Head Start: Family Advocate, Baldwin Field Office

Job Title: Head Start Family Advocate

Position Summary: This position is accountable for managing Eligibility, Recruitment, Selection, Enrollment and Attendance (ERSEA) activities for the Head Start Program. This accountability includes goal-planning, engagement and assessment for all children and families interested and involved in the Head Start program.

Duties and Responsibilities:

1. Recruit and enroll eligible Head Start families across all program models, maintain a prioritized waiting list for replacement of potential Head Start children, and follow-up with withdrawal procedures in accordance with program policies.

2. Complete, maintain, and submit to Family Support Specialist as appropriate, monthly reports, web-based data entry and retrieval, Family Partnership Agreements, withdrawals and replacement forms, travel vouchers, and assessments on enrolled families. Maintain appropriate documentation of family contacts.

3. Schedule a minimum of two home visits per year with families across all models, individual visit or in conjunction with the child's teacher or Early Learning Consultant. Promote ongoing communication with classroom staff by scheduling regular visits and follow-up to address absence concerns in classroom.

4. Organize and structure local parent groups. Facilitate Local Parent Meetings, elections and training officers. Conduct monthly parent meetings in which parents are clustered from all program models. Plan activities at varying times of the day and week, in order to meet the needs of families and encourage the participation of as many parents as possible.

5. Inform parents of the different volunteer roles and parent involvement opportunities that are available within the Head Start program. Assist parents in forming partnerships with family literacy and adult education programs, training programs, fatherhood opportunities, and employment service programs.

6. Maintain regularly scheduled weekly visitations to the classrooms and/or provider site and sign in and out of each site.

7. Work together with the staff to develop a process for parents to make suggestions, individually or in groups, on topics relevant to their personal goals, activities for their children, and educational programs.

8. Provide parents with information about programs and services available to children with disabilities, and in particular, the right of all children to a free and appropriate public education under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA).

9. Reports to the Family Services Specialist or designee.

10. Contributes to the success of the AIU by performing all other duties as assigned.

1. B.A. /B.S. degree in Social Services, Human Services, Counseling or a related field, or associates degree in Social Services, Human Services, Counseling or related field, or are enrolled in a program that will lead to an associate or baccalaureate degree or enrolled in the Strength's-based Family Worker Credential program to be completed within 2 years of hire.

2. Knowledge and skills in the field of early childhood development

3. Knowledge of Office of Head Start Performance Standards of Early Childhood

4. Knowledge of various service resources in the community

5. Knowledge of the state and federal regulations pertaining to child abuse and neglect and childcare licensing requirements

6. Knowledge of local resources, languages and customs

7. Personal transportation, valid driver's license and insurance

Additional Requirements:

1. Current Act 114, Act 34, Act 151 and NSOR Clearances required prior to an offer (Must be dated within 1 year of hire date).

2. School Personnel Health Record (Form H511.340) must be completed and received by Human Resources prior to hire date.

Working Conditions:
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

1. Sitting for extended period of time

2. Lifting, carrying, pushing, pulling 35 pounds

3. Ability to kneel, crouch, bend and reach to retrieve and handle teaching materials and supplies

4. Moving fingers and hands in a repetitive manner

5. Ability to speak clearly and distinctly when communicating with limited English speaking customers

6. Hearing clearly

7. Adequate vision to perform duties

The information contained in this job description is for compliance with Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and is not an exhaustive list of the duties performed for this position. Additional duties are performed by the individuals currently holding this position and additional duties may be assigned.

Disclaimer: The preceding description is not designed to be a complete list of all duties and responsibilities required of this position.

Reports To: Supervisor

Department: Head Start and Early Head Start Program

Position Schedule: Year round, Monday through Friday

Salary: $32,077.50 ($16.45/hour) (non-negotiable)

Benefits: HSEA Benefit Guide

To Apply: Create an on-line application and upload a cover letter, resume, clearances, PDE Teaching Certificate (if applicable) and transcripts at the AIU Career Site.

Please send any questions to: recruitment@aiu3.net

The Allegheny Intermediate Unit is an equal opportunity education institution and will not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, ancestry, religion, sex, sexual orientation, age, handicap, or limited English proficiency in its educational programs, services, facilities, activities or employment practices as required by Title IX of the 1972 Educational Amendments, Title VI and Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended, Section 504 Regulations of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1975, Section 204 Regulations of the 1984 Carl D. Perkins Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act, or any other applicable federal or state statute.