Family Services Advocate (Bilingual)

Macon Program For Progress; Franklin (NC); On-site; USD 38,000 - 46,000; Full time

Job summary

Macon Program For Progress is seeking a Family Service Advocate to guide families toward self-sufficiency, support children’s learning, and promote advocacy within Head Start standards. The role emphasizes collaboration with families, community partners, and program staff, with a focus on health, attendance, and transitions.

Qualifications

• High School Diploma or equivalent required.
• Willingness to attain credential in social work, human services, family services, counseling or related field within 18 months.
• Bachelor's or Associate degree in Sociology, Social Work, Psychology, Counseling, Human Services or related field preferred.
• Excellent communication skills with adults and children.
• Proficient with Microsoft Office (Word and Excel).
• Valid Driver's License or CDL or ability to obtain one.

Responsibilities

• Guides families to become more self-sufficient and supports learning and development.
• Engages families in the Family Partnership Process and promotes advocacy.
• Maintains two-way communication with families and builds trust and respectful relationships.
• Secures resources and provides crisis intervention services as needed.
• Maintains accurate documentation for Family Service activities.
• Monitors attendance and helps with enrollment and transitions between programs.

Skills

Excellent communication

Microsoft Office

Bi-lingual (English/Spanish)

Education

High School Diploma or equivalent

Bachelor's or Associate degree in Social Services

Tools

Microsoft Word

Microsoft Excel

Job description

Family Service Advocate

Position Overview

Full time, 12 month position. The Family Service Advocate guides families in their efforts to become more self‑sufficient, to promote childrens learning and development, to set achievable goals by engaging in the Family Partnership Process and to become strong advocates for themselves and their families while providing an environment that encourages them to grow and reach their fullest potential. The Family Service Advocate ensures that families receive the support and services described in the Head Start Performance Standards in accordance with policies, procedures, and the philosophy of the MPP Board of Directors and the Head Start Policy Council.

Essential Duties

• Uses the Parent, Family, and Community Engagement Framework to assess and identify family strengths and needs.
• Invites families to engage in a Family Partnership Process early in the program year.
• Encourages parents to engage in their childrens education, learning and development while supporting individual parent-child relationships.
• Maintains monthly two‑way communication with families while establishing a professional relationship of trust, respect, reliability, and support and then building upon that relationship to help Head Start families meet their own goals.
• Secures resources and provides crisis intervention services.
• Maintains accurate up‑to‑date documentation for all Family Service activities.
• Monitors children's health assessments as required by the Head Start Performance Standards.
• Provides assistance to families in acquiring the necessary health and dental screenings and any additional services that may be required in order to help the child to maintain optimal health.
• Monitors weekly attendance for absenteeism. Contacts families when children are more than one hour tardy for school without prior notification and conducts a home visit when children are absent for two (2) consecutive days without prior notification.
• Uses computer for data entry, and communication with staff, families and community members.
• Assists families in the program enrollment process.
• Assists in transitioning from Early Head Start to Head Start from home into the program and from other community based early childhood programs into a Head Start program or vice versa.
• Maintains a good working relationship with Head Starts Community Partners.
• Possess and demonstrates the ability to work both individually and as a cooperative team member.

Requirements

• High School Diploma or equivalent, required.
• Must be willing to attain a credential or certification in social work, human services, family services, counseling or related field within 18 months.
• Bachelors or Associate degree in Sociology, Social Work, Psychology, Counseling, Human Services or related field, preferred.
• Excellent communication skills with adults and children.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office programs including Word and Excel.
• Valid Drivers License or Commercial Drivers License (CDL) or willingness and ability to obtain license.
• CPR and First Aid Certification at hire or within the first 6 weeks of hire (training provided).
• Bi‑Lingual, English/Spanish skills are beneficial.
• Macon Program for Progress is an Equal Opportunity Employe