Family Advocate

# **SUMMARY** Under general supervision of the Program Administrator, the Family Advocate is responsible for the implementation of the ERSEA, Child Health and Developmental Services, Child Health and Safety, Child Nutrition, Child Mental Health, Family and Community Partnerships, Program Governance, and Disabilities Services components per ACFY Performance Standards and program policies and procedures. The Family Advocate promotes, in conjunction with other Early Head Start staff, active parent engagement in the Early Head Start Program and community; and assists the parents in assuming the primary responsibility for the welfare of their family. As Site Coordinator, this individual will also work cooperatively with Child Development Specialist to support Center staff. # **PRIMARY DUTIES** - **SITE COORDINATION** - Serves as a member of the center management team and as such, provides leadership to center Staff as requested by the Child Development Specialist and/or Director - Provide Supervision to center staff in the absence of the Center Child Development Specialist. - Work with center staff to ensure that Center services are meeting participant needs. - The FA/Site Coordinator will report directly to the Program Administrator. - Track and order supplies for the center. - **GENERAL DUTIES** - Participates in the implementation of Parent Orientation. - Participates in the annual Self-Assessment process. - Utilizes the MHS and Brightwheel data management systems input data, enroll, document, and track services to children and families. - Submit required reporting to Maryland Family Network according to the appropriate timelines - Participates in the completion of the annual Program Information Report (PIR) - Maintains accurate and updated family files for each child enrolled in the Early Head Start program. - Attends all required trainings through the recipient (MFN), the agency (SVDP) and/or the program. - Lead or co-lead with Child Development Specialist, case management meetings with all appropriate staff to review all family files. - **ERSEA** - Establishes and carries out effective outreach initiatives to recruit children and families for the Early Head Start Program. - Completes the intake interviews to determine eligibility of families for program and maintains a waiting list. - Assists in the Selection Process and placement of children into the Early Head Start program. - Monitors attendance of children in assigned classrooms and assists parents in alleviating barriers to daily attendance. - **CHILD HEALTH, SAFETY, & NUTRITION** - Maintains accurate and updated individual health records on all Early Head Start children, manually and electronically. - Helps to provide health education for parents, staff and children and links the child and the family to an ongoing health system. Identifies and utilizes state and local resources for the health program. - Is responsible for identifying community partners and scheduling required preliminary health screenings of all Early Head Start children. - Serves as an advocate for child health issues and services and assists in evaluation of the effectiveness of the health service component. - Serves as a liaison to the health community, and an advocate for parents regarding health issues. - Nutrition Assessment and Planning for Children: - Obtains nutrition assessment information (growth assessment and health history) for each child enrolled in Early Head Start. - Assists in the review of each child’s nutrition needs, including identifying special diets/allergies and restrictions. - Assists in the evaluation of the information collected in a. and b. above for use in nutrition treatment programs and/or nutrition education programs and disseminates to appropriate staff. - **DISABILITIES/MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES** - Actively recruits children with special needs for the Early Head Start program. - Supports teachers and/or parents in the program referral process. - Attends staffings, child…