Family Advocate

Community Action Partnership of Strafford County; Dover (NH); On-site; USD 36,000 - 48,000; Full time

Job summary

Community Action Partnership of Strafford County is seeking a Family Advocate to support families and children enrolled in Head Start/Early Head Start center-based programs. You will foster strong relationships between families, classrooms, and the community to promote family engagement and access to resources.

The role emphasizes confidentiality, individualized family partnerships, and collaboration with education, health, and community services to promote child development and family

Qualifications

• Minimum of an Associate degree in Social Services or related field with two (2) years’ experience in casework delivery to families with young children. Bachelor’s Degree preferred.
• Intermediate computer literacy including online data systems and Microsoft Office.
• Experience working with young children and their families.
• Knowledge of and sensitivity to the unique challenges faced by families living in poverty.

Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain positive, supportive relationships with families.
• Maintain confidentiality and respect for the dignity of each family served.
• Conduct initial family needs assessments and assist in developing individualized family partnership agreements with goals grounded in the Parent, Family and Community Engagement Framework (family outcomes).
• Monitor family progress toward goals and provide ongoing support.
• Advocate for families and support access to community resources and services such as housing, employment, education, and health care.
• Conduct regular home visits and family contact according to family needs and program guidelines.
• Maintain accurate and timely documentation of family interactions, referrals, and follow-ups in the Child Plus data system.
• Collaborate with teaching staff, health, mental health, and disability team members to support child development and family engagement.
• Encourage and facilitate family participation in engagement activities, parent committee and policy council.
• Ensure compliance with Head Start Program Performance Standards, federal and state regulations, and agency policies.
• Engage in recruitment activities including soliciting agency referrals, distributing posters and flyers, visiting homes to complete applications, and recruiting door-to-door on an ongoing basis.
• Monitor Child Plus entries to ensure vision, hearing, health and dental screenings, physicals, and immunizations are complete and entered according to standards.

Skills

Computer literacy

Experience with children and families

Sensitivity to poverty

Communication skills

Education

Associate degree in Social Services or related field

Bachelor's Degree preferred

Tools

Head Start data systems

Microsoft Office

Job description

EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE

• Minimum of an AssociatedegreeinSocialServicesorrelatedfieldwithtwo(2)years’experienceincaseworkdeliveryto families with youngchildren. Bachelor’s Degree preferred.
• Intermediatecomputerliteracyincludingonline data systems andMicrosoftOffice.
• Experienceworkingwithyoung childrenandtheirfamilies.
• Knowledgeof andsensitivitytotheuniquechallengesfacedbyfamilieslivinginpoverty.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION

The Family Advocate plays a vital role in supporting families and children enrolled in the Head Start/Early Head Start center-based programming. This position fosters strong relationships between families, the center-based classrooms, and the community. The Family Advocate is responsible for supporting family well-being, promoting family engagement, and helping families access resources to meet their goals and needs.

EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE

• Minimum of an AssociatedegreeinSocialServicesorrelatedfieldwithtwo(2)years’experienceincaseworkdeliveryto families with youngchildren. Bachelor’s Degree preferred.
• Intermediatecomputerliteracyincludingonline data systems andMicrosoftOffice.
• Experienceworkingwithyoung childrenandtheirfamilies.
• Knowledgeof andsensitivitytotheuniquechallengesfacedbyfamilieslivinginpoverty.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Develop and maintain positive, supportive relationships with families.
• Maintain confidentiality and respect for the dignity of each family served.
• Conduct initial family needs assessments and assist in developing individualized family partnership agreements which include goals grounded in the Parent, Family and Community Engagement Framework (family outcomes).
• Monitor family progress toward goals and provide ongoing support.
• Advocate for families and support access to community resources and services such as housing, employment, education, and health care.
• Conduct regular home visits and family contact according to family needs and program guidelines.
• Maintain accurate and timely documentation of family interactions, referrals, and follow-ups in the Child Plus data system.
• Collaborate with teaching staff, health, mental health, and disability team members to support child development and family engagement.
• Encourage and facilitate family participation in engagement activities, parent committee and policy council.
• Ensure compliance with Head Start Program Performance Standards, federal and state regulations, and agency policies.
• Engage in a wide range of recruitment activities including soliciting agency referrals, distributing posters and flyers, visiting homes to complete applications, and recruiting door-to-door onanongoingbasis.
• Monitor Child Plus entries on a regular basis to ensure that all required vision, hearing, health anddentalscreenings,physicals,andimmunizations forcaseloadarecomplete and entered accordingtoHeadStartPerformanceStandardsand StateChild Carelicensing.

GENERAL:

• Continue professional growth and development by participating in ongoing ECE education, training programs,workshops/conferences (as budget allows), reading articles and professional journals pertaining toECEand Head Star/Early Head Start.
• Participateinvariousmeetingsincluding programmeetingsandcollaborative meetingswithotheragencies as assigned.
• Reportanyconcerns for safety,health, ornon-compliancetotheFamilyand Community Engagement Manager or Early Care and Education Director.
• Performotherduties asmaybeassigned bysupervisors thatare reasonablywithin thescopeofdutieslisted above.

OTHER QUALIFICATIONS:

• Strongcommitmentto maintainingconfidentiality.
• Excellentorganizationandtimemanagement skillswithabilityto prioritize andmanage workloadanddeadlines.
• Excellentproblem-solvingskills.
• Abilityto work independentlyaswell asin a team environment.
• Abilitytowork flexiblehours andtravelwhennecessary.
• Reliablesourceoftransportation with100/300 liabilityinsurance coverage.
• Physicalstrength/endurance/mobilitytoperform in astandard dailyrequiredwork routine.
• Maintainandmodelgoodhygiene,appropriatedress(neat,clean,andmodest),a professionalbehaviorto parents, staff,and the community.
• Maintaina positiveand productiveattitude.
• Demonstrate,throughpositivewordsandactions,respectforandacceptanceofincomeeligiblefamilies.

COMMUNICATIONSKILLS

• Beabletocommunicate effectivelywithstaff, volunteers,andfamiliesonaregularbasis.
• Effective communicationskills andabilitytofollow verbaland writteninstructions.
• Abilityto read, write, and communicate instructions.

GENERAL EXPECTATIONS

• Modelsdirect,positive,honest,andrespectfulbehaviorineveryaspectof workwithchildren,families,staff,andcommunitymembers.
• Energeticallyengagespeople,issues,andwork.
• Appliesthe highestethical standardsto themselves andothers onadailybasis.
• Supportsothersintheireffortstobeproductive andeffectiveandsucceedinworkand life.
• Activelyparticipatesinteambuilding,whichincludes sharingideasandmutualsupportofteammembers.
• Consistentlyusesinterpersonalskillsthatareappropriateforindividualstyles,personalities,cultures,the natureof thework, andtheenvironmentin whichthe work isbeingdone.
• Practicehonest,respectful,anddirectcommunicationaswellasactivelistening.
• Respectsconfidentialityof informationaboutagencystaff,personnelissues, andotherprogramoperations.

EMPLOYMENT SCREENING

ValidDriver'sLicenseandinsuredvehicle(100/300minimumcoverage)foruseonthejoboracceptablealternative,drivingrecordcheck,criminal record check, randomized drugscreening.

Head Start, Early Head Start, Childcare, and Home Visiting Programs are also subject to thefollowing: Head Start and childcare licensing requires a criminal record check and finger printing to becompletedpriortoemployment.Aninitialphysicalexaminationrecord,including aTBscreeningmustbe obtained within 60 days of hire, updated every three years, and kept on file with Human Resources.If aTBscreeningindicateshighrisk,resultsofa TB testmustbekeptonfileincluding anytreatmentreceived.Aninitial drivingrecordcheckwill beconducted.Licenseinformationwill also besubmitted.

totheagency’s automobileinsurance carrier.

MISSIONVISION&VALUES

OurMission:To reduce barriers to help clients improve their economic stability and well-being through education, advocacy and partnerships

OurVision:To eliminatepoverty

Our Values: Communication, Collaboration, Client-Focus, Accountability