EHS Family Advocate

Title: Family Advocate Immediate

Supervisor: Director of Early Childhood Family Services

Staff Supervised: None

Job Classification: Non-Exempt, Full Time

Organization Overview: United Way of Acadiana is committed to serving Acadia, Iberia, Lafayette, St. Martin, Iberia, and Vermilion parishes. United Way fights for the health, education, and financial stability of every person in our community. Our mission: to unite people and organizations with passion, expertise, and resources to create more opportunities for a better life. Our vision: an educated, prosperous, and safe Acadiana where all individuals and families are empowered to achieve their full potential. Basic Job Summary The Family Advocate is responsible for working with United Way Learning Centers (UW-ELC) by engaging parents and family members in the Head Start program. The family advocate engages families of enrolled children in activities and services that support parents as their children’s primary nurturers, experts, and teachers, to promote and sustain children’s learning and development.

Duties and Responsibilities:

Relationship-building and Collaboration with Families • The family advocate will use relationship-based practices as defined in the Relationship-based Competencies to: o Develop relationships with parents by learning about their histories, goals, and dreams. o Engage in respectful, ongoing, two-way communication with parents. o Collaborate with families in a family partnership process as defined in the Performance Standards, to support the families’ identified needs, interests, strengths, and goals; jointly monitor progress toward families’ goals. o Jointly monitor progress toward families’ goals. o Conduct in-person or virtual home visits. o Maintain ongoing contact with families, according to the program’s policies and procedures. Eligibility, Recruitment, Selection, Enrollment, and Attendance (ERSEA), if applicable to the position • Support recruitment and enrollment of children and families, including children with disabilities, children and families experiencing homelessness, and other priority populations identified by the program in their community assessment and in the Performance Standards. • Engage in recruitment efforts to increase interest in the program and to assist in building a waitlist or fill vacancies within 30 days. • Maintain child attendance records; communicate with families and teaching staff about attendance; provide support for attendance challenges. Community Partnerships and Engagement • Identify and develop ongoing collaborative relationships with community partners to help support family access to community resources. • Provide community resource information to families while tailoring information in response to each family’s goals and needs. Transitions • Assist families with transitional activities as defined in the Performance Standards: o Into the Head Start program. o Within the program (e.g., from an Early Head Start classroom to a Head Start Preschool classroom or from Year 1 to Year 2). o From the Head Start program to other educational settings. Recordkeeping and Data-informed Services • Document and track child and parent information in the program’s data management system, including but not limited to case notes, health data, enrollment data, and program information data to support family and program goals. • Maintain policies, guidelines, and expectations to protect the confidentiality and privacy of families’ data. Professional Growth • Participate in training events, staff meetings, and ongoing professional development opportunities to learn about the role and develop the skills needed to work effectively with children and families. • Participate in reflective supervision, reflective practice, and peer-to-peer learning groups. Education • Associate or bachelor’s degree in social work, human services, family services, counseling, or a related field. • Placing a high priority on customer relationships. • Assessing and analyzing information and technology needs. • Identifying and implementing strategies for effective management of donor/financial information. • Efficiently and accurately capturing donor/gift information. • Balance promoting United Way and collecting key donor/investor information. • Good oral and written communication skills.

Experiences • Minimum of three to five years’ experience working with children and families • Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal, with the ability to present complex data in a clear and accessible manner. • Passion for the work United Way of Acadiana is committed to doing in the community.

Requirements Before Hire • Proof and maintenance of a valid driver’s license • Proof and maintenance of vehicle insurance • Must pass a Louisiana State Police Background Check • Must complete employment health screening and TB testing