Family Advocate - YMCA of Frederick County : Job Details

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Family Advocate - Head Start

Description:

This position supports the work of the Y, a leading nonprofit committed to strengthening community through youth development, healthy living and social responsibility. The Family Advocate is responsible for implementing the core family partnership, parent engagement, and community partnership functions for the center-based Head Start program of the YMCA of Frederick County. The Family Advocate recruits and enrolls children for the program and uses a family centered model to support and assist their assigned families and children to meet their school readiness goals, desired child outcomes, and the goals established in the Family Partnership Agreements. This position may assist with the completion of health requirements, screenings and assessments. This position is part of the broad system of community social services coordinated by Head Start which support the school readiness goals of the program.

The Family Advocate will ultimately be evaluated on a combination of skills, dispositions and behaviors, some of which are related to the specific service area of this position and others that represent general expectations of all program employees. They will use knowledge of the principles of family support and case management to collaborate with related service areas and communicate with internal and external stakeholders. They will provide opportunities for families to become involved in the program and to interact with one another at a variety of parent activities. Applying a family-centered philosophy in services delivered to children and families, they will assist families with building peer support networks in the community. The Family Advocates will have high expectations for families and works to motivate and inspire them to increase their participation and engagement with their children's education.

Responsibilities:

1. Coordinates with center staff to integrate family partnership goals with classroom efforts and to ensure integrated child and family curriculum

2. Participates in team management functions of planning, implementing and evaluating Family and Community Partnership goals and objectives

3. Participates in in-service, workshops, conferences and college courses to enhance skills

4. Recruits prospective families and assists with enrollment process

5. Conducts home visits to facilitate family plans, assists families in achieving identified goals and follow-up on referrals

6. Acts as a case manager and works cooperatively with local agencies to assist families in obtaining appropriate services in the local community

7. Conducts and documents follow-up on referrals as assigned

8. While respecting family confidentiality, regularly shares information with teachers to ensure coordinated services that meet the needs of individual children and families

9. Coordinates with center staff to promote parent involvement in the program as a classroom visitor, volunteer, employee, and/or participant in other family events

10. Develops a working knowledge of community resources

11.Refers families for emergency or crisis assistance as appropriate

12. Participates in child file audits and child profile development

13.Coordinates or refers families to opportunities for continuing education, employment training and other employment services through formal or informal networking in the community

14.Assists other program staff to offer (either directly or through referral to local entities) to parents of participating children the following:

a. training in basic child development

b. assistance in developing communication skills

c. opportunities to share experiences with other parents

e. Any other activity designed to help parents become full partners in the education of their children

15.Completes with each participating family, a family partnership agreement and interest survey that includes consultation with such parents about the benefits of parent involvement and about the activities in which parents may choose to participate

16. Participates in community outreach opportunities

17.Attends parent/teacher conferences, as requested

18. Work cooperatively with teaching staff to plan Family events, and other parent activities.

19.Assists families in making the transition into and out of the Head Start Program

20. Provides information to parents/family in the language and manner preferred by the family members

21. Documents efforts to assist families in identifying their strengths, needs and goals

22. Performs data entry functions as required in a timely manner

23. Tracks family partnership efforts and outcomes in approved child tracking data base

24.Records, monitors and provides follows up on referrals for support/social services as required

25.Submits reports as needed and requested

26. Maintains and provides data for the annual Program Information Report (PIR), utilizing the approved child tracking data base

27. Understands, generates and documents in-kind and other allowable costs applied toward the non-federal share requirement

28.Attends all workshops and meetings as deemed necessary by the immediate supervisor.

29.Attends all required staff and parent meetings and activities.

30.Responsible for understanding Head Start Performance Standards and local childcare licensing regulations.

31. Expected to be knowledgeable of the regulations associated with prevention of occupational disease and injury, including the exercise of universal precautions and the prevention of contamination.

32. Positively promotes Head Start in the community.

33. Maintains strict confidentiality with respect to Head Start children, families and staff in accordance with established policies and procedures.

34.Becomes thoroughly familiar with YMCA Employee Handbook: Human Resources Policies and Procedures, YMCA Head Start Operations Manual and all other YMCA HS handbooks, manuals and resources and adheres to them.

Qualifications:

1. Minimum requirement is an Associate's Degree in Social Work, Psychology, Human Services, or Early

Childhood Education. Other related human services fields will be considered. A bachelor's degree is preferred.

a. Family Advocate I requires an Associate's Degree

b. Family Advocate II requires a Bachelor's Degree

2. Experience working with children and families, including those living at or below the federal guidelines for poverty is preferred.

3. Bilingual fluency is preferred (English/Spanish)

YMCA Certificates/Trainings:

Code of Conduct Training

Active Supervision Training

CPR, AED, and First Aid Certifications

Acceptable screening results to include comprehensive background check and initial health exam

Must have a valid driver's license and be insurable by the YMCA insurance carrier and have a Motor Vehicle Record acceptable to the YMCA

Work Environment and Physical Demands:

1. Occasional need to lift typical office items, including small furniture, some equipment, boxes, etc.

2. Exposure to communicable diseases and bodily fluids.

3. Must be able to lift and/or assist children up to 50 pounds in weight.

4. Position may require bending, leaning, kneeling, and walking.

5. Ability to speak concisely and effectively communicate.

6. Visual and auditory ability to respond to critical situations and physical ability to act swiftly in an emergency

7. Reliable transportation to get self to and from homes, Head Start locations and other community locations.

8. Noise level in work environment may be moderate to loud.

9. Evening and weekend work will be required.

Seniority level

• Seniority levelEntry level

Employment type

• Employment typeFull-time

Job function

• Job functionOther
• IndustriesNon-profit Organizations

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