Family Service Advocate

Description

POSITION OVERVIEW:

Full time, 12-month position

The Family Service Advocate guides families in their efforts to become more self- sufficient, to

promote childrens learning and development, to set achievable goals by engaging in the Family

Partnership Process and to become strong advocates for themselves and their families while

providing an environment that encourages them to grow and reach their fullest potential. The

Family Service Advocate ensures that families receive the support and services described in the

Head Start Performance Standards in accordance with policies, procedures, and the philosophy of

the MPP Board of Directors and the Head Start Policy Council.

Essential Duties

• Uses the Parent, Family, and Community Engagement Framework to assess and identify
  
  

family strengths and needs as directed by the Office Head Start in accordance with the

following family engagement outcomes: family well-being, parent-child relationships, families

as lifelong educators, families as learners, family engagement in transitions, family

connections to peers and community, and families as advocates and leaders.

• Invites families to engage in a Family Partnership Process early in the program year which
  
  

includes an assessment of the familys needs, interests and strengths, links to community

resources, and an option for families to set goals and to enter into a Family Partnership

Agreement.

• Encourages parents to engage in their childrens education, learning and development while
  
  

supporting individual parent-child relationships.

• Maintains monthly two-way communication with families while establishing a professional
  
  

relationship of trust, respect, reliability, and support and then building upon that relationship

to help Head Start families meet their own goals.

• Secures resources and provides crisis intervention services.
• Maintains accurate up-to-date documentation for all Family Service activities to include but
  
  

not limited to; Baseline, Mid-Year, and End-of-Year Family Assessments, Ongoing Family

Partnership Processes, Monthly contact, Absenteeism, Emergency Contact Update forms,

Classroom Transfers and Nutritional documentation as needed.

• Monitors children's health assessments as required by the Head Start Performance
  
  

Standards. Provides assistance to families in acquiring the necessary health and dental

screenings and any additional services that may be required in order to help the child to

maintain optimal health.

• Monitors weekly attendance for absenteeism. Contacts families when children are more
  
  

than one hour tardy for school without prior notification and conducts a home visit when

children are absent for two (2) consecutive days without prior notification.

• Uses computer for data entry, and communication with staff, families and community
  
  

members.

• Assists families in the program enrollment process.
• Assists in transitioning from Early Head Start to Head Start from home into the program and
  
  

from other community based early childhood programs into a Head Start program or vice

versa, as well assisting in transitioning Head Start students to Kindergarten.

• Maintains a good working relationship with Head Starts Community Partners. Has a
  
  

working knowledge of exparte's, voluntary placement agreements, and custody agreements.

• Possess and demonstrates the ability to work both individually and as a cooperative team
  
  

member.

Requirements

• High School Diploma or equivalent, required.
• Willing to attain a credential or certification in social work, human services, counseling or a
  
  

related field within eighteen months of hire, required.

• Bachelor's degree or Associates Degree in Sociology, Social Work, Psychology,
  
  

Counseling, Human Services or a related field, prefer ed.

• Valid Driver License.
  
  

Macon Program for Progress is an Equal Opportunity Employer