Head Start Family Advocate

Position Type:

CREC Early Childhood Education/Head Start Family Service Advocate (Hourly)

Date Posted:

12/4/2025

Location:

CREC Head Start South

Closing Date:

12/18/2025

JOB DESCRIPTION

Since 1966, the Capitol Region Education Council (CREC) has been dedicated to providing innovative, high quality, and cost-effective educational programs and services to meet the diverse needs of children and adults in Greater Hartford. Serving 33 member districts and reaching additional communities statewide, CREC supports approximately 12,000 students annually through more than 120 educational programs. Our offerings include professional learning and coaching for educators, specialized programming for students with diverse needs, and PreK-12 education across 16 interdistrict magnet schools. Additionally, CREC provides school construction, operations, and cooperative business services, while also delivering programs that help adults build real, job-ready skills.

Position Title:

Family Advocate

Classification:

129, EC15NE

Reports To:

Family Support Specialist

Effective Date:

POSITION SUMMARY:

The Family Advocate is responsible for working with families to determine their immediate needs and providing the resources needed to achieve the family's self-identified goals. The Family Advocate is also responsible for partnering with the teaching and content area staff to ensure ongoing communication to support positive outcomes of children and families. The Family Advocate supports recruitment, marketing, enrollment, and family engagement.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES and RESPONSIBILITIES:

Duties/Responsibilities

Engage families in the Family Partnership process through the completion of family needs assessments, monthly contacts (at minimum), goal setting and action steps, resource sharing, crisis support, and ongoing family engagement.

Develop and maintain open channels of communication between Head Start program staff, families, and the community; support families' ability to advocate their needs in the school and community environments.

Report the needs of children and families to appropriate content area specialists. Identify additional services needed in conjunction with appropriate center staff.

Provide training and education to families in using available resources and obtaining community services; collaborate with community agencies to ensure that families have access to services that support their physical, mental, and social well-being.

Maintain and enter family data into the program database in a timely, accurate, and confidential manner to facilitate services.

Promote Early/Head Start program and services and encourage family participation.

Assist in the recruitment and enrollment of children; complete all necessary eligibility determination paperwork in compliance with the Head Start Program Performance Standards.

Support the Early Childhood Clinicians in relationship development with families; engaging families in mental health services as appropriate.

Support tracking and documentation of health records to ensure that children receive recommended treatment and follow-up; assist parents in strengthening the family's access to and knowledge of health and nutrition; provide information and referrals as necessary.

Make home visits to families as needed or required for attendance follow-up and for home-to-school connection meetings (family needs assessments).

Assist parents with transitional activities into the program, between program options, between centers or classrooms, and upon exit from the program.

Meet with the Family Support Specialist, monthly and as necessary, to share information on families to discuss how each family's needs and the services being provided.

Assist with planning and execution of monthly and seasonal Parent Committee Meetings, celebrations, classroom parent engagement activities, and parent workshops/presentations.

Support the Site Supervisor with lunch break and bathroom break coverage in classrooms, as needed.

Participate in training opportunities, state meetings, committees, and task forces as appropriate.

Maintain strict confidentiality with respect to Head Start/Early Head Start children, families, and staff in accordance with established policies and procedures.

Create, foster, and maintain a positive culture and climate across the program and support the mission and vision of CREC and CREC Head Start.

Ensure compliance with Head Start Performance Standards and all federal, state, and local entities.

Comply with all company policies and procedures.

Other duties as assigned.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITY:

This position has no supervisory responsibilities.

COMPETENCIES:

Professionalism - Approaches others in a tactful manner; Reacts well under pressure; Treats others with respect and consideration regardless of their status or position; Accepts responsibility for own actions; Follows through on commitments.

Attendance/Punctuality - Is consistently at work and on time; Ensures work responsibilities are covered when absent; Arrives at meetings and appointments on time.

Customer Service - Manages difficult or emotional customer situations; Responds promptly to customer needs; Solicits customer feedback to improve service; Responds to requests for service and assistance; Meets commitments.

Written & Oral Communication - Speaks and writes clearly; Listens and gets clarification; Responds well to questions; Speaks and writes clearly and informatively; Varies communication style to meet needs; Demonstrates group presentation skills; Participates in meetings.

Dependability - Follows instructions, responds to management direction; Takes responsibility for own actions; Keeps commitments; Commits to long hours of work when necessary to reach goals. Completes tasks on time or notifies appropriate person with an alternate plan.

Problem Solving - Identifies and resolves problems in a timely manner; Gathers and analyzes information skillfully; Develops alternative solutions; Works well in-group problem solving situations; Uses reason even when dealing with emotional topics.

Motivation - Sets and achieves challenging goals; Demonstrates persistence and overcomes obstacles; Measures self against standard of excellence; Takes calculated risks to accomplish goals.

Interpersonal Skills - Focuses on solving conflict, not blaming; Maintains confidentiality; Listens to others without interrupting; Keeps emotions under control; Remains open to others' ideas and tries new things.

Teamwork - Balances team and individual responsibilities; Exhibits objectivity and openness to others' views; Gives and welcomes feedback; Contributes to building a positive team spirit; Puts success of team above own interests; Able to build morale and group commitments to goals and objectives; Supports everyone's efforts to succeed.

Quality - Demonstrates accuracy and thoroughness; Looks for ways to improve and promote quality; Applies feedback to improve performance; Monitors own work to ensure quality.

Quantity - Meets productivity standards; Completes work in timely manner; Strives to increase productivity; Works quickly.

Adaptability - Adapts to changes in the work environment; Manages competing demands; Changes approach or method to best fit the situation; Able to deal with frequent change, delays, or unexpected events.

Diversity & Ethics - Demonstrates knowledge of EEO policy; Shows respect and sensitivity for cultural differences; Treats people with respect; educates others on the value of diversity; promotes a harassment-free environment; Builds a diverse workforce; Keeps commitments; Works with integrity; Upholds organizational values.

Judgement - Displays willingness to make decisions; Exhibits sound and accurate judgment; Supports and explains reasoning for decisions; Includes appropriate people in decision-making process; Makes timely decisions.

Organizational Support - Follows policies and procedures; Completes administrative tasks correctly and on time; supports organization's goals and values; Benefits organization through outside activities; Supports affirmative action and respects diversity.

Planning/Organizing - Prioritizes and plans work activities; Uses time efficiently; Plans for additional resources; Sets goals and objectives; Organizes or schedules other people and their tasks; Develops realistic action plans.

QUALIFICATIONS:

Associate's Degree (AA) in social work, human services, family services, counseling, or a related field; Bachelor's Degree (BA) preferred

Two (2) years relevant experience working with families through case management or supportive services

TRAVEL REQUIREMENTS

A valid Motor Vehicle Operator's License and reliable personal vehicle are required to conduct family meetings/home visits and attend local meetings, trainings, and professional learning opportunities as required.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS & WORK ENVIRONMENT:

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.

Working in CREC's Early Childhood programs requires prolonged standing/movement, frequent bending and crouching, lifting and carrying materials up to 50 lbs., fine motor skills for manipulating small objects, clear speaking voice, good vision and hearing, the ability to focus on multiple tasks simultaneously, and sometimes the need to move quickly to respond to student needs. Staff require the ability to work in a high-energy environment with varying noise levels (from quiet to loud) based on student activity. Staff is expected to work both indoors and outdoors (as needed) and may be expected to participate in off-site field experiences.

WHAT IS IN IT FOR YOU?

Group Health Insurance Plans

Basic & Supplemental Life Insurance

Long Term Disability & Short Term Disability options

403(b) Retirement Savings Plan with Employer Matching Contribution if applicable

Flexible Spending Account Pre-Tax Savings for Health Care, Dependent Care, and Limited Purpose Post Deductible (if contributing to an HSA)

Comprehensive benefit time package

Employee Assistance Program

Bereavement time & Religious Holidays

Credit Union Access

Tuition Reimbursement Program

Employee Network Groups

Access to professional learning opportunities with two fully paid courses through CREC University each year, empowering you to expand your skills and advance your career

Benefit from our exclusive partnership with Springfield College, offering a 15% discount on tuition for next-level degree programs to support your academic and career aspirations

Based on terms and conditions during your employment, specific to your job classification and collective bargaining agreement.

DIVERSITY, EQUITY, & INCLUSION STATEMENT:

CREC strives to understand and confront the symptoms and causes of racism and prejudice—ranging from biases to aggressions to discriminatory policies, practices, and traditions—that harm people from systemically marginalized groups or that benefit privileged groups. CREC staff and students acknowledge and respect people of all identifiers, such as race, socioeconomic status, gender identity and expression, education, age, ability, ethnicity, culture, sexual orientation, language, nationality, religion, and veteran status.

DISCLAIMER STATEMENT:

The above is intended to describe the general content of and requirements for the performance of this job. It is not to be construed as an exhaustive statement of duties, responsibilities or physical requirements. Nothing in this job description restricts management's right to assign or reassign duties and responsibilities to this job at any time. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.