Family Advocate- Lynden Job Lynden area,Washington USA,Education / Teaching

Position Responsibilities

Position is responsible to ensure families meet eligibility criteria to receive social and health related program services. Within an assigned caseload, interview clients individually, in family, or in other small groups to determine child and family needs to support and mobilize inner capacities and obtain community resources to improve social, health and mental health functioning, as required by Head Start and/or ECEAP Performance Standards.

Participate in the development of Individual Education Plan (I.E.P.) and Individual Family Service Plans (IFSP).

Distinguishing Characteristics

Inspire Development Centers provides Early Childhood Education (ECE) and social services to more than 4000 children, in center based and home based setting, at more than 25 Child Development Centers (CDC) throughout the State of Washington. Inspire provides services under various federal and state funded programs with differing regulations and stipulations, which must be coordinated and adhered to, including, but not limited to:
Regional Head Start (RHS), Migrant Seasonal Head Start (MSHS), Early Childhood Education and Assistance Program (ECEAP) and Early Head Start (EHS). The agency is required to meet an annual quota of non‑federal share (in‑kind) funds. A large majority of children’s first language is Spanish.

Supervisory and Other Relationships

The Family Advocate reports to the Center Manager and works closely with Program Support and Compliance Specialists, Registered Nurses, Core Team, Center Staff, families and their children.

Examples of Essential Duties and Accountabilities

The following examples of duties and accountabilities illustrate the general range of tasks assigned to the position but are not intended to define the limits of required duties. Other essential duties may be assigned consistent with the general scope of the position.

Recruitment:
Establish and maintain an ongoing recruitment process that will ensure enrollment of eligible children under the different funding sources’ criteria, including children with disabilities and severe disabilities.

Selection and Enrollment:
Responsible for eligibility verification of children and families, maintaining waiting list up to date, selecting and enrolling children based on established criteria. Responsible to input all family and child data into database systems.

Attendance Monitoring:
Responsible to review daily attendance and enter attendance results into database systems. Contacts parents and assists with attendance plan if necessary.

Family Support/Engagement:
Perform a strengths and needs assessment and develop progress goals with all participating families in order to systematically provide assistance to members in their efforts to help themselves. Make ongoing entries in child/parent files regarding progress activities, services, and/or concerns. Conduct home visits as stated on Service Plan.

Community Partnerships:
Develop local community partnerships to maintain resources for families. Contact program participants to provide information about the center and other available services, such as employment, education, welfare, health, legal services, housing, and trainings. Maintain a continuous line of communication between center, School Districts personnel, and participants.

Program Governance:
Contact parents using a variety of media to motivate and interest them in attending PCC and Parent meetings. Follow‑up on parent training requests. Provide transportation to PC Representatives as needed to attend Policy Council meetings.

Staff and Parent Training:
Prepare and present training for parents and staff on relevant component areas. Participate in center level meetings such as staffing, core team, staff, and transitioning meetings. Organize local trainings from local interests in skill building trainings.

Mental Health and Disabilities:
Responsible to ensure all processes for Mental Health and Disabilities are followed and implemented, including, but not limited to the following:
Make referrals for mental health and disabilities and assist families in identifying and accessing mental health services. Review ASQ screening…