Family Service Advocate

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Full‑time, 12‑month position. The Family Service Advocate guides families in their efforts to become more self‑sufficient, promotes children’s learning and development, helps families set achievable goals through the Family Partnership Process, and encourages families to become strong advocates for themselves and their families while fostering an environment that encourages growth and the reach of each family’s fullest potential. The Advocate ensures that families receive the support and services described in the Head Start Performance Standards in accordance with policies, procedures, and the philosophy of the MPP Board of Directors and the Head Start Policy Council.

• Uses the Parent, Family, and Community Engagement Framework to assess and identify family strengths and needs as directed by the Office Head Start, focusing on outcomes such as family well‑being, parent‑child relationships, families as lifelong educators, families as learners, family engagement in transitions, family connections to peers and community, and families as advocates and leaders.
• Invites families to engage in a Family Partnership Process early in the program year, including assessment of family needs, interests, and strengths; linkage to community resources; and an option for families to set goals and enter into a Family Partnership Agreement.
• Encourages parents to engage in their children’s education, learning, and development while supporting individual parent‑child relationships.
• Maintains monthly two‑way communication with families while establishing a professional relationship of trust, respect, reliability, and support, and then building upon that relationship to help Head Start families meet their own goals.
• Secures resources and provides crisis intervention services.
• Maintains accurate, up‑to‑date documentation for all Family Service activities, including but not limited to Baseline, Mid‑Year, and End‑of‑Year Family Assessments;
  Ongoing Family Partnership Processes;
  Monthly contact;
  Absenteeism;
  Emergency Contact Update forms;
  Classroom Transfers; and Nutritional documentation as needed.
• Monitors children’s health assessments as required by the Head Start Performance Standards, and provides assistance to families in acquiring necessary health and dental screenings and any additional services required to help children maintain optimal health.
• Monitors weekly attendance for absenteeism. Contacts families when a child is more than one hour tardy for school without prior notification, and conducts a home visit when a child is absent for two consecutive days without prior notification.
• Uses computer for data entry and communication with staff, families, and community members.
• Assists families in the program enrollment process.
• Helps transition families from Early Head Start to Head Start and from other community‑based early childhood programs into a Head Start program or vice versa, and assists in transitioning Head Start students to Kindergarten.
• Maintains a good working relationship with Head Start’s Community Partners and has a working knowledge of ex‑parte, voluntary placement agreements, and custody agreements.
• Possesses and demonstrates the ability to work both individually and as a cooperative team member.

• High School Diploma or equivalent, required.
• Willing to attain a credential or certification in social work, human services, counseling, or a related field within eighteen months of hire, required.
• Bachelor’s degree or Associate’s Degree in Sociology, Social Work, Psychology, Counseling, Human Services, or a related field, preferred.
• Valid Driver License.

Macon Program for Progress is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Seniority level:
Entry level