FAMILY ADVOCATE

Position Summary

The Child Care Partnership Family Advocate will work closely with the staff at all the Early Head Start child care partnership sites to achieve the mission of Warren County Community Services and Early Head Start, and to meet requirements of the Early Head Start Performance Standards. Serves as liaison between WCCS Early Learning Centers and the child care partners, and works to build a strong, positive relationship and with the partnerships.

HOURS: 40 hours a week, Monday through Friday, with frequent responsibilities outside of regular business hours.

Duties And Responsibilities

• Responsible for outreach, recruitment, and registration process that systematically insures full enrollment of income eligible children at child care partnerships, including children with disabilities.
• Ensure that children's registration forms are complete, including immunization records, health histories, permission forms, emergency transportation forms, release forms, and family profiles. Follow up as needed to obtain all required information.
• Complete Family Profiles and Family Partnership Agreements with parents during or within 30 days of registration. Make appropriate referrals and document follow-up to support families in reaching goals they have identified in the Family Partnership Agreements.
• Provide individual ongoing support to assist families in their efforts to improve the quality of their family life.
• Make personal contacts and home visits as needed to follow up on child and family needs identified. Contacts, home visits, and appointments may need to be made in the evening when parents are not available during the day.
• Document each family contact and/or referral made on behalf of a family or family member.
• Attend training and staff meetings as required, including college classes toward a Family Advocate certificate. (Tuition costs are paid by the agency after one year of employment when funds are available)
• Monitor Records of Excused Absences and contact parents of assigned children with excessive absences.
• Work closely with all Child Care Center Directors and teachers to develop strategies to improve enrollment, parent involvement and children's attendance as needed.
• Initiate and support center staff in making arrangements for monthly family engagement events, including child care, refreshments, room set-up, notes to parents, and parent education.
• Encourage the involvement of parents and community volunteers in all aspects of the program.
  
  

Duties And Responsibilities Continued

• Make sure at least one parent representative from each child care partnership site attends Policy Council meetings each month.
• Assist with arranging transportation of Early Head Start parents to Policy Council or appointments as needed.
• Assist in developing and implementing parent training in response to identified family needs, as part of the Family Partnership process.
• Attend training and staff meetings as required, including First Aid, Communicable Disease, and Child Abuse Certification every three years.
• Uphold and maintain professional image as representative WCCS Early Learning Centers in relationship with child care partners and with other community agencies.
• Establish and maintain a role of advocacy for Early Head Start families with other community agencies, by serving on advisory groups for other community agencies, joining community organizations, and/or attending local government meetings.
• Serve on a WCCS Early Learning Centers planning or advisory committee to provide input in an area of interest.
• Serve as contact person between the partnership sites and the management staff.
• Attend and support monthly partnership meetings at each site with management staff and center staff, giving a status report on partnership activities.
• Collect In-kind, Family Contact forms, attendance forms, monthly notes, screening results, heights & weights, follow-up plans, IEP progress reports, copies of Child Care Assistance letters from Human Services and other required forms at each partnership site, and distribute to appropriate management staff weekly.
• Attend monthly Family Advocate Meetings called by Family Service Manager and/or Operations Manager
• Provide support and guidance for partnership staff related to Early Head Start services as well as day care licensing requirements.
• Be knowledgeable of child care partners policies and how these policies fit with WCCS Early Learning policies.
• Serve as a mentor for newly hired Family Advocates
• Track all family needs assessments, services, referrals and follow-ups provided and progress on Family Partnership Agreement goals in the ChildPlus tracking system. Submit monthly reports to the Operations Manager.
• Other duties as assigned by Supervisor to fulfill the mission of the WCCS Early Learning Centers.
  
  

Qualifications

Family Advocate Certificate OR Associate degree with a concentration in social work, family studies, sociology, or psychology.

Two years experience in social work or related field.

Ability to relate to staff, parents, and other professionals.

Good written and verbal communication skills.

Strong organization and time management skills.

Technology skills in word processing and data entry.

Knowledge of social services resources.

Ability to make public presentations and lead parent training.

Have a valid Ohio Drivers License and liability insurance and have own vehicle for transportation.

Knowledge of Early Head Start performance Standards

Flexibility in work schedule to accommodate needs of Early Head Start families

Ability to maintain confidentiality regarding child and family information.

Ability to work with little supervision. Must have high degree of motivation and self-discipline.

Prefer at least one year experience working with families and/or children.