Family and Health Advocate - Bilingual Spanish

Description

At Easterseals of Chicagoland and Greater Rockford, we are committed to two – often interconnecting - pillars of work…early learning and disability. Through these pillars, we transform the lives of early learners and individuals of all abilities through access to expert educational, family, and community support. As an affiliate of America’s largest nonprofit health care organization, we have proudly served the communities and families of Chicagoland and Greater Rockford since 1936.

For more information about our organization, please visit us online tersealschicago.org.

Under the direction of the Family and Health Coordinator, the Family and Health Advocate - Bilingual Spanish (FHA) builds trusting and collaborative relationships and provides ongoing direct support services to families at assigned sites throughout Chicago and surrounding suburbs
. The FHA works collaboratively with sites and with the Early Learning Services team to deliver services that fulfill Head Start/Early Head Start/Preschool for All/Prevention Initiative requirements in the areas of: ERSEA (Eligibility, Recruitment, Selection, Enrollment, and Attendance), PFCE (Parent, Family and Community Engagement), and Health and Nutrition.

This role is ideal for someone who has respect for children and families with diverse values and cultures and is passionate about achieving positive child and family outcomes through high-quality engagement.

This position is headquartered at Easterseals Chicago Location at 1939 W 13th Street, Chicago, IL 60608
.

• Develop and maintain professional partnerships with administrative and teaching staff at assigned sites; evaluate needs and provide support to sites in meeting the Head Start Program Performance Standards and PFA/PI requirements.
• Build trusting relationships with families and provide ongoing support through the following: at least one significant monthly contact with each family (in person whenever possible); family assessment and goal setting; referrals and services, follow-up, and advocacy to meet family needs and interests; implementation of parent engagement curriculum.
• Provide two family visits per year to each family in their home.
• Develop and maintain a regular schedule of site visits to ensure implementation of HS/EHS/PFA/PI services and ongoing contact with families, including flexibility (early morning and evening as needed) to meet the schedules of families. This includes being present in person on site for, but not limited to, the following:
  • Drop-off and pick-up on a regularly scheduled weekly basis
  • Eligibility screenings
  • Playdates
  • Acceptance meetings
  • Each child’s first day at the center
  • Parent meetings, workshops, and events
  • Weekly check-in with the director to review site verification
  • Weekly check-in with the director to discuss enrollment and selection
  • Other meetings with parents as identified
• Promote literacy by increasing families’ access to materials, including lending libraries, and encouraging involvement in classroom activities.
• Maintain full enrollment of Head Start/Early Head Start/PFA/PI children at assigned sites through ongoing recruitment and by following the eligibility, selection, acceptance, and enrollment process; fill vacancies within 30 days.
• Implement attendance follow-up procedures, including attendance home visits as needed, to support regular attendance.
• Work with Easterseals and site staff to ensure that enrolled children remain up-to-date on well-child visits, physicals, immunizations, EPSDT-required screenings, vision and hearing, and dental exams; educate families on the purpose of preventive health care; ensure protocols are followed for any ongoing health issues (asthma, food allergies, etc.); follow up with families and doctors’ offices as needed.
• Measure the heights and weights of children ages 2 and up according to a twice-yearly schedule.
• Collaborate with teachers and instructional coaches to communicate with the parent as needed when there are developmental, social-emotional, or behavioral concerns for which a referral is recommended, including participating in SRT…