Family Development Advocate

Overview

Summary Under general direction, participate in the planning coordinating of activities that provide support for partner providers, children, and families to provide high quality, comprehensive Head Start/Early Head Start/Child Care Partnership (CCP) services and programs. This position partners with families in setting goals, determining strategies to achieve identified family goals, problem solving and help families establish realistic timelines to achieve goals, designed to promote the social competence, cognitive and language development, and physical growth of pre-school children.

• Develop and maintain respectful partnerships with parents/families, professionally and regularly, to structure services that encourage trust, ongoing two-way communication, family well-being, ongoing learning and development, and a welcoming program environment that incorporate the unique cultural, ethnic and linguistic backgrounds of families in the program and community.
• Abide by the Program Standards of Conduct.
• Collaborate with families in a family partnership process that identifies needs, interests, strengths, goals, and services and resources that support family well-being, including family safety, health, and economic stability. Review individual progress; jointly revise goals, evaluate and track whether identified needs and goals are met; help families achieve identified individualized family engagement outcomes and adjust strategies on an ongoing basis.
• Implement family engagement strategies that are designed to foster parental confidence and skills in promoting children s learning and development. Offer activities that support parent-child relationships and child development including language, dual language, literacy, and bi-literacy development as appropriate.
• Work with program staff to support classroom and center operations as needed; assist in maintaining active supervision requirements; consistently increase knowledge and understanding of the teaching role to provide a higher level of support when needed.
• Conduct timely checks with families when a child is absent, to include driving to homes; provide parents with information about the importance of their child s regular attendance and partner with them to promote consistent attendance. Implement strategies to improve individual attendance such as direct contact with parents or intensive case management, as necessary.
• Act as a referral coordinator to facilitate access to community services that are responsive to children s and families’ needs and family partnership goals; provide ongoing support to assist parents  navigation through health systems to meet the general health and specifically identified needs of their children and assist parents in accessing health insurance for themselves and their families.
• Facilitate, coordinate speakers, and/or lead parent classes that promotes Head Start s mission while promoting active parent engagement in the classroom/center.
• Provide all services and supports as required by the Head Start Program Performance Standards/Agency.
• Actively participate in the recruitment and enrollment of children eligible for the Head Start program, including foster children, homeless children, and children with disabilities, within communities served by the program. This shall include driving to canvas neighborhoods, accepting and reviewing applications, collecting and entering documentation, and interviewing.
• Plan, facilitate, and conduct home visits on a regular basis to support family outcomes; complete necessary assessments and reports.
• Conduct developmental screenings and ensure each child s ongoing assessment is linked to curriculum goals; use screening results to develop written referrals for children with suspected disabilities.
• Attend IEP reviews and apply goals to meet children s needs; facilitate the IEP process in a timely manner
• Prepare and maintain accurate records including ongoing observations to evaluate each child s growth and development while maintaining the confidentiality of child, family and program information.
• Perform data entry into assigned electronic systems and paper files to include MTS and Child Plus.
• Understand and adhere to all WACOG and applicable external regulations, policies and procedures, and safety standards to include Head Start Performance Standards. Arizona Child Care Licensing, CACFP, and all Mandated Reporters requirements regarding suspected child abuse and/or neglect.
• Assist Center Manager and classroom staff, including performing the duties of, as needed.
• Remain prepared and organized with necessary forms and documentation for this position.
• Develop professionally by taking educational training or workshops as required.
• Travel within WACOG service area, including overnight stays as needed; additional travel may be required.
• Maintain reliable and predictable attendance; work outside of standard business hours as needed.
• Utilize tact and discretion to maintain confidentiality of information and a…