Head Start Family Advocate

Purpose Statement

The job of Head Start Family Advocate is done for the purpose/s of facilitating processes; ensuring operation in compliance with county, state and/or federal requirements; to support families and provide comprehensive services to conveying information regarding school and/or district activities, procedures, and providing or referring families support services. This job reports to Early Childhood Principal.

Essential Functions

Assist District and Building Administrators with needed staff development sessions for the purpose of training staff members in addressing student mental and behavioral health.

Coordinate monthly parent/child activities for the program, prepare the agenda, scheduling guest presenters, assuring communication with appropriate community and staff members, and preparing the minutes for the purpose of ensuring the program is successful.

Coordinate, facilitate, recruit and maintain volunteer partnerships with families and community members for the purpose of organizing and facilitating partnership as a Caring For Kids Liaison. Collaborate with the district volunteer coordinator to ensure all volunteers meet required background screenings.

Develop strength based long and short-term goals in collaboration with families by assessing their needs and those of their child for the purpose of ensuring connections are made between identified needs at intake and family chosen goals.

Facilitate student groups and classroom lessons on issues (e.g. divorce, grief, anger management, etc.) for the purpose of providing emotional support to help students maintain focus on educational achievement.

Facilitate, coordinate and follow the 504 district process for the purpose of ensuring all students who need 504 are provided an opportunity to determine eligibility. Work with an elementary counselor to transition 504 to Kindergarten.

Follow the Three Trails Policy and procedures to provide orientation to accepted participants, establish relationships, facilitate connections to staff for the purpose of acclimating families to the school setting.

Gather cultural information, expectations and needs of each family and use this information to provide culturally sensitive services including providing them in the family's preferred language or through an interpreter, to the extent possible for the purpose of ensuring families can share personal information in an environment in which they feel safe.

Organize and facilitate health screenings and work with health services to ensure all heath requirements are being met and parents are provided with access to insurance and healthcare for the purpose of monitoring health service documentation and completion of health screenings and referrals throughout the program year.

Participate in interdisciplinary staffing meetings to review, respond and recommend resources and interventions for staff, students and families for the purpose of addressing and determining how to prioritize and address their need.

Participate in school and home visits to families as needed for the purpose of supporting family partnership objectives.

Plan, implement and monitor recruitment plans to enroll, maintain and recruit eligible children into the program. Facilitate transition plans between outside services and kindergarten for the purpose of creating a successful program.

Possess a working knowledge of community agencies and resources and coordinates activities with a variety of outside social services agencies, school sites, etc. (e.g. mental health, probation, medical, DFS, etc.) for the purpose of providing referrals for families and/or students.

Spend no less than 75% of the work time (30 hours per week) in activities directly related to working with families for the purpose of supporting families.

Track and calculate attendance for monthly reporting, documenting reasons for absences for the purpose of completing and maintaining other records and reports necessary to document achievement of Head Start goals, objectives, and contracts.

Experience: Job related experience is required

Education: Master's degree in job related area

Equivalency: Minimum (3) year related work in Early Childhood or Social Work is required

Certificates and Licenses: Teaching Credential

Clearances: Criminal Background Clearance

***If interested in this position, apply @ www.raytownschools.org***

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: From $47,225.00 per year

Benefits:

• Dental insurance
• Employee assistance program
• Employee discount
• Flexible spending account
• Health insurance
• Health savings account
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Professional development assistance
• Referral program
• Retirement plan
• Vision insurance

Patient demographics:

• Children

Schedule:

• Monday to Friday

Education:

• Master's (Required)

License/Certification:

• Teaching Credential (Preferred)

Work Location: In person