Family Services Advocate - Early Learning & Head Start

YMCA Atlanta; United States; On-site; USD 36,000 - 54,000; Full time

Job summary

The YMCA of Metro Atlanta seeks a Family Services Assistant to oversee the 0-5 Head Start and Early Head Start family services program. You will implement and evaluate services for children and families, ensuring health, education, and social support integration across Head Start requirements.

You will maintain documentation, build community partnerships, conduct home visits, and serve as a family liaison to promote learning and well-being within a diverse, inclusive environment.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or certification in social work, human services, family services, counseling, or related field.
• Training or coursework in early childhood development with focus on infant and toddler development.
• 1+ years of experience in case management or family engagement/supports/advocacy.
• Valid Driver’s License; ability to travel for family visits.
• Pass pre-employment background check; eligible to work in the US without sponsorship.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate and support the delivery of comprehensive family services in Health, Nutrition, Social Services, Eligibility (ERSEA) and Education.
• Serve as a family advocate to support family well-being and promote children's learning and development for 0-5 Head Start and Early Head Start.
• Maintain required documentation required by Head Start, Bright from the Start (BFTS), GA Pre-K, Quality Rated, and YMCA of Metro Atlanta.
• Recruit eligible children, including those with disabilities, and assist families in completing registrations.
• Develop and provide intervention strategies to improve and promote regular attendance.
• Monitor attendance and discuss with family the importance/benefits of regular attendance.
• Make referrals to the Disabilities/Mental Health Specialist on children with disabilities, prior to enrollment.
• Monitor center attendance and develop strategies for families with Chronic Absenteeism.
• Identify families’ needs, interests, strengths, goals, services and resources that support family well-being.
• Review individual progress, revising goals, evaluating and tracking identified needs and family progress.
• Make referrals and conducting follow-up reviews to ensure the delivery of services.
• Establish and maintain a network of resource contacts to facilitate services and referrals for emergency and crisis situations.
• Maintain accurate and detailed documentation of case management services within ChildPlus software and other required data management systems.
• Conduct Home Visits.
• Develop community partnerships and serve as parent liaison to between the program, resources, and services on a regular basis.
• Collaborate and support the Parent Family and Community Engagement team to develop and implement parent engagement opportunities that promote the outcomes of the Parent Family Community Engagement framework.
• Support parent activities that promote child learning and development in Education, Health, Transition, Parent-child relationship, Literacy and bi‑literacy, Language.
• Establish and maintain a system for ensuring children’s health screenings and exams and obtain complete health history and parental consent on all health/education screenings.
• Maintain accurate health/medical and immunization documentations in the file and within the ChildPlus Software for immunizations, medical screenings, treatment plans and other medical information.
• Coordinate medical appointments and identify and connect families to Medical Homes.
• Ensure treatment plans are documented and delivered.
• Administer first aid as needed.
• Participate in all Medical Staffing involving children and families.
• Provide families with health summaries.
• Maintain first aid supplies in safe and secure location.
• Participate in agency‑wide projects/systems such as Community Assessments, Self‑Assessments, Strategic Planning, Trainings and in the development/review of policy and procedures.
• Establish, update, maintain and close confidential files on all enrollees, including ChildPlus data entry in all appropriate modules.
• Maintain, update, and distribute Resource Directory.
• Support a welcoming and nurturing environment that incorporates the unique cultural, ethnic, and linguistic backgrounds of families in the program and community.
• Review CACFP Income Eligibility Application forms and correctly determines free, reduced, and paid eligibility category for each child enrolled during each month.
• Serve as Director on Duty when Senior Director is absent from the building and as needed.
• Serve as a floater between classrooms to relieve staff from breaks, trainings and absences and will also serve in am and or pm carpool.

Skills

Case management

Family engagement

Advocacy

Education

Bachelor's degree or related field

Early childhood development coursework

Job description

The YMCA of Metro Atlanta seeks a Family Services Assistant to oversee the 0-5 Head Start and Early Head Start family services program. You will implement and evaluate services for children and families, ensuring health, education, and social support integration across Head Start requirements.

You will maintain documentation, build community partnerships, conduct home visits, and serve as a family liaison to promote learning and well-being within a diverse, inclusive environment.