Parent Educator-Home Based

Salt-River-Pima--maricopa-Indian-Community-; Scottsdale (AZ); On-site; USD 42,000 - 54,000; Full time

Job summary

Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community seeks a Family Advocate to provide information and referral services to parents and families in need of social assistance, including home and office visits and coordinating with agencies.

The role emphasizes case management, program enrollment, health screenings coordination, and maintaining records. A degree in social work or related field and 3 years of experience preferred; a background check and driver’s license required.

Qualifications

• Associate’s Degree in Social Work, Sociology, Social Services or related field.
• Three years of work experience in a social service program serving disadvantaged families with substantial client contact and home/field visits.
• Experience in education or early childhood development preferred.

Responsibilities

• Provides case management to enrolled families and conducts home/office visits.
• Assists with family partnership goals and referrals for educational needs.
• Sets up parent involvement activities and coordinates volunteer and Fatherhood activities.
• Contacts parents to encourage participation and arrange transportation or other needs.
• Maintains enrollment records and tracks attendance and program information.
• Conducts health screenings and follows up on unmet student health needs.

Skills

Case management

Home visits

Interviews

Communication with families

English proficiency

Education

Associate’s Degree in Social Work or related field

Tools

Microsoft Office Suite

Job description

Under the general supervision of the Family and Community Partnership Coordinator, the Family Advocate provides moderately complex information and referral work for parents and families in need of social service assistance. Work involves making home and office visits to identify problems, determining assistance needed, and refer to the appropriate agency or field follow-up service. Responsibilities require considerable contact with community members, other agencies, and the general public.

Primary Job Functions

Primary functions may vary among positions, but may include the following tasks, knowledge, skills, and abilities among other characteristics. This list of tasks is ILLUSTRATIVE ONLY and is not intended to be a comprehensive listing of tasks performed by all positions in this classification.

• Provides case management to enrolled families, documenting contacts. Conducts home and office visits to assist families in meeting the needs of their child. Encourages parents to be actively involved in all aspects of their child’s development.
• Offers Family Partnership Agreements to parents/guardians, helping to identify individual family goals and support systems. Assists parents and guardians in obtaining referrals for issues or concerns affecting the educational needs of the child.
• Assists the Family Involvement Specialist in setting up parent-involvement activities, volunteer coordination, Fatherhood activities and other program activities.
• Contacts parents and encourages full participation in all program activities and assists in arranging transportation or other needs that may hinder parent’s participation.
• Monitors student attendance and conducts follow-up on attendance issues.
• Assists parents in strengthening problem solving skills and support systems.
• Conducts parent orientations for new students and collects and tracks incoming enrollment documents.
• Utilizes computer and related software in the development of flyers, newsletters, etc., to keep parents informed of all program activities. Inputs and maintains computerized records of participant enrollment, and attendance.
• Gathers and provides program information to the Parent Information Board to update on program resources.
• Assists in the recruitment of children for the program and completing program enrollment applications and other related paperwork. Contacts and follows up with parents to obtain missing forms or records that could prevent the timely enrollment of their child in the program.
• Conducts required health screenings on enrolled students within the required timeframes and enters screening results into data tracking system. Conducts follow up with parents on unmet student health needs, such as hearing, vision, lead, and hemoglobin screenings and follow-up treatment.
• Attends weekly staff meetings and in-service trainings. Prepares, as needed, program progress reports to share with staff on program effectiveness or recommendations for program improvements.
• Maintains ongoing, open communication with other ECEC staff related to families’ needs.
• Uses personal vehicle to drive to and from client’s homes, various program sites, off-site meetings and events.
• Performs other related duties as assigned for the purpose of ensuring the efficient and effective functioning of the work unit.

Knowledge, Abilities, Skills, and Other Characteristics

• The History, culture, traditions, and customs of the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community

Knowledge of

• Principles and methods of social service or education programs planning and administration
• Functions and operations of public/nonprofit agencies in social services and educational arenas
• Special needs of children in the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community

Skilled in

• Using effective interviewing techniques and procedures
• Proficiency with computers and related software (i.e., Microsoft Office Suite)
• Establishing and maintaining effective working relationships with children, parents, community agencies, SRPMIC staff, volunteers, educational professionals and school administrators
• Maintaining confidentiality of sensitive student enrollment records, files, etc.
• Operating a variety of standard office equipment including, photocopy machine, facsimile machine, typewriter, and computer

Ability to

• Make decisions in accordance with rules, regulations, and ordinances
• Communicate orally with clients and the public in the English language using a telephone, in face-to-face, one-to-one setting, and in a group setting
• Follow oral and written instructions, policies and procedures, rules, regulations and guidelines
• Operate a variety of office machines, including camcorder, tape recorder and overhead projector
• Use personal computer in preparing timely program reports, records and files
• Learn job-related material primarily through oral instruction and observation. This learning takes place mainly in an on-the-job training setting
• Lift and carry objects weighting between 20-30 pounds
• Comprehend and make inferences from written material
• Work cooperatively with other employees and the public

Education and experience

Associate’s Degree from accredited college or university in Social Work, Sociology, Social Services or a related field. Three (3) years of work experience in a social service program serving disadvantaged children or families that involve substantial client contact and home/field visits. Experience in early childhood development preferred.

Equivalency

Any equivalent combination of education and/or experience that would allow the candidate to satisfactorily perform the duties of this position, will be considered.

Underfill Eligibility

An enrolled Community Member whom closely qualifies for the minimum qualifications for a position may be considered for employment under SRPMIC Policy 2-19, Underfill.

Special Requirements –

Due to the confidential and sensitive nature of this position, successful completion of an extensive background investigation is required. Incumbent is required to pass a basic physical examination and provide proof of immunizations at time of hire. Follow-up physical examinations and current immunizations are required and must be completed to maintain good employment status. Maintaining booster shots on immunizations and taking a TB skin test or x-ray annually is also required. Documentation of the above medical actions is absolutely essential for the file and for the health of the children in the Early Childhood Education Program. Incumbent must also obtain First Aid and CPR certification within the first three (3) months of employment from the date of hire and maintain certification subsequently.

• At the time of hire, the incumbent must pass a basic physical examination and produce proof of a negative TB clearance and current immunizations, as well as fingerprint clearance.

Driving Requirement

Must possess and maintain a valid Arizona Driver’s License

Terms of Employment

This position is treated as a full-time non-exempt position scheduled for 40 hours per week.

Pre-Employment Screening

Must be able to pass a Pre-Employment Drug Test and extensive Fingerprint and Background Check. Employee is Subject to Random Drug Testing and completion of a Background Check every five (5) years.

Employment preference is given in the following order

1. Qualified Community Member
2. Qualified Native American
3. Other Qualified Applicant

Equal Opportunity Statement

"SRPMIC is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer" Preference will be given to a qualified: Community Member Veteran, Community Member, Spouse of Community Member, qualified Native American, and then other qualified candidate.

In order to obtain preference, the following is required: 1) Qualified Community Member Veteran (DD-214) will be required at the time of application submission 2) Qualified Community Member (must provide Tribal I.D at time of application submission),3) Spouse of a Community Member (Marriage License/certificate and spouse Tribal ID or CIB required at time of application submission), and 4) Native American (Tribal ID or CIB required at time of application submission).