Family Services Advocate

ACHR is looking for a Family Services Advocate that is fluent in English and Spanish to help serve our growing community of Spanish-speaking families.

Summary:

Responsible for outreach, intake, family assessments, maintaining, gathering, and reviewing required ERSEA (Eligibility, Recruitment, Selection, Enrollment, and Attendance) documentation, crisis management, referrals, follow-up and case-management for program participants of the Alabama Council on Human Relations, Inc. (ACHR) Child Development Program. Work closely with other family services staff, community agencies and family members to assess and determine needs and document those needs so family members become more confident and self-sufficient. Serve as a catalyst to help parents become active advocates for their children. Responsible for following ACHR procedures and HS/DHR regulations and laws, displaying appropriate work habits by working as a team, keeping necessary records, participating in trainings, staffing, and community engagement opportunities.

Primary duties:

• Develop consistent, stable, and supportive relationships with families served, while maintaining professional boundaries.
• Collaborate with families to develop child and family goals, identifying family strengths as well as areas of concern; outlining the goals and steps taken to accomplish them on established forms, and incorporating them in the individual family goals.
• Responsible for parent communication systems using text, phone calls, flyers, and Parent Activity Calendar or Newsletters to share information on training opportunities or family/community engagement activities.
• Track children's attendance and follow up with families on children who are absent according to HS Performance Standards.
• Promote parental involvement in curriculum and activity planning, program governance, and the overall Head Start 0-5 program.
• Assist families in identifying and accessing community resources that will help in promoting child development or strengthening the family unit, providing referrals and acting as a liaison and advocate between community resources and Head Start 0-5 families as needed.
• Participate in family review meetings, taking case management notes and documenting in ChildPlus.
• Encourage and empower families to advocate for their children in all aspects of their children's lives.
• Follow policies and procedures in regards to monitoring concerns and/or reporting child abuse and neglect.
• Advice appropriate coordinator of health, family services, and education concerns; working together to provide quality services, crisis intervention, and resource referrals.
• Complete and maintain accurate records and documentation of all provided services entering this data daily in ChildPlus database system to provide complete and accurate reports following program guidelines and schedules.
• Prepares and submits to supervisor monthly reports documenting caseload, in-kind, and training in a timely and accurate manner.
• Maintain confidentiality of family records and information.
• Recruit new families and disseminate program information to local agencies and community partners.
• Attend and participate in staff meetings, family reviews, trainings, and other scheduled activities.
• May be required to support center-based classrooms and work in other capacities when needed, such as working in classrooms, reception, and data entry.

Education:

• Associates degree from an accredited institution with a significant amount of relevant work experience.

Or

• Bachelor's degree or higher from an accredited institution in Social Work, Psychology, Human Development/Family Studies, or related field with relevant work experience preferred.

Job Type: Full-time

Benefits:

• Dental insurance
• Health insurance
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Vision insurance

Education:

• Associate (Required)

Language:

• English and Spanish fluently (Required)

Ability to Commute:

• Auburn, AL Required)

Work Location: In person