Family Advocate Early Childhood Impact

POSITION SUMMARY:

The Family Advocate works with families/parents of children ages 05 to coach facilitate goalsetting serve as a liaison between family/child and community services to ensure the best possible educational outcomes.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

1. Develop positive respectful and trusting relationships with and serve as a liaison between Community School partners and services and families.

2. Conduct outreach recruitment and enrollment meeting Head Start Performance Standards and Funding Terms and Conditions.

3. Provide orientation on philosophy of program and services provided.

4. Implement strategies including home visits to learn about families and the changing community.

5. Develop strengthsbased assessments with families that describe their goals strengths resources and support networks as well as necessary services and supports that include health concerns.

6. Develop an individualized family plan in partnership with the family that includes health follow up regularly with the family and collaborate on resolving obstacles.

7. Facilitate families problemsolving and support enhancing problemsolving skills.

8. Coach consult educate and utilize counseling skills where appropriate.

9. Advocate for families and support them in advocating for themselves.

10. Support the health and wellness of children and families in the program.

11. Ensure all health requirements are met upon entrance into the program and track all health dental and nutritionrelated data and ensure routine followup.

12. Assist with all health screenings required for completion within 45 calendar days of childs enrollment in the program.

13. Identify common interests and needs of parents in order to plan appropriate activities training and groups.

14. Engage parents in volunteering community service and other ways of contributing to program activities and services.

15. Work with other program staff to support interactive literacy activities and other learning approaches between parents and their children.

16. Serve as a productive team member on an interdisciplinary team of professionals participate and facilitate case conferences to promote holistic service delivery.

17. Promote and support parent involvement and leadership throughout the program.

18. Research and keep uptodate on program and community resources analyze community resources to family needs and refer families to community resources as appropriate.

19. Listen and support families in making decisions and taking active steps to resolve current crises and be prepared to address future crises.

20. Learn about and be sensitive to each familys values beliefs traditions cultural influences makeup and circumstances using a culturally competent and flexible approach.

21. Perform recordkeeping and internal and external reporting tasks in a timely and objective fashion.

22. Contribute to and participate in strategic planning program selfassessment and other efforts to improve program services and agency responsiveness to families.

23. Make decisions and act based on family support principles theories practices and code of ethics while maintaining professional boundaries and confidentially.

24. Complete other duties as assigned.

MEASURE OF EFFECTIVENESS

This position has a primary impact on the YMCAs ability to support the Head Start/EHS program. Therefore the effectiveness of the fulfillment of this position should be measured by:

1. Communications will be based on mutual trust culturally appropriate accurate and timely;

2. Positive relationships will be developed with families and outside community partners;

3. Program reports and documentation are completed and submitted ontime;

4. The targeted number of youth and families are served.

WORK ENVIRONMENT & PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Sufficient strength agility and mobility to perform essential functions of position and to supervise program activities

Visual ability to clearly monitor activities

Mobility to quickly respond to emergencies

QUALIFICATIONS:

• BA or BS in family development psychology sociology or related field
• One year of related experience in a nonprofit and/or human services setting
• A high degree of cultural awareness and competency in crosscultural practices withchildren and families
• Experience working with lowincome communities
• Strong written and verbal communication skills
• Ability to negotiate and mediate to attain winwin situations
• T.B. and other required health clearances at the time of employment
• Fingerprint clearance by the DOJ and CCL agencies
• Valid California Drivers License and use of a personal automobile including evidence of auto liability insurance coverage
• Bilingual in English and Spanish preferred
• Proficiency in Microsoft Word Outlook and other computer programs