EHS FAMILY SERVICE ADVOCATE

PROGRAM SUMMARY:

Volunteers of America is a federally and stated funded comprehensive early childhood education program with a focus on child development that includes a Childs cognitive, physical and social emotional growth and development. The program fosters Family Engagement in all areas of a Childs development and provides comprehensive resources to low income families in the areas of health, nutrition and community resources.

A staff person who links families to Early Head Start and to appropriate health, special needs, nutrition, human services, mental health, education, and parent involvement services, supporting them in making decisions and choices that will help improve their lives. This staff person also works collaboratively with Service Coordinators to implement mandated Federal and State guidelines.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:

The duties below are intended to provide an overview of the duties required of the Family Service Advocate.

• Responsible for 100% enrollment of eligible children per Enrollment Recruitment Selection Eligibility and Attendance (ERSEA) requirements and Head Start Performance Standards.
• Assist the family to improve the condition and quality of family life.
• Encourages parent participation in the center, home visits, and related activities.
• Makes parents aware of community services and resources and facilitate their use.
• Interacts with families in a manner that is respectful of each familys ethnicity and cultural diversity.
• Communicates in an effective manner with parents and children in their native language, if possible.
• Maintains accurate records as required by the program while ensuring their confidentiality, i.e. child and family information.
• Monitors, Implements, and follows-up with Agencys Child Attendance as per Attendance policy, as needed.
• Attends home visits as necessary with respect to issues on child attendance, recruitment/enrollment, etc.
• Oversees the implementation of all Plan of Actions relating to Court Orders with respect to Child Custody.
• Facilitates parent, and program planning meetings and provides materials/resources.
• Educates parents as to the purpose and need of a complete physical and dental exam for their children, and the overall goals and objectives of the health requirements, and follow-up as needed.
• Collects, updates, and maintain childrens health requirements within established timelines, and follows-up when needed.
• Conduct Health Screenings for children.
• Provides resources to families with emergency assistance or crisis intervention, and follow-up.
• Recruitment/Pre-enrollment/Enrollment for eligible families in order to obtain and maintain 100% enrollment at all times.
• Assists Child Development Specialist and Center Child Development Coordinators with Initial Parent Orientation at the beginning of the year.
• Conducts ongoing New Enrollment Parent Orientations
• Serve as a liaison between Head Start families and community-based agencies to provide necessary services and follow-up as needed.
• Conducts Family Partnership Process Form for each family in order to identify needs and strengths, provide resources as applicable and establish a family goal.
• Refers families to appropriate services i.e. mental health, disabilities, nutrition, health, and follow-up as needed.
• Assists families in arranging appointments and follow up visits, as needed (i.e. medical, dental, court, social services agencies, and local education agencies).
• Weekend and evening work may be assigned as needed.
• Attends trainings and meetings, as scheduled and/or assigned.
• Perform special projects and/or related duties as assigned.
• Travels to Head Start centers, community agencies, conferences, and trainings.
• Ensure compliance with ERSEA by maintaining a complete ERSEA file on each child for assigned site(s).
• Input and track all relevant Child and Family data through the student data base system.
• Reviews all files of assigned families and verifies that entry into data base system is accurate when compared to files.
• Reviews files to ensure that all necessary documentation for the children is in place.

QUALIFICATIONS:

EDUCATION:

Must have either an Associate Degree or higher in social work or a related field or a Family Development Credential.

EXPERIENCE:

One year minimum experience paid or in a voluntary basis in a human service agency and/or working with low income families is required; experience in a preschool setting preferred.

KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS:

• Proficiency with computer applications such as Microsoft Office, Windows, Internet and Student Information Database System
• Ability to meet physical requirements of the position per attached Physical Demand Analysis, with or without reasonable accommodation
• Bilingual Spanish/English preferred

LICENSES/PERMITS/CERTIFICATIONS:

NONE

SUPERVISION:

• Supervised by the Family Service Coordinator for organizational guidance, performance evaluation, and professional development planning.
• Supervises: NONE

RELATIONSHIPS:

• Administrative and Program Staff
• Community Organizations
• Public/Parents

REQUIREMENTS:

Prior to hire, the following must be assured:

• All potential employees will be subject to obtain fingerprint clearances from the Department of Justice (DOJ), the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), and the Child Abuse Index prior to starting work.
• Completed and signed statement of any pending and prior criminal arrests/charges/convictions related to child sexual abuse, child abuse and neglect, and/or violent felonies
• Successful completion of an initial health examination, performed by or under the supervision of a physician, to determine, at a minimum, if the prospective employee can perform the duties outlined in the position description
• Proof of the absence of Tuberculosis, from a physician, to show that the prospective employee is cleared to work with children and families.
• Must present documentation of current immunization against Influenza, Measles (MMR), and Pertussis (TDAP).
• Use of an automobile with proper insurance coverage and valid California drivers license.

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:

• Ability to lift 30 pounds if required.
• Ability to squat, bend, stoop, sit on floor, stand, and walk for required periods of time.
• Use close vision, color vision, peripheral vision and depth perception along with the ability to focus vision.
• Reach with hands and arms and use hands and fingers to handle objects and operate tools, computers, and/or controls.

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.