Family Advocate

Job Type Full-time Description

About our organization

Since 1981, Options for Learning has been at the forefront of helping families break the cycle of poverty and improve their lives by providing tools to create a positive foundation for school, social, and life success.

Our dedicated and passionate employees have helped our organization become one of Southern California's most innovative and progressive child development organizations, serving nearly 9,000 children throughout the San Gabriel Valley.

About this position

This position is responsible for providing valuable support services, resources, and referrals for families, as well as partnering with them in setting family goals and promoting positive child and family outcomes.

The successful candidate will have experience working one-on-one with families from diverse populations and a proven record of positively building trust and rapport.

They will also understand the challenges faced by families in our communities and be able to support them in setting and reaching family goals using a strengths-based approach.

They will be able to work effectively independently, as well as collaboratively across teams and thrive in a fast-paced environment.

We are looking for someone who is passionate about helping children and families thrive and reach their full potential.

What you’ll be doing

• Advocating for parents, beginning at enrollment and continuing through the end of their time with the organization, by providing needed resources and referrals for health, education, job training, counseling, and other services for children and families;
• Maintaining detailed records on families served, referrals provided, services provided, services received, family goal progression, and outcomes achieved while maintaining confidentiality;
• Attending in-person and virtual home visits to partner with parents and education staff in setting family goals, and monitoring progress and outcomes;
• Working collaboratively with Enrollment, Health, and Inclusion & Wellness departments to conduct child and family screenings within required timelines;
• inputting data into the student information system (Hubbe and others) accurately, consistently and on time.
• Monitoring and reporting on data related to family engagement, parent involvement, family goal-progression and quality of resources;
• Partnering with Enrollment, Education, Health, Inclusion & Wellness, and Recruitment & Outreach departments in the coordination of family engagement resources, newsletters, activities, parent meetings, support groups, workshops, and events based on family needs and interests;
• Working with parents and education staff to boost parent participation in meetings, events, workshops, and advocacy opportunities;
• Attending training as required;
• Performing other related duties as assigned.

What you bring to the table

• Associate’s degree in human services, social work, psychology, sociology or a related field;
• Minimum six months of experience in facilitating classes, meetings, activities, or events for families;
• Minimum two years of experience working with children and families from diverse populations utilizing a strengths-based approach;
• Knowledge of Head Start performance standards and Parent, Family, and Community Engagement Framework family and child outcomes;
• Experience handling parent concerns and family needs with sensitivity and respect;
• Ability to advocate for parents and families with federal, state, and private agencies to obtain services;
• Ability to transport parents when needed;
• Strong interpersonal skills and ability to work collaboratively with colleagues and across departments to effectively meet the needs of children and families;
• Excellent organizational and problem-solving skills;
• Ability to thrive in a fast-paced environment;
• Bilingual in English / Spanish or English / Cantonese with full proficiency (preferred);

What we can offer you

• Medical / dental / vision for part- and full-time employees (organization pays up to 90% of employee's premiums; prorated for part-time);
• Organization-paid and matching retirement plan;
• Professional growth opportunities, including free child development courses and college reimbursement;
• Generous and flexible PTO;
• Dedicated, mission-driven colleagues, and much more!

Job specifications

• Reports to the family engagement supervisor;
• Non-exempt, full-time, twelve-month work year;
• Eight-hour workday; Four-day work week;
• Opportunity for hybrid-work schedule may be available and to be determined by management;
• Requires some evening and weekend work hours;
• Employment, responsibilities, compensation and other factors may be affected by changes in governmental regulations, the organization’s contracts, or at organization discretion.

Salary

• $25.00 to $30.00 per hour
30+ days ago