POSITION TITLE: Family Advocate STATUS: Exempt, FT GRADE: 3

DEPT: Early Childhood Services/PMC PROGRAM: Head Start

REPORTS TO: Family Services Manager SUPERVISES: N/A

SUMMARY: Works with families and childcare partners to develop trusting relationships while assisting Head Start families with services needed to become self-sufficient.

COLLABORATES WITH: Early Childhood Services Team, Child Care Partners, Families

ESSENTIAL responsibilities:

· Recruits, enrolls families/children,

· Develops and implements individualized Family Partnership agreements with families.

· Ensures eligibility, recruitment, selection, attendance, family and community engagement criteria are met.

· Coordinates with the Economic Empowerment program to provide training for Families.

· Conducts home visits with families in collaboration with the Head Start Teacher.

· Engages with community stakeholders to develop partnerships that support the needs of families.

· Provides ongoing engagement with families to set individual goals and offer resources.

· Meets requirements of the Head Start Performance Standards

· Coordinates with childcare partners to develop and implement parent committee meetings at the childcare partner site.

· Works closely with ERSEA Specialist to ensure continued eligibility and proper submission of documents for families.

· Work closely with Health Consultant to ensure proper documentation and compliance of required health documents – Ensures children’s health requirements are met, on-going monitoring, and follow up is documented.

KEY DELIVERABLES:

• Establishes trusting professional relationships with each assigned family and childcare partner.
• Actively participates in YWCA events and activities.
• Builds and fosters relationships with key stakeholders.
• Maintains a strong understanding of Early Head Start Performance Standards and YWCA policies and procedures.
• Coordinates with other key YWCA programs including CCAP, Tummy, Training and Economic Empowerment.

NON-ESSENTIAL RESPONSIBILITIES: Participate in administrative and program meetings, as appropriate. Participate in ongoing YWCA events and activities.

OTHER DUTIES AS ASSIGNED: Other duties outside of the responsibilities of the position may be assigned, whether for a project, special needs task or other assignment.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Fluency in written and spoken English and Spanish preferred.
• Ability to pass a health examination and a criminal background check.
• A demonstrated ability to work independently, while prioritizing and managing multiple assignments simultaneously as needed.
• Must be able to travel.
• Ability to work nights and weekends as needed.
• Well-developed problem-solving, communication skills and work closely as a member of a team.
• Ability to adapt to change.
• Ability to work collaboratively with individuals from various education, socioeconomic, and cultural backgrounds.
• Thrives in an environment in which collaboration, partnership, and empowerment are the key cultural elements.

Professional Training Required: A minimum of fifteen (15) hours of professional training related to Early Childhood and/or to the responsibilities of the position is required annually.

PERFORMANCE EXPECTATIONS:

• Alignment on the key deliverables
• Coachability and openness to developmental feedback
• Establish and meet deadlines.
• Prioritization of tasks
• Optimization of efficiency
• Strong interpersonal relationships with families to contribute to the healthy development of children.
• Strong understanding of programs and overall mission of the YWCA
• Strong understanding of Child Care Assistance program, Economic Empowerment programs as well as other social service programs available to parents in the Chicagoland area.

EDUCATION REQUIRED: Credentialed or certified in social work, human services, family services, counseling or a related field; BS degree in social work preferred.

CERTIFICATION(s) REQUIRED: NA

WORK ENVIRONMENT: The work environment includes offices; members and visitors may visit with children. The noise level is usually moderate. Movement requirements include walking, stooping or kneeling. There may be a need to reach, lift or move objects, such as packages, supplies and computers. Normal (or corrected) vision range; ability to see color and to distinguish letters, numbers and symbols are necessary to the work, which may require close viewing. Occasionally may need to lift and/or move up to 30 pounds. Communication needs include seeing, hearing and speaking. While in the office, there will be periods of sitting, holding a telephone and using computers. Reasonable accommodations will be made for an incumbent to meet the essential responsibilities of the position.

WORK SCHEDULE: Monday-Friday, 37.5 hours per week, one evening per month availability based on parent scheduled. Must be able to travel to partner sites and required professional development trainings.

Schedule can vary depend on the needs of the agency.