Family Advocate

Summary/ Objective: The Family Advocate supports the Family Engagement Manager in executing a best practice systems approach that supports the holistic needs of children and families within all facets of the family and community engagement program services while adhering to performance standards. It encompasses continuous monitoring and reporting to guarantee the integrity of best practices in fostering a secure and supportive environment for families and children.

Key Areas of Responsibility 1. Participate as a cooperative member of a multidisciplinary team to manage all aspects of family and community engagement with the program staff to ensure family support in education, health, mental health and disabilities. 2. Actively involvement in recruitment and enrollment efforts 3. Works within established systems to: · Monitor absenteeism and provide follow up and family support documenting steps taken to develop a plan that tracks compliance and progress. Plan and facilitate parent orientations and monthly center parent meetings. Conduct home visits as needed with each family. Provide crisis intervention for families when needed. Record, monitor and follow up on referrals for support services. • Provide breaks for classroom staff daily and fill-in classrooms when the program is short staffed. 4. Apply the Parent, Family and Community Engagement Framework as a road map to enhance and coordinate all services centered around family and community engagement. 5. Integrate the use of Relationship Based Competencies throughout the program to cultivate strong, positive relationships with parents and staff. 6. Facilitate the Family Partnership agreement with families by completion of the family matrix to identify family strengths, address immediate needs, and set goals and track the progress of those goals to improve family outcomes. 7. Work with families to access services and resources responsive to their interests and goals and follow-up with them to ensure the referral met their expectations and circumstances. Maintain up to date knowledge of community resources. 8. 9. Enter required data into the Child and Family tracking software and monitor to ensure accuracy of that data. (ChildPlus) and maintain a Childs hard copy file when required.. Represent Head Start at community events to facilitate recruitment and enrollment into the program. 10. Assist the program in developing a volunteer base by empowering parents and community partners to volunteer in the Head Start program, following all volunteer guidelines. 11. Support children and families that transition in and out, and through the Head Start program. 12. Submit reports monthly and/or as requested, participate in staff meetings, conferences, training sessions and workshops as assigned and travel for such as needed.