Family Services Advocate Worker -Alto Bonito, Texas ($22.33/HR)

UMOS•Rio Grande City, TX

6d•Onsite

About The Position

The Family Services Advocate Worker will implement Health Transitional and Family Services at the Center. This role involves managing various aspects of family services, including eligibility, enrollment, home visits, needs assessments, referrals, case management, and collaboration with community agencies. The position requires a focus on supporting families to meet their needs through advocacy, training, and service coordination, while also ensuring program enrollment targets, including children with disabilities, are met. The role also involves addressing health, nutrition, and disability issues, conducting parent orientations, developing Family Partnership Agreements, and facilitating parent engagement through various programs and resources. Additionally, the Family Services Advocate Worker will assist families in accessing community resources, coordinate necessary services, maintain accurate records, and manage the transition process for children moving between programs or into public schools. The position also includes responsibilities for collecting non-federal shares (In-Kind), ensuring timely data entry and reporting, maintaining the center parent board, and reporting suspected child abuse or neglect. The role requires attendance at various meetings and training sessions, and performing other assigned duties.

Requirements

Be at least 18 years old and have a High School diploma or GED.
Credential or certification in social work, human services, family services, counseling, or related field within 18 months of hire.
Bilingual In Spanish & English (Oral & Written).
Proficient in Microsoft Office.
Effective communication skills.
Must have a reliable car, valid driver’s license with valid insurance.
Ability to work irregular and/or flexible hours.
Employment with UMOS is contingent upon successful completion of a criminal background check prior to employment.
Must complete a physical exam and TB screening showing absence of Tuberculosis within 30 days of employment or sooner as required by local/state regulation.
Must complete approved Shaken Baby Training prior to working with children, Fire Extinguisher Training, Infant/child CPR and First Aid within 30 days or sooner as required by local/state regulation.
If no AA/BA in social work or related field, must obtain a credential or certification in social work, human services, family services, counseling or related within 18 months of hire.

Responsibilities

Implement Health Transitional and Family Services at the Center including but not limited: Eligibility, Recruitment, Selection, Enrollment, Attendance (ERSEA), home visit, newborn home visits, family needs assessment, referrals, child file reviews, case notes, Family Partnership Agreements, Transitions, collaboration with community agencies, parent education, coordination of MSHS services to families, family literacy, identification of community resources, and tracking of services.
Participate in Case Review Process that addresses health, nutrition, and disabilities program area of children and determine child’s health, special needs, and nutrition status by performing a file review and obtaining any current health or dental information through records request.
Assist with the management of family services utilizing a case management systems approach that includes performing and monitoring case review to identify a family’s strengths and immediate, short-, and long-term needs of parents and children that provides a support system for families to meet their own individual needs through advocacy, training, and coordination of services.
Assist with the implementation and monitoring ongoing recruitment plan activities within the center recruitment zones to ensure funded enrollment is met that includes recruitment and establishment of 10% enrollment of children with disabilities.
Implement and monitor the enrollment process of families that includes childcare and determine family’s eligibility status, enrollment priority status by utilizing selection enrollment criteria and for families enrolled implement a waiting list while ensuring that eligibility is 100% accurate in accordance with funding source.
Address health, nutrition and disabilities issues including short-term exclusion of children by consulting with parents and sending home “symptoms” letters and health / nutrition referrals, and if necessary, conduct home visits when health or developmental concerns are suspected or identified through staff/parent observation, screenings, and daily health observations, conduct in-house staffing, and send out referrals as needed.
Conduct Parent Orientation and coordinate and/or obtain documents such as health information (immunizations, Health history, etc.,) in accordance with licensing requirements.
Develop Family Partnership Agreements that outline family goals, school readiness goals, language initiatives, literacy needs, family’s strengths, community resources available for goals obtainment and timelines for goal achievement, and ensure information gathered is disseminated to appropriate staff.
Utilizing the Parent, Family, Community, Engagement (PFCE) Framework, offer family houses, parent trainings, volunteer programs, and parent surveys, and encourage family advocacy and parent participation through monthly newsletters, offering family literacy resources, and provide parent training as needed.
Implement parenting curriculum that builds on parent’s knowledge and offers parents the opportunity to practice parenting skills to promote children’s learning and development.
As part of the PFCE Framework, assist families in accessing community resources/services through implementing and effective referrals process and monitoring each case through the process of follow-up referrals to ensure immediate / emergency needs as well as long-term issues of families have been addressed.
Obtain consents from parents, if parent unable to take child, for EPSDT, health or dental services that allows program to arrange services, as permitted by provider, and coordinate transportation for these services as needed.
Prepare paperwork for clinics including necessary forms for Providers (ex. Immunization record, health history, lead screening, parent consent, etc.)
Coordinate with Child Development Coordinator in implementation and monitoring procedures/methods for child accidents, case reviews, health emergencies, injury/accident prevention, reporting (to include parents), and follow-up, medication administration, transportation and storage, individualization / modification for children with special needs, diapering, hygiene, sanitation, hand washing techniques, and sick child.
Implement and effective filing system that safeguards confidential information and supports the organization of children’s files which includes electronic data systems.
Implement the transition process and packet development including but not limited to the following transitions: program to program, Head Start, Migrant & Seasonal Head Start (MSHS) to public school, MSHS to another agency, MSHS to local or regional HS or classroom to classroom.
Responsible for the weekly collection of non-federal shares (In-Kind) which includes coordinating and promoting the parent/community volunteer program, recruiting volunteers, conducting volunteer orientation, and collecting documentation necessary to process in-kind.
Ensure timely data entry of services and submit complete and accurate reports. Including but not limited to the family Data Base System such as family, health and transitional services monthly reports, PIR reports, community assessment data, and any other assignments to the Regional Office by the requested dates.
Maintain center parent board and ensure the following are posted: Policy Council and Parent Committee meeting schedule and recent minutes, menu, community events, and any other relevant information.
Report on suspected child abuse and neglect in accordance with state law and UMOS policies and procedures.
Attends center & regional staff meetings, coordinating meetings, case reviews, trainings, open houses, and other program activities as assigned.
Perform other duties as assigned.