Head Start-Family Development Advocate 2024-2025 School Year

***All interested applicants MUST apply and submit an application at www.wacog.com/careers***

Western Arizona Council of Governments (WACOG) recognizes and appreciates the strengths of our workforce. We strive to provide a professional and supportive environment where employees can achieve their career goals. The WACOG workforce is encouraged to focus on their strengths and abilities to reach their full potential.

WACOG is the Head Start Grantee for Mohave, La Paz and Yuma Counties. Our programs focus on school readiness for all children and families. As a leader in quality early childhood programs in the area, WACOG is a champion of developmentally appropriate practices.

SUMMARY STATEMENT

Under general direction, participate in the planning coordinating of activities that provide support for partner providers, children, and families to provide high quality, comprehensive Head Start/Early Head Star/Child Care Partnership (CCP) services and programs. This position partners with families in setting goals, determining strategies to achieve identified family goals, problem solving and help families establish realistic timelines to achieve goals, designed to promote the social competence, cognitive and language development, and physical growth of pre-school children.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

1)Develop and maintain respectful partnerships with parents/families, professionally and regularly, to structure services that encourage trust, ongoing two-way communication, family well-being, ongoing learning and development, and a welcoming program environment that incorporate the unique cultural, ethnic and linguistic backgrounds of families in the program and community.

2)Abide by the Program Standards of Conduct.

3)Collaborate with families in a family partnership process that identifies needs, interests, strengths, goals, and services and resources that support family well-being, including family safety, health, and economic stability. Review individual progress; jointly revise goals, evaluate and track whether identified needs and goals are met; help families achieve identified individualized family engagement outcomes and adjust strategies on an ongoing basis.

4)Implement family engagement strategies that are designed to foster parental confidence and skills in promoting children's learning and development. Offer activities that support parent-child relationships and child development including language, dual language, literacy, and bi-literacy development as appropriate.

5)Work with program staff to support classroom and center operations as needed; assist in maintaining active supervision requirements; consistently increase knowledge and understanding of the teaching role to provide a higher level of support when needed.

6)Conduct timely checks with families when a child is absent, to include driving to homes; provide parents with information about the importance of their child's regular attendance and partner with them to promote consistent attendance. Implement strategies to improve individual attendance such as direct contact with parents or intensive case management, as necessary.

7)Act as a referral coordinator to facilitate access to community services that are responsive to children's and families’ needs and family partnership goals; provide ongoing support to assist parents' navigation through health systems to meet the general health and specifically identified needs of their children and assist parents in accessing health insurance for themselves and their families.

8)Facilitate, coordinate speakers, and/or lead parent classes that promotes Head Start's mission while promoting active parent engagement in the classroom/center.

9)Provide all services and supports as required by the Head Start Program Performance Standards/Agency.

10)Actively participate in the recruitment and enrollment of children eligible for the Head Start program, including foster children, homeless children, and children with disabilities, within communities served by the program. This shall include driving to canvas neighborhoods, accepting and reviewing applications, collecting and entering documentation, and interviewing.

11)Plan, facilitate, and conduct home visits on a regular basis to support family outcomes; complete necessary assessments and reports.

12)Conduct developmental screenings and ensure each child's ongoing assessment is linked to curriculum goals; use screening results to develop written referrals for children with suspected disabilities.

13)Attend IEP reviews and apply goals to meet children's needs; facilitate the IEP process in a timely manner

14)Prepare and maintain accurate records including ongoing observations to evaluate each child's growth and development while maintaining the confidentiality of child, family and program information.

15)Perform data entry into assigned electronic systems and paper files to include MTS and ChildPlus.

16)Understand and adhere to all WACOG and applicable external regulations, policies and procedures, and safety standards to include Head Start Performance Standards. Arizona Child Care Licensing, CACFP, and all Mandated Reporters requirements regarding suspected child abuse and/or neglect.

17)Assist Center Manager and classroom staff, including performing the duties of, as needed.

18)Remain prepared and organized with necessary forms and documentation for this position.

19)Develop professionally by taking educational training or workshops as required.

20)Travel within WACOG service area, including overnight stays as needed; additional travel maybe required.

21)Maintain regular and punctual attendance; work outside of standard business hours as needed.

22)Utilize tact and discretion to maintain confidentiality; project a positive and professional image of WACOG at all times.

23)Other duties as assigned or required of the position.

KNOWLEDGE/SKILLS/ABILITIES (KSAs) The individual who holds this position must be able to perform the essential duties and responsibilities satisfactorily. The KSAs listed below are representative of the knowledge, skills, and/or abilities needed for satisfactory performance.

- Demonstrated competency to plan and implement experiences that ensure effective implementation of the Parent/Family/Community Engagement Framework and to build respectful, culturally responsive, and trusting relationships with families

- Ability to engage in mutually respectful goal-oriented partnerships with families to promote parent-child relationships and family well-being

- Skill in supporting families’ safety, health, financial stability, life goals, and aspirations

- Ability to establish and maintain a safe and healthy learning environment

- Ability to respect and respond appropriately to the culture, language, values, and family structures of each family served

- Knowledge to facilitate social networks and group activities that support families’ strengths, interests, and needs

- Knowledge to act as a member of a comprehensive services team so that family service activities are coordinated and integrated throughout the program

- Ability to support families in using community resources that enhance family well-being and children’s learning and development

- Skill in collecting and analyzing information to find new solutions to challenge as part of ongoing monitoring in order to continuously improve services; define problems, establish facts and trends, and draw valid conclusions

- Skill in improving the readiness of children for school by educating families on the importance of engagement for educational success

- Ability to support the social and emotional development of children

- Ability to interpret a wide variety of technical instructions

- Working knowledge of Head Start Program Performance Standards and Arizona State Licensing requirements

- Ability to write technical reports that address measures of compliance and quality

- Ability to perform accurate and timely data entry

- Skill in navigating a variety of software programs

- Ability to verbally communicate, instruct, read, and write in the English language and ability to communicate in the language of the families with or without aid

- Ability to form and maintain professional and productive relationships

REQUIRED EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE

Associate’s degree in family studies, human services, social work, early childhood education or related degree

Two years related experience

Per Head Start Program Performance Standards, currently:

Credential or certification in social work, human services, family services, counseling, or a related field within 18 months of hire.

CDA credential or comparable credential, or equivalent coursework as part of an associate’s or bachelor’s degree

PREFERRED EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE

Bachelor’s degree in child development, early childhood education, social work, human services, family services, or counseling

EOE/ADA

***All interested applicants MUST apply and submit an application at www.wacog.com/careers***

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $18.00 - $19.00 per hour

Benefits:

• 401(k)
• 401(k) matching
• Dental insurance
• Employee assistance program
• Flexible schedule
• Flexible spending account
• Health insurance
• Health savings account
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Retirement plan
• Tuition reimbursement
• Vision insurance

Schedule:

• 8 hour shift
• Monday to Friday

Work Location: In person