Family Service Advocate - Nebraska City

Areas of Responsibility

Responsible for establishing and maintaining mutually respectful partnerships with families to enhance the quality of their lives and the lives of their children in a manner that is consistent with Head Start Performance Standards and written plans. Provide family advocacy and coordinate services delivered to the families of children participating in the Head Start program. Responsible for developing, implementing, and evaluating a variety of family engagement activities. Responsible for preparing and serving meals for children using established guidelines and procedures to better meet their nutritional needs.

Major Duties

Conduct outreach and recruitment activities to ensure full enrollment and adequate waiting list. Complete applications of age-eligible children and maintain a waiting list for Head Start and related services.

Assist families in crisis by providing information on community services, follow-up services, and making referrals to ensure delivery of needed services.

Ensure children receive needed health services to meet Head Start Performance Standards within the required timeframe.

Maintain social service, parent involvement, and health records for children and families.

Make home visits to complete observations, interview families, and gather all necessary data to develop a Family Partnership Agreement. Provide follow-up on said agreements to assist families in meeting their goals.

Provides support transportation for participants, as appropriate.

Work collaboratively with the Teacher to effectively schedule and facilitate parent meetings.

Actively support parent and activities at the assigned center, including but not limited to, Policy Council, nutrition committee, education committee, parent committee, and ad-hoc committees. All efforts to include families enrolled in collaboration sites must be made.

Actively participate in efforts to meet the SENCA Head Start goals identified within the current SENCA Head Start Strategic Plan.

Actively participate in efforts to meet the SENCA goals identified within the current SENCA Strategic Plan. 11. Actively participate in setting, tracking, and attaining three national ROMA Next Generation Goals.

Demonstrate active employee engagement by using individual talents, providing a consistent level of high performance, building connections and professional networks, having high energy, broadening responsibilities, and building on those responsibilities.

Minimum Qualifications

Must be at least 18 years old.

Must possess high school diploma or equivalent. Associate degree or higher in Sociology, Social Work, Psychology, Counseling, or Health field preferred.

Must complete a credential or certification in social work, human services, family services, counseling, or related field within 18 months of hire.

Previous experience working with young children and their families preferred.

Communicate effectively and efficiently, and comprehend various forms of communication.

Ability to accept and learn new and improved theories and techniques.

Ability to interact effectively with co-workers, parents, volunteers, and others in the center.

Able to work with others using a team model and to follow basic teamwork principles.

Other Requirements

Valid driver\'s license and / or reliable personal transportation required if assigned driving responsibilities.

Ability to lift up to 40 pounds occasionally.

Be able to travel on agency business and attend out of area training meetings and / or conferences as required.

Maintain an effective working relationship with staff, program participants, general public, and other Local, State, and Federal agencies.

Maintain ones' self at all times so as not to bring discredit upon themselves or the agency.

Must have the ability to empathize with program participants.

Understand and comply with SENCA Affirmative Action / Equal Opportunity Policy, Drug and Alcohol-Free Workplace Policy,and Confidentiality of Information Policy, Safety Plan, and Personnel Policies.

Must be willing to submit to a pre-employment drug screening and random drug and alcohol testing. This is a full time position at 40 hours per week and runs 10 months out of the year. SENCA offers a competitive benefit package. Position is 80% federally funded. EOE

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