Family Engagement Support Advocate

Acelero Learning•Town of Rubicon, WI

About The Position

Are you a socially conscious, dedicated individual who is committed to building a better future for children, families, and their communities? If so, join us as we support early childhood education programs across the country to create positive outcomes for the children and families served. The Family Engagement Support Advocate (FESA) will work as a member of a team whose primary role is to engage families to partner with us to promote children’s healthy development and school readiness. Why Acelero? Our mission is bold: To design and deliver research and evidence-based approaches to eliminate the gaps between young childrenʼs inherent potential and their achievement in school and life. With our partners, we accelerate child and family outcomes that honor all of the aspirations and cultures of the communities we serve. Our values: Data-Informed Learning; Transparent & Open Communication; Growth Mindset; Championing Equality; Caring Teams & Communities. Your Role: In their specialized role, the Family Engagement Support Advocate will provide individualized, intensive support to the most vulnerable families in our Head Start program. Families on the Family Support Advocates’ caseloads will include families experiencing a significant crisis, families who are recently homeless or whose children are in foster care, as well as families impacted by substance abuse, family violence or mental health concerns. In order to effectively support these families, the Family Support Advocate will be expected to establish and maintain relationships with community providers to provide the resources, counseling, treatment or other interventions needed to assist them to stabilize their circumstances and enhance their overall well-being. We believe all families share the same aspirations for their children and have the ability to significantly contribute to their children’s development and learning. The Family Support Advocate’s position has been established to allow our Head Start program to triage and provide more targeted support to families who may require additional resources to achieve these outcomes. Due to its specialized nature, and based upon Center size and family distribution, the position may involve a caseload assignment at more than one center based location as deemed necessary for program operations.

Requirements

Minimum of Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work, Human Services, Family Services, Counseling, Family and Child Development or a related field with at least two years of experience working with vulnerable families and communities
The commitment and passion for achieving positive child and family outcomes through high quality family engagement
Background and experience working with families of children 0-5 preferred
Familiarity with assessment strategies for high risk behaviors, including depression, domestic violence, and substance abuse
Bilingual (in Spanish) preferred and may be required at certain service locations to meet the needs of our population
Advanced computer literacy in email, word processing and internet navigation
Valid driver’s license with reliable transportation with state-mandated minimum insurance coverage(s) on your vehicle
Ability to lift a child weighing 40 pounds, 20 times a day if needed
Ability to obtain certification in CPR and First Aid
Pass physical examination, background check, and fingerprinting screen

Responsibilities

Promote Family Environments that Enhance Children’s Development
Support Vulnerable Families
Maintain Internal and External Service Coordination
Assure Accurate and Timely Record Keeping and Reporting

Benefits

Medical, Dental, and Vision Insurance with multiple plan options to fit your needs
Health Savings Account (HSA) with company contributions up to $800 annually
Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA) for health and dependent care expenses
401(k) Retirement Plan with up to 4% company match and immediate vesting
Company-paid Short-Term and Long-Term Disability and Basic Life Insurance
Up to $500 per year in Professional Development Reimbursements
Employee Assistance Program (EAP) with counseling and mental wellness support
Wellness Programs, including virtual fitness, nutrition, and mindfulness classes
Pet Insurance, Legal Assistance, ID Theft Protection, and Employee Discount Perks
Average of 5 weeks of paid time off during 1st year of employment
Comprehensive benefits, including 401K matching and 100% vesting program