Family Advocate: Sevier County Job Jackson area,Tennessee USA,Social Work

Program: Douglas Cherokee Head Start
Job Title: Family Advocate
Location: Sevier County
- Based at Boyd’s Creek Head Start

FLSA Status: Non-Exempt, Full-time; 37.5 hours per week; 10 month

Salary Grade: 17.86 per hour

Reports to: Area Coordinator, Family & Community Partnership Mgr., HS Director

POSITION SUMMARY:

Under the direction of the Family and Community Partnership Manager, the Family Advocate will perform social/health related services necessary for compliance with Head Start Performance Standards. The Family Advocate is provided with an office in the county for which the position is hired.

ROLE

QUALIFICATIONS:

Education Requirements:

High school diploma or GED. Prefer a credential or certification in social work, human services, family services, counseling or a related field.
Must obtain within eighteen months of hire, at a minimum, a credential or certification in social work, human services, family services, counseling or a related field as required of the Head Start Performance Act.

Experience Requirements:

Experience working with preschool children and family’s empathy with Head Start children and families required.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES /

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:

To be responsible for the recruitment of Head Start children for all centers in the county. This involves door-to-door recruitment, home visits, and doing applications according to federal guidelines.
To work with and utilize existing community agencies in meeting the physical and financial needs of families in the county
To work with Head Start parents in identifying needs within the family, setting goals, and helping families meet the goals.
To be directly involved with families in working toward self-sufficiency to include referrals and follow-up with documentation of all services and work with families.
To ensure that all children have complete medical and dental screenings. To arrange for physical and dental examinations and other health needs of the Head Start child and provide transportation as necessary for children and parents relative to these arrangements.
To keep careful, complete and up-to-date records for each child regarding the status of his/her medical, dental, and follow-up treatment.
To report and interpret to the teacher and family any medical, dental, speech, hearing or visual problems and work toward remedying those problems.
Enter medical/dental screenings and follow-ups in the computer data system as well as other required program information.
To follow up with the Teacher in those cases of prolonged child absences, evidence of family problems which are affecting the child’s school behavior, etc. Home visits may need to be done.
To do home visits to complete the Family Partnership Agreement, and to maintain careful, complete and up-to-date casework narratives and contacts for each family.
To act as an advocate for Head Start families within the program and the community.
To assist in helping the parents to organize parent groups.
To help provide means for parents to learn more about the Head Start Program and their role and responsibilities in the program, (i.e. Policy Council, Volunteers, Personnel Committee).
To serve as a liaison between staff and parents.
To submit required social service and health reports to appropriate Coordinator.
Enter required data into computer tracking system.
To attend training that is provided by the program.
Demonstrate work habits which comply with agency Personnel Policies and Procedures and complete special assignments from the Social Services Coordinator, Health & Nutrition Coordinator, and Head Start Director.
Encourage parents, families, and community members to support our children and the program through gifts of time, goods, and/or monetary donations to ensure program local match (in-kind) as required to continue receiving federal funding.
Performs other duties as assigned.

WORK SITE: Sevier County
- Based at Boyd’s Creek Head Start

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES: None

OTHER

JOB RESPONSIBILITIES:

Travel within the service area; some overnight and out-of-area travel for meetings is required. An agency vehicle may or may not be provided. If a vehicle is not provided, you must have a reliable…