Senior Family Advocate

4C•Orlando, FL

1d•Onsite

About The Position

Supervises ten to thirteen (10-13) Family Advocates in assigned counties. Provides services to Head Start/Early Head Start (HS/EHS) families in compliance with the Head Start Program Performance Standards (HSPPS). Carries out goals, policies, and activities designed to implement social service and parent involvement objectives. This position requires background screening through the Florida Care Provider Clearinghouse (Level 2), as mandated by law.

Requirements

Knowledge of the English language structure and content, including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar to prepare and read documents and correspondences.
Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services.
Knowledge of interviewing techniques.
Ability to gain knowledge of Head Start Performance Standards and HS/EHS/CCP Policies and Procedures, to include the Active Supervision of children.
Knowledge of office practices and procedures.
Ability to operate a personal computer.
Knowledge of a variety of computer software applications in word processing, spreadsheet, and databases, including Microsoft Word and Excel.
Ability to navigate the Internet.
Ability to gain knowledge of the Child Plus software application.
Ability to meet deadlines.
Ability to maintain confidentiality.
Ability to gain knowledge of eligibility criteria for applicants.
Ability to gain knowledge of community resources.
Ability to demonstrate abilities in problem solving and organization.
Ability to work and communicate with people from various multi-cultural backgrounds and socio-economic levels.
Sensitivity to individuals' needs, abilities, beliefs, and attitudes within and outside the Agency, including but not limited to customers and co-workers.
Graduation from an accredited four-year college with a bachelor’s degree in social, human, or family services or a related field.
Two (2) years experience in an Early Childhood program, social work, or case management.
Two (2) years supervisory experience in an Early Childhood or Social Services program.
Or Three (3) year’s experience as an HS/EHS Family Advocate.

Responsibilities

Provides supervision, training and technical assistance, and direction to assigned Family Advocates.
Assists the ERSEA Coordinator in the training, mentoring, and professional development of new Family Advocate staff.
Collects documents to verify the eligibility of children of all HS/EHS programs, including children with disabilities.
Assists parents in completing original enrollment applications when needed.
Coordinates enrollment activities between HS/EHS and EHS-CCP and 4C School Readiness.
Encourages parent involvement in the HS/EHS/EHS-CCP program, both in the classroom and in the home.
Maintains a waitlist that has more applications than vacancies in the program by working with applicable staff to create and develop an ongoing recruitment plan for all HS/EHS programs.
Reports areas of concern at sub-contracted locations to their Supervisor/Coordinator for action.
Provides information and opportunities for parents to access community involvement activities and interests.
Organizes and initiates parent committee meetings at assigned HS/EHS and EHS-CCP provider sites.
Attends parent committee meetings.
Creates agenda and ensures minutes, in-kind, and attendance is recorded and documented.
Makes referrals to families on issues related to the child or his/her family.
Follows up with family promptly.
Receives disabilities and pre-referral request documentation from teaching staff and sends to Site Supervisor for determination.
Completes family services audits quarterly.
Assists parents in arranging transportation to appointments at various social or medical agencies.
Maintains all case management files for individual children and families.
Ensures the entire application process for each assigned child and family enrolled in HS/EHS/EHS-CCP is completed accurately and promptly.
Inputs data into ChildPlus database including but not limited to in-kind, attendance, and family needs assessment and outcome information.
Generates and reviews standard reports.
Generates in-kind.
Reviews weekly in-kind for assigned staff.
Tracks average daily attendance, enrollments, and In-kind.
Addresses concerns and removes obstacles to meeting the requirements for each of the aforementioned areas.
Assumes caseloads in the absence of a Family Advocate.
Participates in the Department Annual Self-Assessment and Agency’s Quality Improvement Program.