The Parent Advocate (including substitutes) provides high quality health, mental health, nutrition, social services to children and their families, and will use agency standards to ensure that services provided are in alignment with the Social Determinants of Health through a trauma informed care lens as defined by the agency. Will also assist in providing parent engagement activities to Head Start families that support the Head Start Parent, Family, and Community Engagement Framework. Assists in promoting family outcomes that enhance the family well-being, positive parent-child relationships, families as lifelong educators, families as learners, family engagement in transitions, family connections to peer and community, and families as advocates and leaders. Comply with the Head Start Program Performance Standards, the Head Start Act, Licensing Minimum Standards, and agency policies and procedures. Build partnerships with families to assist them in identifying their own goals, strengths, needed services and support systems and in developing strategies and timetables for achieving their own goals. Responsible for eligibility, recruitment, enrollment and attendance. Completes data entry into our data base and provides clerical support to the program. This position is year round meaning you work during the summer months.
Essential Functions:
Case Management:
- Adhere to agency and contractual requirements pertaining to service recipient contact, family partnership agreements and family wellness plans, support families’ efforts to reach their goals, evaluation of progress, service documentation and timely completion of all case requirements as directed. Maintain enrollment and a minimum of 85% of children’s attendance as required by Head Start Program Performance Standards.
- Ensures that clients have access, as needed, to all five pillars of the social determinants of health with a trauma informed lens through Agency services and/or community partners.
- Collect child and family data and enter in program software; monitor; update; prepare data reports for program use and the annual Program Information Report (PIR). Maintain accurate, objective, timely and confidential records documenting all family, staff and agency contacts; disseminate appropriately; and document recruitment and enrollment activities. Ensure deadlines of activities are met following the program matrix.
- Initiate and establish collaborative partnerships with parents to establish mutual trust and respect to enhance the quality of their lives and their communities; and respect and respond competently to the culture, traditions, lifestyle, language, and values of each family and community. Assist parents with emergency or crisis assistance in areas such as food, housing, clothing, and transportation as directed; and provide families with high needs (i.e., children with disabilities, domestic violence, health concerns) with appropriate community resources and linkages and assist families in crisis as directed.
- Accompany Teachers on Home Visits and Parent Teacher Conferences as needed; and carry out appropriate agency procedures to obtain consent, explain rights, and maintain record security to ensure that clients’ rights are protected.
Recruitment:
- Assist in facilitating Early Head Start Child Care Partnership/Head Start recruitment activities and face-to-face enrollment process which includes the data entry process. Continuous recruitment and completion of program family applications throughout the year.
- Assist in recruiting, interviewing, training, and placing parent volunteers in Head Start programs and support parents as visitors, observers and participants in group activities with their children.
- Encourage, monitor and record the timely delivery of medical, dental, mental health and nutrition services to children.
- Promote child and family wellness and the establishment of a medical and dental “home” for each child and their families. Provide physical/dental/mental health and nutrition education activities that are responsive to the ongoing and expressed needs of parents as individuals and members of a group. Collect and enter into program software, health indicators such as Medical Assistance, CHIP and other insurance coverage, participation in WIC, incidence of health problems and their treatment; monitor and report. Review child and parent medical and dental information with Health Coordinator and/or Health Specialist on a regularly scheduled basis
Family and Community Engagement:
- Assist with offering parent engagement and leadership activities that afford opportunities for parents to be involved in group activities, including parent advisory groups, policy council groups and educational activities based on interest and need; identify and establish a Parent Information Board at each assigned site; assist in facilitating and developing the annual parent training and event calendar; and assist with implementing the Head Start Parent, Family and Community Engagement Framework.
- Assist in establishing a resource listing of community agencies within the Head Start site service area; and update community resource list and link families to necessary resources. (i.e. Resource Binder)
- Provide opportunities for parents to attend trainings, conferences, fairs, and/or meetings based on parent interests received from family needs assessment and training surveys. Provide opportunities for children and families to participate in family literacy service and support families in identifying and accessing community resources; and provide opportunities to include parents in the development of the programs’ educational curriculum; and involve parents in the transition from home or other childcare settings to the Head Start Program and support successful Kindergarten transitions for enrolled Head Start children and families.
- Collaborate with other Early Head Start Child Care Partnership and Head Start providers to provide opportunities for enhancement, participation, discussion, and education matters relevant to their needs and interests as listed in the Head Start Performance Standards, including growth and development, parenting skills, child abuse prevention, guidance and discipline, medical, dental, nutritional and mental health, disabilities, family literacy, and community advocacy.
Agency Responsibilities:
- Attend agency, program and Head Start Center staff meetings and/or trainings as required.
- Maintain good relationships with stakeholders, current and potential Head Start children and their families, community and co-workers, focusing on providing excellent and culturally sensitive customer service and always presenting a positive image of the agency.
- Maintain a working environment which encourages mutual respect, promotes respectful and congenial relationships between employees and is free from all forms of harassment.
- Perform other duties as assigned, including presentations to community groups and organizations, in accordance with the agency’s “team” philosophy.
QUALIFICATIONS:
To perform this job satisfactorily, an individual must be able to perform each essential performance requirement satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the training, experience, knowledge, and skills required for this job. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable an individual with disabilities to perform the essential functions listed above.
Education/Training/Experience:
- High School Diploma or equivalent.
- Current Pediatric CPR and First Aid Certification
- Family Service Worker Credential
- Three years experience in delivering social services to vulnerable families.
- Understands cultural differences and is sensitive to the implications of culture for service delivery; and able to utilize various learning techniques in the successful delivery of Family and Community Support Services.
- Familiarity and competency with modern office equipment, software and computer systems; familiar with and working knowledge of Microsoft Office Operating Systems (word, excel, PowerPoint, etc.) word processing, spreadsheets, and databases; and understanding of database systems and their utilization.
- A parent of a current or former participant in a Head Start program, preferred.
- Child Development Associate (CDA) credential, desirable.
- Fluent in English and Spanish (read, write, and speak) desirable.
- Staff will be required to submit proof of their vaccination status or may request to be exempt from vaccination due to a religious and/or medical accommodation.
- Certificate or license, as applicable, by the appropriate State agency as a qualified practitioner.
- State of Texas vehicle operator’s license and proof of liability insurance.
