Early Head Start is a federally funded community-based program serving low-income expectant mothers and families with infants and toddlers to age 3. The mission of EHS is school readiness through the promotion of healthy prenatal outcomes, the enhancement of development of very young children, and the promotion of healthy family functioning.
Family Advocates provide case management and work closely with families to help parents focus on and encourage parental involvement to promote the child’s development, provide information on community resources. They reach out to recruit new families and ensure full enrollment. Creating and maintaining a positive working relationship with parents is the key to the success of a Family Advocate. The Family Advocate helps parents focus on promoting their child’s development and encourage parental involvement. They are also responsible for helping the center comply with all Head Start performance standards that are related to families.
Job duties include:
- Provide case management to families with children enrolled in the child development centers by maintaining Family Partnership Agreements through individual meetings and home visits; support parents in attaining their goals and achieving self-sufficiency.
- Maintain documentation of health and well care records.
- Enter data for record keeping and reporting to meet federal guidelines.
- Recruit new families, ensure full enrollment and assist with maintaining waiting list ensuring that eligibility documentation, including medical and health records, is current and complete.
- Create and maintain a positive working relationship with parents; provide regular feedback on child’s ongoing developmental successes and challenges and assist parents in taking an active part in parent training, volunteering in classrooms, parent groups and Policy Council; serve as liaison with parents when children are absent or ill.
- Act as liaison between parents, Center Manager, teachers and community partners by providing feedback on parent issues and priorities.
- Participate in regular supervision with supervisor by providing regular updates.
- Maintain current level of knowledge on standards and other information on early childhood programs.
Education and experience required:
- Bachelor’s degree in Social Work or related field
- Prefer one (1) year experience working with children aged 0-3 or aged 3-5, and families
- Demonstrated written and spoken bilingual language skills in Spanish required
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite
- Ability to work a flexible work schedule to meet client needs – occasional evenings and weekends
- Ability to lift up to 50 pounds
- Successful completion of background checks is required upon hire, including TB test and physical exam
This description is intended to describe the essential job functions and the essential requirements for the performance of this job. It is not an exhaustive list of all duties, responsibilities and requirements of a person so classified.