Family Advocate (Part-Time)

Catholic Charities, Diocese of Joliet; Joliet (IL); On-site; USD 40,000 - 50,000; Full time

Job summary

Catholic Charities, Diocese of Joliet is seeking a Family Advocate for its Head Start program in Joliet, Illinois. In this role, you will support families by developing individual action plans and conducting community outreach to promote program participation.

A bachelor's degree and at least one year of related experience are required, alongside a valid driver's license and reliable transport. The position offers an opportunity to make a lasting impact on children's lives through comprehensive family support.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Social Work, Sociology, Human Services, or related field.
• 1 year experience in family advocacy or related field; 3 years preferred in social work.
• Knowledge of local community resources and child development.

Responsibilities

• Assist in planning and coordinating Head Start services.
• Conduct home visits for eligible families.
• Implement parent training and involvement activities.

Skills

Family advocacy

Community outreach

Interdisciplinary teamwork

Communication skills

Microsoft Office proficiency

Education

Bachelor's degree

Master's degree preferred

Tools

Microsoft Office

PROMIS Child and Family Tracking System

Job description

Discover the unique rewards of working in a Head Start program, where you can ignite young minds and provide comprehensive early childhood education that sets the stage for lifelong success.

By joining Catholic Charities, Diocese of Joliet Head Start, you will make a lasting impact on children's lives and have the opportunity to support and uplift families by empowering them to thrive and create a brighter future for themselves and their children.

General Responsibilities

1. The Family Advocate assists the Site Supervisor and other staff in planning, developing, implementing and coordinating the Head Start Performance Standards as related to Health and Nutrition Services, Family and Community Partnerships, Program Design and Management.
2. It may be required for family service workers to conduct home visits as needed and have a personal vehicle for transportation is required.
3. Periodic weekend recruitment activities are required along with attendance at parent meetings and family activity events. It is the expectation that programmatic recruitment takes place throughout the community as specified and designated during the week.

Essential Functions

1. Assists the Site Supervisor and other staff in carrying out goals, policies, and activities designed to meet family needs and develop the individual family action plan.
2. Cooperatively works with interdisciplinary team members, parents, and other specialists to evaluate and develop treatment and/or intervention plans for children and/or families.
3. Implements parent training in conjunction with the Manager of Family and Community Engagement.
4. Responsible for providing opportunities for parent involvement activities.
5. Works with families to help them determine family action plans, assess needs, and educating families on available community resources to meet those needs.
6. Conduct intake process to enroll eligible families in the program and obtain necessary information that is needed.
7. Conducts periodic visits to homes of children in order to encourage building of relationships with families and to implement required follow-up services.
8. When necessary escorts/translates or acquires the needed assistance in translating/advocating and/or representing families who may be unable to act on their own behalf in obtaining services or benefits for programs to which they may be entitled. Advocating for clients in problem situations, including appeals, reconsiderations, and attempts to meet family needs through alternative resources when necessary.
9. Participates in community outreach activities that involve networking with community agencies for informational and recruitment purposes.
10. Monitors families progress in working towards the established Family Action plan as outlined in the Family Partnership Agreement.
11. Reports any problems with families, crisis or emergency situations, including incidents of suspected abuse or neglect immediately to the Site Supervisor.
12. Completes monthly reports by maintaining accurate family tracking system and documentation as requested related to family needs, absences, and other information as required by program's funding source. Utilizes procedures for confidentiality in the record keeping system, and when obtaining information from other agencies.
13. Follows up with children returned by the bus or children (walkers) who are not being picked up at the end of each school session through the use of a warning system and documentation of such.
14. Inputs and maintains data in the Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information Systems (PROMIS) Child and Family Tracking System and Ready Rosie Data Base.
15. Coordinate transportation information between Client, Transportation Coordinator, and Site Supervisor. Transport families to appointments as needed, medical, dentals, social service to obtain needed services.

Requirements

1. Bachelor's degree required or Master's degree preferred; Social Work, Sociology, Human Services, Applied Behavioral Science, or related field. All degrees must come from a regionally accredited education institution, which has U.S. Department of Education approval.
2. A minimum one (1) year experience in any related field and three (3) years’ experience in Social Work is required for this position; with more preferred.
3. Knowledge of local community, resources, child development, and preferred Head Start experience.
4. Proficiency in the use of Microsoft Office applications including Outlook, Word, and Teams.
5. Passage of complete background clearance, physical and Tuberculosis (TB) Test.
6. A valid driver's license, reliable means of transportation and proof of liability insurance is required.