Center Manager.