Family Advocate​/ERSEA

Job Title

Serving Hermiston and Stanfield locations.

Job Goal:

To assist the Family Services Manager in coordinating and implementing family and community strengthening, and comprehensive health services with families in full day Head Start/Early Head Start options. Implement the recruitment and enrollment process for the Head Start/Early Head Start program.

Essential Responsibilities:

• Recruit, select and enroll children and families and maintain enrollment levels as prescribed by Head Start Policies and Performance Standards
  • Be knowledgeable of Agency eligibility requirements.
  • Assist in planning and implementing the recruitment process.
  • Identify and recruit children with documented disabilities/special needs.
  • Provide input to the Family Services Manager to develop agency selection criteria.
  • Assist in recruitment by making a recruitment home visit for all completed applications for the area and completing the family assessment.
  • Ensure that highest risk families are referred to services needed and that education and support are available for the family.
  • Initiate and/or participate in family unity meetings with other community partners who are working with or can be of assistance to families in need of services and support.
  • Orient parents to Agency policies and program design at the center's "Welcome to Head Start"
  • Ensure that recruited applications are included on the waiting list for the assigned agency service area.
  • Ensure full enrollment of children at assigned center at all times.
  • Submit completed reports to supervisor in a timely manner.
  • Ensure that child care subsidy paperwork and tracking is completed and kept up to date for each family enrolled in full day, full year centers, to include collection and receipt of co‐pay dollars.
• Maintain an adequate social services referral system for coordinating the resolution of family needs and goals and to promote family strengthening
  • Establish a partnership with families with sufficient home visits to:
    • Develop a plan to meet the family's stated goals
    • Work in collaboration with family, designated agency and community staff to assist families with resources to meet family's goals
    • Offer core services to include case management, parenting and child development education, assessment and community services
  • Develop and maintain working relationships with community resources/partners (DHS, CAPECO, DVS, Health Dept., Mental Health, Police and Schools) by making on‐site visits
  • Assist families in developing resources for resolving emergent social service needs and follow up with families on the appropriateness of the resources
  • Refer families to appropriate agencies and follow up on referrals
  • Orient and provide information to staff and parents regarding social services and community resources
• Assist in the implementation of an agency wide Parent Involvement Program
  • Work with center teams to encourage parents to be involved in all components and programs of the agency
  • Promote prevention and family strengthening activities (picnics, leadership training, parenting classes, sewing classes, quilting classes, etc.) with center staff and parents
  • Ensure that volunteers are always supervised and never left alone with a child
  • Be available as a resource person for Parent Center training upon request
  • Provide assistance to center teams for involving parents in all components and programs of the agency
  • Provide assistance to center teams for involving males/fathers in the agency programs Assist Volunteer Specialist in implementing Men's support group, and other activities promoting Male/Father involvement in local area
  • Identify and recruit parents to participate in Community Leadership Training and other Community activities
  • Assist in the coordination of the agency‐wide Wellness Day and promote activity with all parents. Work with families to problem solve around barriers to participation
  • Assist in the implementation of the agency's volunteer/career ladder program
• Assist the Health & Mental Health Manager in the Health Services component
  • Help families establish an ongoing relationship with health and dental care providers
  • When trained and assigned by the Health & Mental Health Manager, complete hearing and…