Family Advocate

Community Action Corporation of South Texas; Kingsville (TX); On-site; USD 32,000 - 42,000; Full time

Job summary

Community Action Corporation of South Texas is seeking a Family Advocate to provide case management for Head Start families across health, nutrition, and family engagement content areas. You will coordinate with staff and community partners, document services, and support enrollment and transitions.

Able to build relationships with families, track progress, and connect families to immunizations, care plans, and referrals. Strong teamwork and adherence to program standards are required.

Qualifications

• Baccalaureate or Associate degree in Social Work, Human Services, Family Services, Counseling, or a related field; or Credential or certification in Social Work, Human Services, Family Services, Counseling, or related field
• Prepare and train in the competency goals and indicators for Family Service Workers and attend the certification course as per the Head Start Act 648A – Staff qualifications for Family Service Workers.
• Valid Texas Driver's License.
• Must pass DFPS background check.
• Must pass pre-employment physical.
• Obtain Health Certificate annually.
• Within 30 days of employment must be Pediatric CPR & First Aid certified and have a current Food Handler’s Card.
• Must attend 24 clock hours of professional development and staff training per year as outlined by the Head Start Program Performance Standards and Texas HHS Minimum Standards for Child Care Centers.

Responsibilities

• Establish community partnerships to enhance the quality of services provided to Head Start 0-5 families.
• Assist Enrollment and PFCE content areas as it related to outreach, recruitment, transitions, and other required activities.
• Connect families with opportunities that support family engagement in school readiness, safety, financial literacy, health and family wellness through parent committees and trainings.
• Deliver appropriate and time sensitive case management services to diverse family systems and families experiencing crisis.
• Maintain accurate, organized and up to date documentation of event notes related to health, mental health, disabilities, family engagement and nutrition.
• Works closely with Operation Manager to report on family related services and end-of-year Program Information Reports.
• Establish strong relationships with families by utilizing individualized Family Assessments and a strengths-based approach to set family goals.
• Maintain on-going contact with teaching staff to share home information and gain information about child performance.
• Assist families in obtaining health, care plans, immunizations, and referrals as needed.
• Assure completion of health assessments for all assigned sites per standards.
• Provide information and referrals for families and children and follow up on referrals.
• Assist teaching staff with documentation and child supervision in class.
• Ensure high-quality safe, nurturing, and educational practices through positive staff-child interactions.
• Make referrals for families and children and follow up on service receipt.
• Complete enrollment interviews and monitor classroom folders; upload forms to software.
• Other duties as assigned by Supervisor.

Skills

Decision making

Team collaboration

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Social Work, Human Services, Family Services, Counseling, or related field

Credential or certification in Social Work, Human Services, Family Services, Counseling, or related field

Valid Texas Driver's License

Background check (DFPS)

Pre-employment physical

Health Certificate annually

Pediatric CPR & First Aid within 30 days

Professional development 24 hours yearly

Master's degree in Social Work, Human Services, Family Services, Counseling, or related field (preferred)

Job description

General Summary

Provide case management for designated families through referrals and supportive services. The Family Advocate acts as a liaison between families, staff and community partners and is responsible for the planning, implementation and documentation of services across health, nutrition, disability, transition, mental health, and the parent, family and community engagement content areas.

Primary Responsibilities

1. Establish community partnerships to enhance the quality of services provided to Head Start 0-5 families.
2. Assist Enrollment and PFCE content areas as it related to outreach, recruitment, transitions, and other required activities.
3. Connect families with opportunities that support family engagement in school readiness, safety, financial literacy, health and family wellness through the encouragement of participation in parent committee meetings, advisory committee meetings, parent/caregiver trainings, and Policy Council.
4. Deliver appropriate and time sensitive case management services to diverse family systems and families experiencing crisis.
5. Maintain accurate, organized and up to date documentation of event notes along with information related to health, mental health, disabilities, family engagement and nutrition within the Head Start electronic software.
6. Works closely with Operation Manager to report on family related services and end-of-year Program Information Reports.
7. Establish strong relationships with families by utilizing individualized Family Assessments and a strengths-based approach to set family goals.
8. Maintain on-going contact with teaching staff in order to share relevant home information and gain information regarding child performance in the classroom.
9. Assist families in obtaining current, up-to-date immunizations, care plans, physical, dental, mental health, disabilities and nutrition requirements, including necessary referrals and follow-up.
10. Assure completion of health assessments for all assigned sites in accordance with Program Performance Standards.
11. Provide information and referrals for families and children as appropriate. Follow up and document all referrals to determine services received.
12. Assist teaching staff with documentation and child supervision in the classroom as required.
13. Assist teaching staff by ensuring all children are provided with high-quality safe, nurturing and educational practices through positive staff-child interactions, safe handling of children and child-centered learning experiences, as needed.
14. Makes appropriate referrals for families and children and follows up on referrals to determine if services were received and needs were met.
15. Responsible for the completion of enrollment interviews, monitoring of classroom folders and ensuring all forms are uploaded into electronic software.
16. Any other duties as assigned by the assigned Supervisor.

Work Experience

Required

• Experience working with parents and/or
• Children in a childcare, school, or office setting in which coordination of social services are provided.

Preferred

• Minimum of 1 year Head Start experience

Education/Certifications/Licensure

Required

• Baccalaureate or Associate degree in Social Work, Human Services, Family Services, Counseling, or a related field; or
• Credential or certification in Social Work, Human Services, Family Services, Counseling, or related field
• Prepare and train in the competency goals and indicators for Family Service Workers and attend the certification course as per the Head Start Act 648A – Staff qualifications for Family Service Workers.
• Valid Texas Driver's License.
• Must pass DFPS background check.
• Must pass pre-employment physical.
• Obtain Health Certificate annually.
• Within 30 days of employment must be Pediatric CPR & First Aid certified and have a current Food Handler’s Card.
• Must attend 24 clock hours of professional development and staff training per year as outlined by the Head Start Program Performance Standards and Texas HHS Minimum Standards for Child Care Centers.

Preferred

• Master's degree in Social Work, Human Services, Family Services, Counseling, or a related field.

Skills

• Frequent significant decision and problem-solving abilities.
• Ability to work as a team member collaborating with staff, parents and community resources.

Physical Requirements

Able to perform the following physical reuqirements of the position with or without reasonable accommodation: critical sensory requirments include general vision; specific vision abiliites required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus. Hear or lsiten in the normal range (corrected) and speak and give direction clearly. Able to walk, sit, stand, kneel, crouch, crawl, reach, lift, carry, push, pull or otherwise move objects up to 10 pounds., and occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds.

If an offer of employment is extended, pre-employment physical must be passed before employment can begin.

Working Conditions:

Work is performed in a classroom/office setting where minimal exposure to injury exists. Hours of work will generally be during regular business hours and on average at least 40 hours per work. There will be variations in work hours due to employee special projects and deadlines.