Family Advocate - Greene Head Start

The Family Advocate serves as a liaison between families and the preschool classroom by conducting monthly home visits, by assisting families with goal setting and accessing community resources. The Family Advocate is responsible for ensuring that full enrollment and a waiting list is maintained at their assigned site. They support and encourage the involvement of parents in all aspects of Head Start programming.

Employee Benefits:

• 403b
• 403b matching
• Health insurance
• Dental insurance
• Vision insurance
• Life Insurance
• Paid holidays

Education and Experience:

A minimum of an AAS degree within 18 months of hire, credential, or certification in social work, sociology, psychology, human services, family studies/development, counseling, or a related degree.

Supervisory Responsibilities: None

Duties/Responsibilities:

• Act in accordance with the Greater Opportunities Mission Statement and abide by it.
• Follows Standards of Conduct.
• Assists in ensuring the agency meets all federal, state, and local regulations.
• Works within a team to plan and administer a comprehensive program of services.
• Demonstrates a work ethic that recognizes and supports persons of varying socio-economic, ethnic, cultural and educational backgrounds.
• Interacts and communicates effectively with co-workers, customers and community members in a professional and respectful manner.
• Immediately reports child abuse/maltreatment to New York State Central Registry and appropriate administrative staff.
• Maintains confidentiality of information regarding children, families, staff, and program issues.
• Follows procedure when “calling in” due to illness and for use of leave time.
• Participates in all required meetings and trainings and shares information with colleagues as appropriate.
• Drives agency vehicle and transport families as necessary.

Responsible to the TD with regard to the following:

• Provides TD with a daily/weekly work schedule and any modifications to the schedule.
• Reports to the TD when unable to report to work as scheduled.
• Keeps TD informed of the status of all children in accordance with policies regarding confidentiality.
• Sumbits a time sheet bi-weekly to the TD that accurately reflects the time worked during each pay period.
• Responds appropriately to safety concerns that are noted at the Head Start site, at other venues where Head Start activities are conducted and with regard to the use and maintenance of agency vehicles.

Responsible to the Family Services Coordinator for the following areas:

• Maintains full funded enrollment and a waiting list at their assigned site.
• Assists families through the enrollment process and their transition into the Head Start Program, as needed.
• Participates in the orientation of new families, and reviews or updates returning families on program changes.
• Monitors attendance daily and works with parents to ensure that an average daily attendance of not less than 85% is maintained.
• Maintains regular communication with all enrolled families through home visits and other means of communication. Meets with individual families monthly. Additional home visits may be required at the request of the family or as needed. (Exceptions to the minimum required must be at the approval of the Family Services Coordinator or Program Director).
• Works with parents to assess strengths and needs and to identify personal and family goals, which include a plan of action to address barriers that might inhibit goal attainment.
• Provides direct services and referrals to other resources in the community, in order to support families in achieving their goals and meeting their family’s needs.
• Provides support to families who experience emergency situations or who are in crisis including maintaining weekly contact with the family until the situation is resolved.
• Supports teamwork and coordination by maintaining open communication with staff and coordinators, including participation in Child & Family Reviews, Shared Family Reviews, Case Reviews, and Case Conferences.
• Provides information, training and other support to parents to help them recognize and better understand all aspects of their child’s development and their role as being their child’s primary caretaker and educator.
• Provides information and support so that parents can take advantage of the opportunities available for their involvement in the Head Start program, including facilitating small group training, discussion groups and workshops.
• Works with parents to help them understand the important role they play toward enhancing their child’s experience in Head Start and toward the success of the program.
• Assists parents with needed follow up on the child’s physical, dental, vision, and auditory screenings. Meets with the Health Services Coordinator as scheduled. Monitors and documents health related progress in COPA.
• Meets with the Family Services Coordinator monthly to review and update work with families and to discuss general areas of performance.
• Provides orientation and guidance to the site parent committee and encourages parental participation on Policy Council and other program committees. In coordination with other staff and Coordinators, plans monthly group activities with parents that correspond with the Performance Standard requirements.
• Keeps informed about resources available within the local community, the county, and surrounding areas. Shares this information with parents and staff. Seeks to develop a working relationship with community partners whose resources may be available to enrolled families.
• Provides information and links parents with other community services as they transition out of Head Start.
• Completes all required documentation in accordance with policies, procedures and established deadlines including all reports and other written tasks.
• Greets parents and guardians as they drop off or pick up their child at the center, as applicable.
• Supports the Head Start center to meet all federal, state, and local regulations and ensures the safety of the children by covering staff break or substituting in the classroom due to a staffing need.
• Forms connections with children by participating in the classroom two hours per week

Physical Requirements:

Hearing-ordinary conversation

Weight-lifting up to 50#

Physical Demands-climbing, stooping, kneeling, reaching, handling

Visual acuity, near and far

Talking-ordinary

“All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or status as a protected veteran.”

This document does not create an employment contract, implied or otherwise, other than "at will" relationship.