Family Advocate

Position Objective

Are youpassionate about empowering families and making a lasting impact in yourcommunity? Join us at UETHDA and become a vital part of our Head Start Program!We're looking for someone who’s mission-driven, future-focused, and ready tobring fresh ideas to the table. As a Family Advocate, you’ll be achampion for families—helping parents get involved, stay connected, and supporttheir child’s educational journey.

Reportingto the Family Services Coordinator, you’ll build meaningful relationshipsthrough home visits, connect families with helpful services, and tackle thebarriers that may get in the way of student success. We’re looking for someonewho’s not afraid to take initiative, think critically, and make thoughtfuldecisions that truly benefit our families and our program.

Ifyou’re a natural encourager, a strategic thinker, and someone who believesevery family deserves a strong start, we’d love to meet you!

Capable of being an advocate for UETHDA and the Head Start Program and able to deliver oral presentations on behalf of UETHDA and the Head Start Program to Policy Council, Board of Directors, UETHDA Directors Team, and outside entities.

Our Culture

The Upper East Tennessee Human Development Agency has been a strong force in the community since 1964. Our mission can be summed up with “Helping People. Changing Lives.” We are looking for staff who are passionate about helping people and making a difference in their community.

The Purpose of the Head Start Program is to instill School Readiness in children and families. This is accomplished through providing high quality teaching and education experiences, superior health and nutrition guidance, establishing relationships and giving support to families in order to achieve self-sufficiency by providing guidance and assisting in setting goals, fostering growth and development through maintaining adequate classrooms and spaces, and continuously improving the operation of the Head Start program through measuring Program strengths and weaknesses in order to more effectively achieve the goal of School Readiness.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

Student Recruitment & Enrollment: Implement outreach efforts to attract and enroll eligible students, ensuring full enrollment and timely replacements. Manage student records confidentially and facilitate health and developmental screenings in compliance with Head Start regulations.

Attendance Management: Monitor and address attendance issues, collaborating with families to improve participation and meet attendance goals.

Family & Social Services: Establish and maintain Family Partnership Agreements (FPA), providing resources and support to Head Start families. Facilitate communication among families, staff, and community partners to ensure coordinated service delivery.

Parent Engagement: Encourage and support parent involvement through participation in program activities, meetings, and events, including providing transportation when needed.

Monitoring & Compliance: Track program data, prepare reports, and ensure compliance with Head Start standards. Participate in assessments and reporting processes, addressing concerns such as child welfare and program performance.

Collaboration & Communication: Foster strong communication with internal teams, community partners, and educational institutions to support program goals. Participate in professional development and networking opportunities to enhance service delivery.

Other duties as assigned.

Leadership Competencies

Work Environment/Physical Demands

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Occasional standing, lifting up to 50 pounds, stooping, bending, and reaching. There is potential to encounter various weather conditions at outdoor recruitment events.

Benefits Package

Vacation:

• 1 day of Vacation accrued per month worked

Healthcare/Personal Benefits:

• 1 Day of Healthcare/Personal accrued per month worked

Holidays:

• 11 Paid Holidays

Additional Benefits:

• Healthcare through the State of Tennessee. UETHDA pays 100% of the monthly premium for the Employee Only (estimated cost paid by UETHDA for the employee is $600 per month ($7,200 annually). Additional insurance coverage is available but cost difference will be paid by the employee.
• Dental, Vision, Short-Term, Long-Term Disability and Voluntary Life Insurance options are offered at 100% cost to the employee.
• Group Term Life Insurance for employee paid by UETHDA at 100% for coverage of 1.5 time the yearly wages
• Retirement Plan-Tennessee Consolidated Retirement System (TCRS). Eligible employees are required to contribute 5% of yearly wages (pre-tax basis to the defined TCRS plan). UETHDA contributes an amortized amount as determined by TCRS. Employees are vested upon 5 years of eligible service.
• Additional 401(K) and 457 Savings Plan also available without employer match.

Position Type/Expected Hours of Work

This is a full-time non-exempt position and is paid hourly. Typically, this position will work 37.5 hours per week and normal Agency working hours are 8:00 am to 4:30 pm. There is a potential for some evening and weekend events. This position has a temporary summer lay-off of 5-6 weeks from late-May until early-July. Employees are eligible to apply for unemployment during temporary seasonal lay-off. Benefit coverage continues during this temporary lay-off.

Travel

Travel is primarily locally during the business day, although there may be some out of the area travel for conferences.

Education and Experience

• Associate degree in social work/Human Services or High School Diploma / GED, with requirement to obtain a SSCBT credential or Family Services credential after hire.
• Bachelor’s degree in social work/Human Services or a combination of a Bachelor’s Degree in an unrelated field and relevant experience. (highly preferred)
• One year experience in related experience.
• Experience in working with culturally diverse clients.
• Proficient computer skills, to include Microsoft Excel, internet and e-mail.
• Excellent written and verbal communication.
• Working knowledge of local community resources in job area.
• Valid Tennessee Driver's License with F Endorsement/Proof of auto insurance.

EOE Statement

UETHDA hires high quality staff from a variety of fields and education levels who have a passion for changing the lives of others. UETHDA is an equal opportunity employer (EOE).

Salary strictly based on education.

Associates degree in related area $17.50

Bachelors degree non-related to Social Work $18.00

Bachelors degree in Social work or related $19.24