Family Advocate

You Thrive Florida; Pierson (FL); On-site; USD 34,000 - 52,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Vacation & Sick Leave

PTO

Employer-paid health benefits

Vision & Dental Plans

403B retirement

Company paid holidays

Pet Insurance

Life Insurance (Basic $30,000)

Long-Term Disability Insurance (LTD)

AD&D Insurance

Public Service Loan Forgiveness Qual.,

Job summary

You Thrive Florida is seeking a dedicated Family Advocate to recruit and enroll eligible children in Head Start/Early Head Start programs across Hernando, Sumter, and Volusia counties. You will provide comprehensive case management, connect families with community resources, and collaborate with health services to meet child health requirements.

Responsibilities include preparing and maintaining family files, coordinating home visits, and promoting active parent engagement.

Qualifications

• High School Diploma required and FDC course completed.
• Credential in Social Work, Human Services, Family Services, counseling or related field preferred.
• Must obtain First Aid/CPR certification and begin Head Start/Early Head Start trainings within specified timelines.
• ERSEA certification within 1 year of hire.

Responsibilities

• Recruits eligible children for Head Start/Early Head Start, including children with disabilities.
• Completes applications, parent interviews, and enrollment.
• Provides case management to support families in identifying needs and goals; coordinates referrals and follow-up.
• Collaborates with health services staff to ensure child health requirements are met.
• Documents all case management activities in ChildPlus.net and maintains family files.
• Engages families in Parent Family and Community Engagement experiences and events.
• Promotes family participation and communicates with staff and parents regularly.
• Ensures compliance with Rilya Wilson Act and program policies.
• Attends trainings, staff meetings, and ongoing program monitoring activities.

Skills

Communication skills

Family/parent engagement

Data handling/confidentiality

Education

High School Diploma

FDC Course

Social Work / Human Services credential

First Aid/CPR certification

Head Start/Early Head Start certification training

ERSEA certification

Tools

ChildPlus.net

Job description

POSITION SUMMARY: Responsible for the recruitment and enrollment of eligible families. Responsible for identifying the needs of families and their children in Head Start/Early Head Start and for providing comprehensive case management services in an effort to empower them to achieve and maintain self-sufficiency.Schedule: Monday - Friday 7:30am - 4:00pmPlease apply online at www.youthrivefl.orgOnly completed and signed applications will be considered.Full Time Position- Benefits Eligible: Vacation, Sick, PTO, Employer paid health benefits, Vision & Dental Plans, 403B retirement, company paid holidays, Pet Insurance, Employer Paid Basic $30,000 Life Insurance Policy, Employer Paid Long-Term Disability Insurance (LTD) and Employer Paid Accidental Death and Dismemberment Insurance (AD&D). Public Service Loan Forgiveness Qualified Employer.ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:Recruits eligible children for the Head Start/Early Head Start program to meet enrollment requirements, including children with disabilities.Completes applications, parent interviews, and enrollment process.Schedules, facilitates and documents Project Spotlight in accordance with procedures and ensures follow up is complete.Provides case management to support families in identifying needs and goals, develop family partnership agreements, make referrals as necessary, and provide follow up.Collaborates with health services staff to ensure compliance with all child health requirements. Connects families with community resources to meet basic needs in times of crisis.Documents all aspects of the case management process in ChildPlus.net.May assist in scheduling initial home visit for teaching team as required by program and provides subsequent visits as deemed necessary.Prepares, maintains, and updates child/family files/records in accordance with policies and procedures.Supports families in coordinating, preparing and actively participating in the Parent Family and Community Engagement Experiences. Is an active participant in all parent events.Collaborates with the Parent, Family and Community Engagement Committee and Family Services Coordinator to ensure that parent/male engagement and parent activities occur at the center.Works collaboratively with center staff to promote and document family participation, and provide feedback to parents and staff regarding participationDocuments and provides follow up of excessive absenteeism and attendance concerns as required by program.Ensures compliance with the Rilya Wilson Act.Submits reports, documents, and files as directed. Meets monthly with the ERSEA Supervisor to discuss outcomes from reports.Maintains open and positive communication with families through ongoing contact and interaction. Greetsparents at child arrival and departure times to the extent possible. Provides information about community events to families.Works in collaboration with the Community Outreach Coordinator by participating in community activities/events (occasionally on weekday evenings or weekends) that support families, enhance the Head Start/Early Head Start program, and increase community awareness of Head Start/Early Head Start.Acts as an advocate and role model for Head Start/Early Head Start families.Attends and actively participates in training programs, staff meetings, and other meeting/trainings.Maintains confidentiality in all aspects of client, staff and agency information.Maintains effective working interaction with coworkers and outside contacts that will enhance the operation of Head Start/Early Head Start program.Organizes and prioritizes all assignments as directed.Participates in regular safety, storm and fire drills.Uses and follows federal, state and local regulations/laws, including the Head Start/Early Head Start Performance Standards, applicable transmittal notices, and other administrative orders/directions.Participates in ongoing monitoring, Community Assessment and Self-Assessment and performs reasonable related functions. Uses and follows the policies/procedures of You Thrive Florida, including but not limited toPersonnel Policies, Occupational Health and Safety policies, payroll policies/practices, etc.Ensure documentation standards in ChildPlus are met as required by Program.NON-ESSENTIAL/SECONDARY FUNCTIONS:Performs any additional duties as directed or assigned by supervisor, management staff, program director or You Thrive Florida management staff. This description is intended to convey information essential to understanding the scope of the position and is not intended to be an exhaustive list of skills, efforts, duties, responsibilities, or working conditions associated with the position.JOB STANDARDS:Education: Minimum of a High School Diploma and FDC Course; credential or certification in SocialWork, Human Services, Family Services, counseling or related field; Employee will obtain certification in First Aid/CPR. Within 90 days of employment must begin at least one of the DCF Child Care training courses listed in S.402.305 (2) (d), Florida Statutes. Within eighteen (18) months of hire will complete Head Start/Early Head Start required certification training hours. Employee must complete the Head Start/Early Head Start mandated 55 hours of Florida DCF Child Care Training as outlined in the Family Advocate Career Advancement Criteria. Employee will obtain certification in ERSEA within 1 year of hire date and will maintain annually thereafter.Experience: No experience required if in possession of a Human Services or Social Work Associates degree or higher.Licenses & Certifications: Valid Florida driver’s license and be insurable by Company’s current carrier. Subject to Federal, State and Local legal requirements/background checks/clearance for working with children. First Aid and CPR certified.CRITICAL SKILLS, ABILITIES, & EXPERTISE:Physical Requirements: These physical demands are representative of the physical requirements necessary for an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of the position. Sitting, standing for long periods of time, use of fingers, arms, hands and legs and voice/talking are constant. Good eyesight (correctable) and hearing (correctable) are essential. Squatting, walking, handling, grasping, stretching/reaching, bending at the waist and light lifting and/or carrying (up to 15lbs) are frequent. Pushing, pulling, kneeling, balancing, turning,feeling, medium lifting, and/or carrying (up to 30lbs), and driving is occasional.Equipment: Instructional materials and supplies, playground equipment, computer, multi-line phone and other small office and equipment and vehicle.Skills & Expertise: Ability to arrive to work daily and on time. Ability to work with limited direction. Knowledge of organization methods. Skill in completing work with a high degree of accuracy. Ability to effectivelycommunicate orally and in writing. Ability to establish effective working relationships with people, particularly parents and children. Ability to analyze and interpret data and human/family needs. Ability to use and operate a personal computer. Ability to work with children. Knowledge of early childhood issues. Ability to maintain child and parent confidentiality. Ability to be reliable, responsible and accountable to job requirements. Ability to pass a competency exam with a minimum satisfactory score. (Satisfactory core to be defined by YTFadministration). Knowledge of community and community programs/resources.ENVIRONMENTAL JOB FACTORS:Job Location: Primary location is the Head Start/Early Head Start facilities in Hernando, Sumter and/or Volusiacounties. Occasional travel to other counties. As determined by overall program needs, primary job location is subject to change within the program’s operational regions at any given time with reasonable notice provided.Work Environment: While performing the responsibilities of the position, these work environment characteristics are representative of the environment the employee will encounter. Office environment and working alone andwith others frequently. Working with office equipment is frequent. Occasionally outdoors and operates a vehicle.Please see the link below to the new Care Provider Background Screening Clearinghouse Education and Awareness website. This site was implemented under the directive of HB 531 (2025). As part of these requirements, each specified agency must include a clear and conspicuous link to the webpage on its website and provide the link in all job vacancy advertisements and posts by the qualified entity.https://info.flclearinghouse.com