Family Advocate

United Community Center; Milwaukee (WI); On-site; USD 42,000 - 54,000; Full time

Job summary

United Community Center in Milwaukee seeks a Family Partnership Advocate to support families through a family-centered case management model, developing and carrying out Family Partnership Agreements, enrolling children, and coordinating with Head Start/Early Head Start staff.

The role requires maintaining a caseload of about 50 families, coordinating services, attending trainings, and ensuring compliance with Head Start standards while upholding confidentiality and cultural competency.

Qualifications

• Maintains a caseload of approximately 50 families.
• Collaborates with center staff to align family goals with classroom activities.
• Attends workshops, meetings, and training sessions as directed by supervisor.
• Adheres to Head Start standards, licensing regulations, and NAC criteria.

Responsibilities

• Maintains a caseload of approximately 50 families.
• Coordinates with center staff to align family partnership goals with classroom efforts.
• Participates in team planning and evaluation of Family and Community Partnership goals.
• Registers children and ensures compliant enrollment process.
• Documents family strengths, needs, and self-sufficiency goals.

Skills

Caseload management

Family-centered approach

Communication skills

Team collaboration

Cultural competency

Time management

Education

High school diploma or GED

Credential in social work / human services (within 18 months)

Job description

This position supports and assists families as they identify and meet their own goals through a family-centered case management model for developing and carrying out the program Family Partnership Agreements, including responsibility for child files, enrollment/applications, etc. This position also assists with the completion of the child health requirements and other required screenings and assessments. This position supports the larger system of social services coordinated by Head Start/Early Head Start, thereby supporting the goals of the program. The position may involve reassignment of caseloads and/or center location as deemed necessary for program operations.Essential Duties and ResponsibilitiesMaintains a caseload of approximately 50 families.Coordinates with center staff to align family partnership goals with classroom efforts and ensure an integrated child and family curriculum.Participates in team planning, implementation, and evaluation of Family and Community Partnership goals and objectives.Attends recruitment events as assigned, including evening and weekend activities.Recruits families and maintains both a waiting list and funded enrollment.Registers children and ensures compliance with the enrollment process.Maintains regular communication with teaching staff, while respecting family confidentiality, to ensure coordinated services that meet the individual needs of children and families.Conducts community outreach to encourage participation from individuals previously unaffiliated with the Head Start/Early Head Start program, including promoting volunteer opportunities.Arranges for educational and other appropriate interventions, including family access to counseling and information on mental health, substance abuse, child abuse and neglect, and domestic violence.Documents efforts to assist families in identifying their strengths, needs, and self-sufficiency goals.Performs necessary data entry to maintain current and accurate family files.Understands, generates, and documents in-kind and other allowable costs that contribute to the non-federal share requirement.Attends all workshops, meetings, and training sessions as directed by the immediate supervisor.Participates in all required staff and parent meetings and activities.Follows up on student absences and irregular attendance by contacting families and completing home visits.Maintains knowledge of Head Start Performance Standards and local child care licensing regulations.Demonstrates awareness of regulations related to occupational disease and injury prevention, including universal precautions and contamination prevention.Becomes thoroughly familiar with and adheres to the Head Start Employee Handbook, Human Resources Policies and Procedures, Head Start Operations Manual, and all other Head Start manuals and resources.Provides classroom coverage and supports center operations as needed, as directed by the Center Supervisor or Principal.Performs other duties as assigned.KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIESHelpfulness. The desire to help patients and their families is the most important asset in being a successful patient advocate.Demonstrate the ability to listen to others and remain receptive to new ideas.Demonstrate the ability to address criticism in an appropriate manner and develop constructive outcomes.Demonstrate flexibility, calm, and a professional manner when necessary to help families in crisis.Demonstrates the ability to communicate with families and clients.Demonstrate sustained effort and enthusiasm in the quality and quantity of work.Demonstrate the ability to establish and maintain positive, effective working relationships with staff and the community.Demonstrate effective time management, organizational skills, and prioritization of work to meet the needs of the clients.Demonstrate the ability to follow and communicate effectively, both orally and in writing.Demonstrate initiative, flexibility, and the ability to work independently.Demonstrate excellent human relations and interpersonal skills.Demonstrate ability to design and deliver technology-enhanced instruction.COMPLIANCE AND POLICY ADHERENCEEnsure compliance with all Head Start Program Performance Standards, including child safety, documentation, supervision, and classroom quality standards.Adhere to all State Licensing regulations (DPI and DCF), including mandated ratios, health and safety protocols, and staff training requirements.Support and uphold Young Star quality standards by implementing developmentally appropriate practices, continuous quality improvement, and family engagement.Maintain program quality in accordance with the National Accreditation Commission (NAC) criteria, including curriculum implementation, assessments, and teacher-child interactions.Follow the guidelines and expectations outlined in the Early Learning Staff Handbook, including attendance, communication, professional conduct, and daily responsibilities.Comply with all UCC Personnel Policies, including confidentiality, workplace expectations, and team collaboration.Participate in required professional development and training hours to meet federal, state, and accreditation requirements.Ensure active supervision of children at all times, as required by Head Start, licensing, United Community, and NAC guidelines.Accurately complete and submit required documentation (e.g., lesson plans, child observations, incident reports) in a timely manner.Demonstrate cultural competency and uphold program values of equity, inclusion, and respect in all interactions with children, families, and colleagues.Check and respond to emails to ensure timely communication with supervisors, team members, and families, in alignment with agency expectations and professional responsibilities.Minimum requirement is a high school diploma or GED or higher, and within eighteen months of hire, a credential or certification in social work, human services, family services, counseling, or a related field.Bilingual preferred (English/Spanish).To drive agency vehicles (if applicable), must have a valid driver's license and car insurance.Working Conditions:Work is generally performed in an office environment. The Noise level in the work environment is moderate to occasionally loud. May be required to operate a motor vehicle during the course of duties.Position requires frequent walking, standing, going up and down the stairs, lifting, etc.Standard office equipment generally used includes: Telephone, Personal Computer or Tablet, Printer/Photocopy Machine, Fax Machine, and CalculatorMay be required to lift to 40 pounds.Responsible for monitoring student behavior and ensuring a safe environment during physical activity.May require early morning, evening, or weekend hours for extracurricular sports or events.