Family Advocate I HS

Job Summary: 
The Family Advocate/Enrollment Recruitment Selection Eligibility and Attendance (ERSEA)/ Health and Disabilities Specialist is responsible for applying professional expertise and over-sight in the ERSEA Department along with Health and Disabilities, ensuring that the agency complies with all regulations per applicable Performance Standards. Plan and provide training related to enrollment systems, policies and procedures for the department and agency. Provides, and coordinates services and activities with families and communities that foster strength, healthy living, and overall well-being. The specialist provides support in a case management style liaison between families, staff, the community, and other family-related services. Ensure monitoring, agency collaboration and tracking enrollment services. Oversee service staff in the content areas of family partnerships and engagement, community resources and collaborations, health services, support service delivery, training and mentoring, monitoring and reporting, and providing best practices in working with children and families.

Responsibilities:

(Family Advocate/ERSEA)

• Understands and Manifests the Philosophy and Mission of DCSSA
• Analyze community assessment information and facilitate planning efforts to determine design options, recruitment effort
• Evaluate, design and monitor systems to process enrollment applications, including determination of eligibility and selection criteria. Confirm eligibility for new and participating families
• Provide information, referral and coordinating efforts to link staff and families with appropriate child care resources.
• Oversee processing applications for accuracy and timeliness
• Prepare and distribute timely reports and tracking regarding ERSEA updates
• Coordinate Family Advocacy trainings to ensure compliance with grant guidelines
• Conduct workshops and presentations for parents and professionals on topics related to Family Advocacy, Special Education, and Disabilities and Health 
• Orients parents in the philosophy, policies, and practices of parent involvement in a Head Start Program
• Assists parent members of the Head Start Policy Council in fulfilling their Council roles and assists the Policy Council in its activities
• Identify and recruit Head Start-eligible families and children, including children with disabilities and underserved populations
• Maintain funded enrollment level in accordance with enrollment requirements
• Provides health, safety and family literacy activities to parents, as appropriate
• Promotes effective community support for families by coordination and advocacy for services with community agencies
• Assists parents in a variety of areas (e.g. filling out forms/surveys, health, nutrition living skills, budgeting, job skills, goal setting, etc.) for the purpose of developing an action plan to remove barriers to child’s success in school and supporting the family in basic life skills and economic stability 
• Ensure the entering and updating of accurate data into the Child Tracking Software
• Provides or assists with providing health screenings, immunization verifications, and outside agency referrals (e.g. hearing, vision, immunization compliance, height/weight relationships, etc.) for the purpose of promoting needed treatment and complying with program requirements

(Disabilities Services)

• Gather and maintain the necessary records for children with disabilities
• Determine which children will be referred for further evaluation using screening information, observations, staff and parent input
• Monitor developmental and behavioral screenings in a timely manner.
• Monitor 45-day screening deadlines to insure screenings are complete by deadline.
• Follow up on required rescreens for completion and needed follow up.
• Refer children to the primary contracting agency for evaluation/determination of eligibility for special education services.
• Refer children to other agencies, when appropriate, and complete follow up as needed
• Monitor Head Start representation at initial, annual and other IFSP meetings held throughout the year, including transition meetings.
• Serve as a liaison between Head Start staff and school district staff to ensure that identified children are receiving appropriate services and evaluations in a timely manner as stated on their IFSP
• Work with ECI and Brighten Case Managers along with Head Start staff to ensure implementation of IFSP goals in the Head Start setting.
• Coordinate with other agency services to provide comprehensive service to children with disabilities and their families.
• Schedule and complete Disabilities Site Visits at the beginning of the program year to review disabilities services as well as individual child services, adaptations, and/or modifications for each site.
• Provide feedback and technical assistance and training to Head Start staff and parents to assist them in working with children with disabilities in all phases of the education program; to ensure that IFSP goals are being integrated into the classroom planning and monitored by classroom staff.
• Attend site/classroom planning meetings, as appropriate.
• Work with classroom staff, Family Advocates, and IFSP Case Manager, Speech & Language Pathologist, Occupational Therapist, Physical Therapist, and others as appropriate to ensure coordinated and effective delivery of services to children and families.
• Act as a mentor and model for Head Start staff the implementation of IFSP goals and working with children with disabilities and behavior concerns
• Complete onsite visits on a regular basis (minimum 1X every 2 months, 1X each month for larger sites) observe children and consult with staff; regularly follow up at sites when needed
• Assist classroom staff, as needed
• Fulfill obligations as specified in Interagency Agreements with Child Development, ECS, and any other applicable agency.
• Monitor and close out reports, files and paperwork at year end, including PIR reports for Disabilities/Mental Health.
• Advocate with parents for children with disabilities, maintaining an informative and supportive relationship with families.
• Assist as needed/requested with the disabilities support for EHS in all of the areas listed.

Responsibilities:

(Health Specialist)

• Treat participants, fellow staff and community members with positive regard.
• Serve as Health advisor and Training & Technical Assistance provider for the program.
• Monitor and Manage the Health plan through coordination activities with staff and community resources.
• Assure integration of all work plans throughout the Head Start/Early Head Start program.
• Monitor and manage Medical and Dental contracts that provide services to Head Start/Early Head Start children & families.
• Monitor and manage the program’s policy on Medication Administration.
• Organize and facilitate the Health Advisory Board.
• Assist in the general administration of the Head Start/Early Head Start program by participating in the ongoing program evaluation and planning process and assisting in the annual self-audit activities.
• Facilitate Health, First Aid and CPR training for staff in the program.
• Collaborate with and utilize the services of other Health agencies.
• Continue to establish and enhance the network of medical service providers for low-income families in the program.

Complexity of Work:

• Within scope of job, requires critical thinking skills, decisive judgment and the ability to work with minimal supervision. Must be able to work in a stressful environment.

Personal Protective Equipment:

• Follows Standard Precautions using personal protective equipment as required.

Qualifications

• A Baccalaureate or advanced degree in Social Services, Sociology, Health Services or a related field required
• Master’s Degree in Social Services, Sociology, Family Services or a related field preferred
• Two years’ experience in a Head Start or Early Head Start program

Benefits:

• Medical, Dental, & Vision
• Company Matching 403(b)
• PTO
• Short Term & Long Term Disability
• Life Insurance
• Employee Assistance Program
• Virtual Spiritual Care