“This institution is an equal opportunity provider”
Family Advocate
BASE PAY RATE: $16.20
JOB DESCRIPTION
Job Summary:
This role is responsible for recruiting and enrolling children into the program. They will collaborate with families to assess their strengths, interests, needs, and aspirations related to family engagement outcomes. The Family Advocate works with a team of staff to address needs through interventions, referrals, and follow-up support. They help families achieve individualized engagement outcomes and establish a partnership process for goal setting, progress review, and strategy adjustments. Promotes Parent, Family, and Community Engagement activities within the center, community, and at the child’s home. Additionally, they provide individualized support in areas such as child development, health, nutrition, and school readiness. This role fosters a collaborative and supportive environment for children and families.
Duties/Responsibilities:
All duties will comply with all rules, regulations, and practices of the agency and its regulating authorities. WCFD standards, DFS licensing, NAEYC guidelines, Wyoming Division of Disabilities regulations, and WCFD policies. All employees will adhere to the mission, vision, values, policies, and procedures of WCFD.
- Recruit children for the program in compliance with guidelines set by the Department of Health and Human Services and Wyoming Child and Family Development, Inc.
- Conduct a minimum of four family visits per year, with two scheduled in the child’s home, to assess family strengths and needs and identify solutions.
- Foster positive parent-child relationships and facilitate connections to peers and the community.
- Assist participants with resources to improve family well-being and maintain contact with community agencies.
- Understand the impact of trauma on participants, supporting their health, healing, resilience, and well-being.
- Establish and maintain secure child and family records in ChildPlus, ensuring all data is accurate and complete.
- Keep data current in ChildPlus, including Family Partnership Goals, health screenings, and notes.
- Organize and facilitate family engagement activities, parent meetings, and trainings with input from families.
- Support parent participation in Parent Group, Policy Council, and other leadership or advocacy efforts on behalf of children and Head Start.
- Encourage family and community member participation in children’s education through volunteering and engagement.
- Ensure completion of health screenings (hearing, vision, development) for all children, maintaining accurate individual health records in ChildPlus.
- Work with educational staff to address children’s medical and oral health needs, making referrals and assisting with follow-up care.
- Inform staff of health or social service needs and collaborate to address them.
- Help families secure medical and oral health homes, schedule appointments, arrange transportation, and assist with obtaining health insurance.
- Promote family engagement and ensure it is central to the program’s approach to partnering with families.
- Assist families during the transition to the next educational setting.
- Ensure ability to perform job functions safely, with or without reasonable accommodations.
- Attend all required training sessions and meetings.
- Perform other duties as assigned by the Board or its designee.
Required Skills/Abilities:
- Reliable, organized, and detail oriented
- Must possess strong problem-solving skills
- Demonstrated ability to follow both written and verbal instructions accurately
- Excellent interpersonal skills are required to collaborate with individuals with diverse ranges of personalities, backgrounds, and knowledge bases
- Strong communication skills are essential to interact with staff, children, families, and the broader community.
- Must have effective stress management strategies and the ability to maintain composure in challenging situations.
- Flexibility is key; the ability to adapt to changing daily routines is required.
- Bilingual candidates are preferred.
- Must be able to work well with children (ages 0 through 5 years of age), including those with special needs, and their families.
- Proficient in engaging a diverse range of families, fathers, partners, grandparents, and any significant figures in a child’s education.
- Ability to identify and understand the needs of others, including children and families.
- Skilled in interacting with and engaging both children and adults in a positive manner.
- Knowledgeable about community resources and services, or able to acquire this knowledge, to provide families with relevant information and referrals to address their needs and challenges.
- Excellent interpersonal skills and the ability to work effectively with families, staff, and the community.
- Strong stress management skills and the ability to handle challenging situations effectively.
- Flexible and adaptable, with the ability to adjust to changing daily routines and priorities as needed.
- Strong organizational skills and attention to detail.
- Proficient in stress management and maintaining a calm, organized approach in a fast-paced environment.
Education and Experience:
- Prefer an Associates or Baccalaureate in social work, human services, family services, counseling, or a related field.
- Staff must have within 18 months of hire, at a minimum, a credential or certification in social work, human services, family services, counseling or a related field. An equivalent certification is provided by WCFD.
- Must be willing to attain additional training or certifications, which may be required by Wyoming Child and Family Development, Inc.
- WCFD will only accept college degrees from accredited institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.
Physical Requirements:
Reasonable accommodations can be made for persons with disabilities. The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job.
- Must possess visual acuity and stamina to read technical material for extended periods of time.
- Be able to sit, stand or walk for long periods of time without fatigue or discomfort.
- Must be able to travel to site locations, meetings and trainings, both in and out of state.
- Must be willing to drive in a variety of weather conditions.
- Must be able to hear and process ordinary conversation and telephone conversation.
- Must be able to tolerate air-conditioned buildings and fluorescent lights.
- Must be able to climb stairs, stoop, kneel, crouch and/or reach, to retrieve materials and supplies from ground level to a height of at least 5 ft.
- Must have upper body strength to lift and carry the equivalent of 50 pounds.
- Must be able to assist a child to safety in case of an emergency.
- Must be able to work in a variety of temperatures, including hot and cold weather.
- Ability to travel across a multi-county region; work in homes, community settings, and office environments; maintain flexible scheduling to meet availability needs.
