What are the responsibilities and job description for the Head Start Family Advocate position at Kansas City Public Schools?
The HS Family Advocate supports families enrolled in the KCPS Head Start programs through recruitment, enrollment, family needs assessments, resource referral, and community partnerships.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
- Supports Head Start funded enrollment requirements by participating in recruitment activities and completing the orientation process into the program. Ensures that enrollment documents are accurate and uploaded into ChildPlus and supports families with the introduction into the Head Start program.
- Completes the Family Needs Assessment according to required timelines to identify needs and develop action plans to remove barriers that can be disruptive to their child’s success in school, such as unemployment, poverty, homelessness, domestic violence, mental illness, and other social challenges. Collaborates with teachers and health services to support ongoing communication that supports child and family needs.
- Facilitates partnership agreements with families to develop goals that improve quality of life. Follows up with families to determine if the quality and timeliness of services they received met the needs identified. Conducts home visits as needed to support access to community resources.
- Collaborates with families, community health providers, and Head Start health services to ensure families achieve their child’s health goals and secures a medical and dental home for long-term positive health outcomes. Acts as a liaison among school district programs, community agencies, teachers, and families.
- Encourages and supports parent involvement in the classroom, parent committee, policy committee and parent training events. Supports the delivery of evidence-based parenting curriculum opportunities by making referrals to community providers, collaborating with team members on event planning or facilitating a class on site (training in a model required).
- Participates in a variety of meetings, community events, and workshops to become knowledgeable about local resources, advocacy initiatives and best practices when working with families. Completes the required 15 hours of training annually.
- Organizes files and reviews ChildPlus reports to monitor outcomes and maintain compliance with Head Start Program Performance Standards. This includes entering accurate data into the Program Information Report (PIR).
- Monitors classroom enrollment and attendance. Documents in ChildPlus phone contacts and home visits regarding absences and family issues.
- Treats children, families and colleagues with professionalism and supports a positive work environment that aligns with the philosophy of KCPS Head Start, Trauma Smart and Conscious Discipline.
- Follows district guidelines for reporting incidents of suspected abuse, neglect or contagious disease.
- Utilizes relevant district and Head Start software and technology effectively in the performance of duties. Completes paperwork according to assigned timelines and follows code of conduct and confidentiality policies.
- Other duties as assigned.
SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES: None
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:
- Bachelor’s degree in social work, human services, family services, or counseling
- Data entry and verbal communication skills
- Work cooperatively with families while maintaining professional boundaries
- Ability to problem-solve and remain calm in a crisis situation
- Ability to prioritize workload and meet required deadlines
- Successful completion of required background check and submission of an initial physical and TB screening
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:
- Bilingual skills English/Spanish or other
PHYSICAL DEMANDS: 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.
This job requires that the employee be able to: sit, stand, walk, speak, hear, use hands, fingers, reach with hands and fingers; bend, stoop, lift objects/children of at least forty pounds; use stairs; move quickly from one space to another; spend extended time outdoors in a variety of weather conditions; visual ability requires mono and color vision.
Job Contact Information
