Family Advocate - Early Head Start (Billings, MT)

Aware Inc.•Billings, MT

95d

About The Position

AWARE is hiring a full-time Family Advocate for its Early Head Start program in Billings, Montana. The role supports children and families in becoming active members of their community, with an emphasis on family strengths, goal-setting, access to resources, child and family well-being, and compliance with childcare licensure requirements and Head Start Performance Standards. The Family Advocate works directly with families and collaborates with center staff and community organizations. Duties include conducting home visits, supporting family goals and referrals, coordinating services and parent involvement, maintaining program documentation and data, monitoring eligibility and attendance, and providing parent education. The position requires a bachelor’s degree in a related field and at least two years of experience working with families. Starting pay is $23.04 per hour.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Human Services, Social Work, or a related field.
At least two years of experience working with families.
Comprehensive working knowledge of early childhood education and family systems, including theories and principles of human growth and development and the needs of low-income children.
Advanced computer literacy, including database management, spreadsheets, word processing, internet, and email.
Ability to form professional relationships with a diverse group of people.
Willingness to work flexible hours to meet program needs.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
Excellent diagnostic and problem-solving skills.
Ability to provide training and develop training for small and large groups.
Ability to work independently while maintaining communication with team members.
Valid Montana driver’s license and liability insurance.
Must complete training and pass testing in First Aid/CPR, Blood-Borne Pathogens, HIPAA, and Vehicle Operation upon hiring.

Nice To Haves

Experience in an educational setting.
Demonstrated knowledge of family systems and early childhood development.
Head Start/Early Head Start experience.
Knowledge of Head Start Performance Standards, philosophy, and mission.

Responsibilities

Ensure compliance with childcare licensure rules, regulations, guidelines, and Head Start Performance Standards.
Help parents and guardians identify individual and family strengths and needs, develop family goal plans, and follow up on progress or adjust goals as needed.
Help families identify community resources and follow up on referrals and goals.
Assess and evaluate family outcomes and success in reaching goals.
Assist with required child screenings, including ASQ and DECA.
Coordinate community agency services for families connected with multiple services.
Assist with transfers, program drops, and transitions, ensuring appropriate documentation is completed.
Obtain required Early Head Start documents and signatures.
Coordinate with team members to schedule and complete required home visits.
Enter accurate child and family data into Child Plus within 48 hours; analyze and report data as required.
Establish collaborative relationships with community organizations.
Carry out ERSEA activities, including recruitment, application meetings, paperwork follow-up, and attendance-related activities.
Verify program eligibility by collecting, reviewing, and maintaining required documents.
Monitor enrollment, attendance, and health requirements, following up with families as needed.
Assist parents with Best Beginning subsidy paperwork and monitor deadlines.
Support center staff and collaborate to promote the well-being of children and families.
Use parent survey results to conduct parent education and training using varied approaches, curricula, and teaching methods.
Participate in staffing, staff meetings, trainings, mandatory AWARE training, in-services, and assigned corporate committees.
Conduct home visits to build rapport, obtain paperwork and children’s records, set and follow through on goals, provide parenting and child development information and assistance, and provide crisis assistance as needed.
Ensure and coordinate father/male involvement opportunities.
Support coordination of Policy Council activities, including elections, meetings, attendance, and information distribution.
Coordinate Parent Committee meetings with parent input.
Report to work as scheduled and maintain good attendance; perform duties in a timely, professional manner and participate positively in program activities.
Complete hiring-related training and pass testing in First Aid/CPR, Blood-Borne Pathogens, HIPAA, and Vehicle Operation.
Perform other duties as assigned and reasonably within the scope of the listed duties.