Family Advocate

Community-Action-Partnership-of-Strafford-County-1; Somersworth (NH); On-site; USD 19,000 - 33,000; Full time

Job summary

Community Action Partnership of Strafford County is seeking a Family Advocate for the Somersworth Head Start program. The role focuses on strengthening relationships with families, supporting well-being, and guiding families to community resources to meet goals.

The position emphasizes confidentiality, family assessments, home visits, and collaboration with center staff to promote child development and family engagement within Head Start guidelines.

Qualifications

• Associate degree in Social Services or related field with 2 years of casework experience.
• Computer literacy including data systems and Microsoft Office.
• Experience working with young children and families.
• Knowledge of and sensitivity to 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 develop individualized family partnership agreements.
• Monitor family progress toward goals and provide ongoing support.
• Advocate for families and connect them to housing, employment, education, and health services.
• Conduct regular home visits and family contact per guidelines.
• Document family interactions, referrals, and follow-ups in the Child Plus data system.
• Collaborate with teaching staff and health/disability teams to support child development and family engagement.
• Encourage family participation in engagement activities and policy councils.
• Ensure compliance with Head Start standards, regulations, and policies.
• Engage in recruitment activities and ensure required screenings and records are in place.

Skills

Computer literacy

Experience with families

Child & family experience

Education

Associate degree in Social Services

Bachelor’s degree preferred

Tools

ChildPlus data system

Job description

Somersworth Head Start, Somersworth, NH, US

Salary Range: $22.90 To $24.24 Hourly

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.

EDUCATIONand/orEXPERIENCE

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

ESSENTIALDUTIESANDRESPONSIBILITIES

• 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.

OTHERQUALIFICATIONS:

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.

GENERALEXPECTATIONS

• 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.

EMPLOYMENTSCREENING

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