FAMILY ADVOCATE at Fairbanks Native Association in Location not listed

FAMILY ADVOCATE Full Time SUMMARY This position provides family services to a caseload of up to fifty families enrolled in the program and provides coordinated services and activities with families and communities that foster family strengths, healthy living, and overall well-being. They also provide support in a case management style and function as a liaison between families, staff, the community, and other family-related services. The family advocate encourages all family members to become advocates for their children and family  JOB DUTIES • Develop consistent, stable, and supportive relationships with families served, while maintaining professional boundaries.  • Collaborate with families to develop child and family goals, identifying family strengths as well as areas of concern, outlining the goals and steps taken to accomplish them on established forms, and incorporating them in the individual family goals.  • Responsible for parent communication systems using text, phone calls, flyers, and Parent Activity Calendar or Newsletters to share information on training opportunities or family/community engagement activities.  • Track student attendance and follow up with families on children who are absent according to Head Start Performance Standards. • Promote parental involvement in curriculum and activity planning, program governance, and the overall Head Start 0-5 program. • Assist families in identifying and accessing community resources that will help in promoting child development or strengthening the family unit, providing referrals, and acting as a liaison and advocate between community resources and Head Start 0-5 families as needed.  • Participate in family review meetings, taking case management notes and documenting in ChildPlus.  • Encourage and empower families to advocate for their children in all aspects of their children’s lives. • Follow policies and procedures regarding monitoring concerns and /or reporting child abuse and neglect.  • Advise appropriate coordinator of health, family services, and educational concerns, working together to provide quality services, crisis intervention, and resource referrals.  • Complete and maintain accurate records and documentation of all provided services entering this data daily in the ChildPlus database system to provide complete and accurate reports following program guidelines and schedules.  • Prepares and submits to supervisor monthly reports documenting caseload, in-kind, and training in a timely and accurate manner.  • Maintain confidentiality of family records and information.  • Recruit new families and disseminate program information to local agencies and community partners. • Attend and participate in staff meetings, family reviews, training, and other scheduled activities.  • May be required to support center-based classrooms and work in other capacities when needed, such as working in classroom, reception, and data entry.  • Performs other duties as assigned.  NECESSARY KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITY • Knowledge of local social service agencies, community resources, and services offered to families. • Ability to report to work in a timely manner. • Skill in operating personal computers utilizing a variety of computer software.  • Skill in building relationships with families to assist them in attaining their goals. • Understanding and sensitivity to diverse cultures and lifestyles, and ability to work effectively with Alaska Native populations.  • Skill in managing multiple priorities and tasks concurrently to meet deadlines.  • Skills in oral and written communication.  • Skill in establishing and maintaining cooperative and respectful working relationships with children, parents, supervisors, co-workers, and community partners.  • Ability to work independently as well as in teams.  • Strong customer service skills and ability to effectively present instruction, and/or information to students, staff, parents, administrators, and the public. MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS (Education & Experience) • Current credential or certification in social work, human services, family services, counseling, or a related field, OR willingness to obtain this withing the first 18 months of hire. • Two (2) years of experience working in an Early Childhood or Head Start Program. • Three references demonstrating positive experiences working with families or caring for children. • A combination of experience, education, and training that provides the required knowledge, skills, and abilities may substitute for credential/certification requirements. • Current Infant/Toddler/Child CPR/First Aide or ability to obtain within 30 days of hire. PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS (Education & Experience) • BA degree in Social Work, Child Development, and Family Studies or Early Childhood Education. • Four (4) years of experience working in an Early Childhood or Head Start Program.