Family Advocate

Openings as of 12/10/2020

• Head Start Family Advocate JobID: 35649
• Position Type:
  06 - Admin Support/Secretarial/Clerical
  
  
• Date Posted:
  12/10/2020
  
  
• Location:
  Early Childhood
  
  
• Date Available:
  12/21/2020
  
  
• For Fiscal Year:
  2020-2021
  
  Pay Grade:
  IS5
  
  Duty Days:
  260
  
  
  
  ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
  • This position is grant-funded and continuation is contingent on renewal of the grant.
  
  MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:
  
  This position requires a high school diploma or GED. Prefer a minimum of two years of college or a Bachelors degree. Incumbent must have a minimum of two (2) years of experience in child development, early childhood education, social services, adult education, community organizations, parent engagement, Head Start, or related fields. Per Head Start regulations, incumbent must have within 18 months of hire, at a minimum, a credential or certification in social work, human services, family services, counseling or a related field. Bilingual in English and Spanish (written and oral) preferred.
  
  SKILL REQUIREMENTS:
  
  Incumbent must have effective communication skills, both oral and written. Incumbent should be able to work with a diverse population. Incumbent must have demonstrated competence in supporting families and identifying cultural needs. Incumbent must have skills in dealing with sensitive family situations in a non-threatening and professional manner. Incumbent will have demonstrated effective approaches to collaboration with internal and external partners. Incumbent must have knowledge of early childhood education and intervention. Incumbent will have computer literacy and familiarity with MS Office, including knowledge of working with databases. Incumbent must have a valid Texas drivers license, or have the ability to obtain one.
  
  JOB PURPOSE AND RESPONSIBILITY:
  
  Promote, facilitate and develop family wellness and parent/family engagement in AISD Head Start program, while acting as a liaison between classroom and home settings in the areas of health and family services. This includes building capacity for parent leadership, working with community groups to engage and support parents, and identifying resources for parents and families. Must learn and follow Head Start Program Performance Standards and all relevant AISD policies and procedures. Maintain and manage a minimum caseload of 50 families throughout the year, and assist in recruiting additional eligible families. Collaborate to plan and implement all required screenings and evaluations of children; complete all documentation and required follow-up services; outline clearly to parents the results of all screenings and evaluations and the need for additional follow-up services. Conduct initial eligibility screening of families, including verification of income, ensuring all documentation obtained are accurate and complete, and begin the application/enrollment process, and ensure ongoing eligibility in AISDs Head Start program. Implement research-based parenting curriculum that builds on parents knowledge and offers parents the opportunity to practice parenting skills to promote childrens learning and development.
  
  ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:
  
  • Follow Head Start Program Performance Standards and all relevant AISD policies and procedures.
  • Maintain and manage a caseload of approximately 50 families throughout the year, including home visits and assisting in recruiting additional eligible families.
  • Document in Head Start-specific software (e.g. Child Plus) information obtained through family contacts, disability services, enrollment and health screenings as required.
  • While respecting family confidentiality, regularly share information with teachers to ensure coordinated services that meet the needs of individual children and families.
  • Encourage participation in Head Start Policy Council meetings as well as other events or trainings.
  • Assist the ERSEA/Budget Compliance Manager in identifying and recruiting eligible families, including the recruitment of children with disabilities to ensure full enrollment in Head Start classrooms, including scheduling site tours, orientation meetings, as well as assisting families with documentation.
  • Meet face-to-face with Head Start families, as required in ERSEA.
  • Work with families from the point of application and intake to the program and throughout their enrollment and determine familys eligibility.
  • Process applications on a timely basis and assign priority points according to pre-approved priority guidelines; verify that applications are complete and follow-up on incomplete applications.
  • Create and maintain application folders for each applicant by ensuring that all relevant documents (including copies of all correspondence) are correct and immediately included in the file, and that all conversations are documented in both the childrens file and on the database system.
  • Support ERSEA/Budget Compliance Manager and teachers in educating parents on attendance and tardiness policy.
  • Work in collaboration with families, staff, and external consultants to help identify all needs of assigned children and families, including special needs of children. Establish links and working relationships with appropriate service providers and community agencies.
  • In partnership with teachers, outline clearly to parents the results of all screenings and evaluations and the need for additional follow-up services, including immunizations, health, disability, and social services.
  • Recognize parents as their childrens primary teachers and nurturers and support parent-child relationships, including specific strategies for father engagement; conduct services in the familys preferred language, to the extent possible, ensuring families have the opportunity to share personal information in an environment in which they feel safe.
  • Organize and provide ongoing parent/family/community engagement events based on research-based curriculum and meetings in coordination with campus and district staff, and other community entities.
  • Establish and maintain productive working relationships with campus staff and parents/families/community and community resource providers.
  • Collaborate closely with the Parent Support Specialist and other support staff on campus (e.g. Communities in Schools).
  • Participate in ongoing professional development opportunities as available.
  
  OTHER DUTIES AS ASSIGNED:
  
  Perform other related duties as assigned; however, all employees are expected to comply with lawful directives in rare situations driven by need where a team effort is required.
  
  PHYSICAL EFFORT AND WORK ENVIRONMENT:
  
  Services are provided in the school/office environment and will involve some local travel to visit homes. Incumbent must have own transportation and be willing to work evenings and weekends when necessary. This position may involve rare exposure to blood or body fluids. Regular attendance is required for this position.
  
  PERSONAL WORK RELATIONSHIPS:
  
  Incumbent reports to the Head Start Director, with support and training provided by the AISD Parent Support Office Staff. Incumbent will consult frequently with teachers, principals, counselors, and other campus staff. Incumbent will be in regular contact with school staff, students, and families.
  
  COMPENSATION:
  Duty Days: 260
  Pay Grade: IS5
  Starting Salary: $17.34/Hr
  Social Security
  Teacher Retirement
  Comprehensive Benefits Package
  Employee Discount Program
  
  Closing Date: Until Filled
  
  An Equal Opportunity Employer
  
  Email To A Friend
  Print Version
  
  

Didn't find what you're looking for? Search again!

• Let austin recruiters find you. Post your resume for free!
• Get austin Other jobs via email.


• View more Austin Other jobs