Family Support Advocate (FSA)

Growing Futures Early Education Center Inc•Overland Park, KS

1d•Onsite

About The Position

Growing Futures is hiring a full-time Family Support Advocate who is passionate about early education for children and their families. This role serves as a liaison between families and childcare providers, assisting parents in identifying strengths and needs, setting self-sufficiency goals, and connecting them with community support agencies. The Family Support Advocate will guide families through the application, enrollment, and selection processes. Growing Futures Early Education Center provides Early Head Start, Head Start, and Community Child Care options for children aged 0-5 and their families, along with comprehensive support services like health, nutrition, mental health, dental health, family advocacy, and engagement opportunities.

Requirements

Passion for early education for children and their families.
Ability to work as a liaison between families and childcare providers.
Skills in assisting parents with identifying family strengths and needs.
Ability to help parents set self-sufficiency goals.
Knowledge of accessing community support agencies.
Experience supporting families in the application, enrollment, and selection process.
Proficiency in documenting family contact and tracking needs/goals.
Ability to conduct home visits.
Strong communication skills for regular contact with families, administrators, and staff.
Familiarity with the Kansas Division of Children and Family Services (DCF) eligibility requirements is implied by the documentation requirement.
Ability to provide crisis intervention.
Skills in coordinating transition services.
Experience in family recruitment.
Ability to monitor and track attendance.
Experience working with Parent Committees and parent involvement activities.

Responsibilities

Maintain minimum monthly contact with assigned caseload via telephone or group activity to promote partnership and provide regular communication.
Develop family partnerships and set family goals, monitoring and tracking goal completion progress.
Ensure families meet the minimum 30 hours per week of approved activities during available childcare hours on a monthly basis.
Assist families with program applications, both over the phone and in-person.
Assist in maintaining full enrollment.
Encourage family and parent involvement in all program activities.
Complete two home visits per program year with families on caseload (one in fall, one in spring).
Communicate regularly with administrators and staff.
Communicate and document all information shared by the family regarding eligibility with the Kansas Division of Children and Family Services (DCF) with Early Head Start & Head Start Administrators and teachers onsite.
Monitor monthly policy council meetings.
Refer families to other staff (e.g., Mental Health Specialist, Health and Nutrition Specialist) as needs arise.
Attend Child and Family Reviews, trainings, and appropriate professional development activities.
Document all family contact and track family follow-up needs and Family Goals in Child Plus.
Immediately inform the Family Support Specialist of any possible enrollment changes.
Welcome families into the program prior to the child’s first day.
Provide crisis intervention as needed and assist other staff with critical families.
Coordinate transition services among families and agency’s programs.
Assist in recruitment of new families.
Monitor and track attendance for enrolled children on caseload.
Work in conjunction with the Family Support Specialist to facilitate Parent Committee and other parent involvement activities.