Family Advocate

Child Start; Wichita (KS); On-site; USD 35,000 - 45,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical/Dental/Vision plans

Company-paid Disability coverage

403(b) retirement plan

9 paid holidays each year

Job summary

Child Start in Wichita, KS is seeking a Family Advocate to enhance program compliance by supporting families through enrollment and recruitment activities. The ideal candidate will engage with the community, calculate income eligibility, and assist families in accessing vital services while documenting progress.

A successful advocate will possess strong communication skills, have a relevant degree, and ideally be bilingual. Child Start offers a comprehensive benefits package and competitive salary.

Qualifications

• Minimum of one to three years experience with children and families.
• Pre-employment drug screen and background check required.
• Must regularly lift and/or move up to 30 pounds.

Responsibilities

• Support full enrollment and program compliance.
• Actively participate in community outreach and recruitment.
• Calculate and verify income eligibility for enrollments.
• Communicate with teachers and family educators regarding child progress.

Skills

Strong verbal and written communication skills

Interpersonal skills

Bilingual (English/Spanish)

Office and computer knowledge

Education

Associate's degree in Social Work or related field

Bachelor's degree preferred

Family Development Credential

Job description

As a Child Start Family Advocate, you will support full enrollment and program compliance through recruitment and enrollment activities. Build relationships with families that enable successful needs assessments and goal setting. Develop a comprehensive understanding of services and resources available in the community. Connect families with appropriate services and resources in the community based on family needs and goals through a case management approach. Seek new services and resources to support family needs and goals. Maintain records of children and families. Support center events and record keeping as directed by Family Services Manager. Provide services in the family home or the assigned center. Support families during required, requested or mandated meetings.

Responsibilities

• Actively participates in the community outreach and recruitment process
• Completes all enrollment requirements for a child entering the Program, and maintains completed waiting list to enroll children in the program immediately when vacancies occur
• Calculates and verifies income eligibility on all enrollments
• Helps parents make appointments for necessary health care for children
• Attends monthly case reviews and helps plan services to meet children's social service needs
• Follows up with parents and documents conversations in database about the child/family progress and/or needed services
• Communicates with teachers regarding any concerns for the child. Communicates with Family Educators for dually enrolled families to conduct Family Team Meetings (FTM)
• Assist in identifying and formulating new community partnerships and resources that support family needs and Family Partnership agreement
• Develop an aggregate of social services within the community to be shared with families and staff
• Empowers and encourages families to make sure of all identified community resources
• Works as a team with the Family Services Manager, Teachers and additional agency staff
• Meet all health requirements of the center
• Provide flexible services to families (day, evening)
• Documents all family services the FA has provided as they occur in database and keeps Children's files current

Requirements

• Associate's degree or equivalent in Social Work, Human Services, Family Services, Counseling or related field required. Bachelor's degree preferred. Candidates with a Family Development Credential are encouraged to apply.
• One to three years experience with children and families.
• Office and computer knowledge required.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills.
• Demonstrated interpersonal skills preferred and ability to respond effectively in human service situations preferred.
• Bilingual (English/Spanish) preferred.
• Pre-employment drug screen and background check required.
• The employee must regularly lift and/or move up to 30 pounds for various classroom and event needs.

Benefits

Child Start offers competitive salary and benefits, including Medical/Dental/Vision plans, company-paid Short-Term and Long-Term Disability coverage, 403(b) retirement plan, 9 paid holidays each year, and much more!

Must have legal authorization to work permanently in the United States for any employer without requiring a visa transfer or visa sponsorship. Must be able to commute daily to Wichita, KS.

In compliance with KDHE requirements, Child Start will request proof of measles (MMR) vaccination or documented immunity during the employment process.