Family Advocate - Home Based

The Family Advocate-Home-based provides case management services for children, families, and pregnant women served in the home-based program option, to address early childhood development, disabilities, child health and safety, nutrition, and family engagement components of the Head Start Program Performance Standards.

Responsibilities:

• Makes initial contacts with parents and facilitates the enrollment process and conducts all required screenings and assessments.
• Gathers information to identify family strengths, concerns, priorities, and goals.
• Orients families to the purpose of Early Head Start services and activities, informs families of their rights and responsibilities, develops a positive rapport with families, and provides continuing emotional support.
• Partners with the family in completing the Individualized Family Partnership Agreement (IFPA) and monitors and updates outcomes in collaboration with the family.
• Provides education and information to parents for successful implementation of goals.
• Works with staff from the Early Intervention program to coordinate the provision of EHS and EI services to dual-enrolled children.
• Orients families to the components and requirements of the Head Start Program Performance Standards.
• Conducts a 90-minute home visit weekly to provide education, referral, and other advisory services to families.
• Ensures that each family is offered 48 home visits during the child's enrollment year.
• Assures that families receive appropriate health and mental health-related services and referrals.
• Works with the Family and Community Partnerships Manager to identify families' social service needs and provides information, assistance, and support in accessing community resources.
• Assists families with transition into and out of Early Head Start.
• Possesses understanding and knowledge of children's overall development and health and seeks consultation from other EHS components when appropriate.
• Collaborates with related EHS components to ensure appropriate delivery service for each child.
• Assists the Family and Community and Engagement Manager and the Education and Disabilities Manager in organizing and coordinating parent training classes, parent activities, and parent committees.
• Provides emotional support for families and assists them in their roles as advocates for their children.
• Inputs data weekly into the electronic tracking system, in the areas of family engagement, early childhood development, and health.
• Submits completed kind forms to the Program Assistant monthly.
• Submits completed parent travel reimbursement forms to the Program Assistant quarterly.
• Participates in staff in-service training, serves on committees, and attends workshops and conferences as requested or approved.
• Attends team meetings and all mandatory DDI Vantage meetings.
• Completes written documentation in a timely manner to ensure program compliance and maintains child records.
• Participates in auditing of child records.
• Demonstrates professionalism and protects the confidentiality of all clients.
• Fulfills other duties as assign.

Benefits:

• Medical, Dental and Vision insurance; Vacation, Sick, and Personal leave; 18-Paid Holidays; Participation in the Utah Retirement Systems
• A home-based CDA credential or comparable credential, or equivalent coursework as part of an associate or bachelor's degree.
• Experience working with children and families; knowledge of child development and family dynamics; and knowledge of community resources.
• A state and federal background screen, fit-for-duty physical, TB test, and motor vehicle records check will be conducted on all new hires.