Bilingual Family Advocate

Description

JOIN THE ECS TEAM

At ECS, we help underserved children in Northeast and Central Florida build a solid foundation for educational success. Give a child a better start, and you dramatically increase the child’s odds of being a better person – of having a better life. Partner with us to we create opportunity so that the children we serve can achieve their full potential.

ECS has career opportunities available in several counties throughout Northeast and Central Florida. Thank you for your interest in a career with Episcopal Children’s Services.

ECS offers a competitive benefit package which includes:

• Medical, dental and vision insurance
• 403(b) plan with 5% employer match
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Long-term & short-term disability insurance
• Employer-paid life insurance
• Paid holidays
• Generous paid time off
• College tuition assistance
• Career development

GENERAL DESCRIPTION:

Primary responsibilities: To enroll eligible children and families in the Head Start/Early Head Start program and maintain center enrollment. To build professional helping relationships with families in order to develop family support plans that help families towards increased self-reliance and healthy interdependence. To ensure that Families’ strengths and needs are assessed and that appropriate referral and follow-up services are provided. 

MAJOR RESPONSIBILITIES:

1. Work with Childcare Resource & Referral to obtain referrals of prospective eligible children and families.
2. Recruit children/families, interview applicants, complete applications and enter applications into ChildPlus.
3. Maintain an accurate prioritized listing of eligible children waiting to enter the program.
4. Enroll and re-enroll eligible children who have the highest priority according to the selection criteria.
5. Maintain qualifying roster and child participation forms for USDA food program.
6. Maintain on-going maximum center enrollment.
7. Monitor children’s attendance for excessive absences or irregular attendance.
8. Maintain current health records on all children enrolled.
9. Assist with screenings as needed.
10. Work with the Head Start support staff to ensure children receive the health, mental health, and/or special needs services they may be eligible for.
11. Gather and maintain accurate non-federal share records and other documentation of parent involvement activities.
12. Meet with families to gather information regarding family strengths and needs and develop a family support plan that includes goals, tasks, timelines and follow-up.
13. Provide referral to families to appropriate service providers that will help meet the families’ interests and needs.
14. Provide timely follow up to referrals and family support plans.
15. Maintain accurate documentation of family files and family services provided.
16. Use the Office of Head Start Parent Family Community Engagement Framework and the Head Start Early Learning Outcomes Framework as a tool to provide families will support and services.
17. Plan and attend monthly parent meetings, workshops, trainings, and other parent engagement and literacy activities.
18. Develop and distribute center newsletters, calendars, and flyers.
19. Attend community inter-agency meetings to inform and update the community of services offered by Head Start and encourage collaboration.
20. Ensure policy council representation is met for each scheduled meeting.
21. Participate in school readiness transition committee.
22. Advocate on behalf of ECS Head Start and the children and families enrolled in the program.
23. Submit accurate reports as requested.
24. Continue to pursue education and/or professional development goals.
25. Perform other job related functions as required.

(These essential job functions are not to be construed as a complete statement of duties performed. Employees will be required to perform other related marginal duties as required.)

ORGANIZATIONAL RELATIONSHIP:

•  This position reports to the Family Services Manager.

Requirements

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE:

•  High School Diploma or equivalent required; Associate degree in Social Work, Psychology, or other human services related field and experience working with populations served by the grant, expectant women and children birth through age four preferred
•  Staff hired after November 7, 2016, must have within eighteen months of hire, at a minimum, a credential or certification in social work, human services, family services, counseling or a related field

SKILLS, KNOWLEDGE AND ABILITIES:

•  Ability to safely transpo