Whole Family Advocate

Roanoke, VA

  • Department: Head Start/Early Head Start
  • Posting Date: 12/20/22
  • Closing Date: Open until filled
  • Salary: $22.00 -$34.62/hr
  • Code: WFA-EHS/HS

CLASSIFICATION:           Non-Exempt

Every TAP employee shares in TAP’s responsibility to “Mobilize Community Resources” in support of TAP’s anti-poverty efforts.

 

DEFINITION AND PURPOSE:

Assist the Whole Family Supervisor in the planning and implementation of the Whole Family Component.  Implements and follows all Head Start Performance Standards, Policies and Procedures in accordance with the Department of Health and Human Services, state licensing and TAP.

 

ORGANIZATIONAL RELATIONSHIPS:

Supervised by:      Whole Family Advocate Supervisor

Supervises:           No one

Coordinates with: Administrative Staff, Center Staff, Other Community Service Agencies, and TAP Whole Family Intake, Health Advocates

 

Responsibilities:

  • Family Support Services:
    • Complete and follow up on all family referrals and input data into ChildPlus.
    • Develop and implement Family Partnership Agreements and goals with all families.
    • Identify family needs and make appropriate referrals internally within TAP and externally when TAP services are unavailable.
    • Provide crisis intervention, follow-up services, ongoing support and case management services for children and families.
  • Recruitment and Eligibility:
    • Assist the Whole Family Advocate Supervisor and ERSEA team in target areas for recruitment as needed. Assist ERSEA team in community events.
    • Help maintain full center enrollment at all times.
  • Implementation and Monitoring:
    • Follow policies and procedures for the use of Whole Family Services forms and reports.
    • Monitor daily attendance data and percentages on a weekly/monthly basis, and create attendance plans as needed for families.
    • Maintain and review children’s records to ensure compliance with Head Start performance standards and state licensing.
    • Complete orientation for newly enrolled families
  • Child Abuse and Neglect:
    • Report suspected cases of abuse and/or neglect to Child Protective Services.
  • Training and Technical Assistance:
    • Assess, monitor, and provide family/parent trainings/workshops and evaluate family/parents’ participation as needed.
    • Participate in CPR, First Aide, and MAT training and administer medication as needed.
    • Participate in Family Development credential and successfully pass course within one year of hire
  • Policy Council (PC) Activities:
    • During regularly scheduled parent meetings elect parent to attend PC meeting.
    • Assist the Whole Family Advocate Supervisor with Policy Council responsibilities, performing only duties delegated by the supervisor.
  • Child Plus Data Management:
    • Record Maintenance: Input and maintain accurate and up-to-date family information into Child Plus. A minimum of one documented family contact per month in ChildPlus is required.
    • Family Services and Health Tabs: Maintain all digital records under Family Services and Health TABS in Child Plus, including outcomes, events/contacts, health requirements, Family Partnership Agreement (FPA), and Program Information Report (PIR). Maintain updated Family Partnership Agreement and Family Goal Sheets.
    • Outcomes: Complete outcomes with parents in a timely manner (3x a year).
    • Training: Attend all in-services training, Child Plus training and notify the supervisor when assistance is needed.
  • Children’s Health Records:
    • Maintain, Complete, and Update health and nutrition forms upon enrollment.
    • Perform health screenings for children within 45 days of enrollment, including but not limited to assessments for hearing, vision, weight, and blood pressure.
    • Keep medication, allergy care plans, special diet, asthma plans, and children’s immunization and physical records up-to-date.
    • Notify parents of required/upcoming immunizations and physicals.
    • Post and update allergy lists in centers as needed.
    • Submit copies of special dietary needs to the Food Service Manager as needed.
  • Meetings and Home Visits:
    • Attend TAP Whole Family team and WFA monthly staff meetings.
    • Lead meeting and maintain files for Child & Family Staffing.
    • Attend Whole Family Advisory meetings, in-service training, conferences, workshops, and transition meetings, as scheduled.
    • Perform home visits as necessary, particularly in cases where contacting the parent is not possible.
  • Community Resources and Networking:
    • Assist the Whole Family Advocate Supervisor in creating a community resources book.
    • Represent TAP Head Start in the community by participating in Community Agency Advisory Committees.
    • Act as a liaison as needed with community programs partnering with Head Start.
  • Additional Duties:
    • Perform other tasks as assigned and required.

 

ESSENTIAL KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES:

  • Working knowledge of community resources.
  • Writing ability sufficient to prepare reports.
  • Ability to conduct presentations/meetings with parents.
  • Able to use the computer for communication and data entry.
  • Able to exhibit appropriate professional interactions with staff, parents, and the community.
  • Ability to communicate effectively and have strong customer service skills.

 

TRAINING, EDUCATION, AND EXPERIENCE:

  • Preferred BS/BA or AA Degree in sociology, phycology, or mental health
  • At least three years of experience in working with families.
  • At TAP, we focus on the Whole Family Approach. Whole Family is a family led strategy to achieve set goals.  As an employee you may be required to attend Whole Family training and subject to data entry into the agency’s software as part of the Whole Family approach and serving clients.

 

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS:

  • The ability to be objective and non-judgmental.
  • Having the skill to engage with individuals from diverse backgrounds.
  • Valid Virginia Operator’s license and reliable transportation.
  • TAP participates in the Virginia DMV Driver Alert Program.  Employees who operate a TAP vehicle or their personal vehicle to conduct TAP business may be subject to driver record monitoring through the Virginia DMV Driver Alert Program.
  • Provide driving records in order to be added to the company insurance.
  • Must be willing to adjust work schedule as needed.
  • Must be willing to work as bus monitors if needed.
  • Must pass drug screening. Requires a positive complete background screening including:  criminal, sex offender, and child protective services.
  • Capable of completing certification in First Aid and CPR for infants and children.
  • Must provide physical/medical examination and tuberculosis screening every two years with their physician in order to remain employed, and able to pass background screenings every five years.
  • Must be available to work any eight (8) hour shift during center operational hours of 7:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m.
  • Capable of completing certification in Family Development credential.
  • Must be able to interact with children.
  • Physical activity of this position – climbing; ascending and descending ladders, stairs, scaffolding, ramps, poles, and the like; balancing, stooping, kneeling, crouching, crawling, reaching, standing, walking, pushing, pulling, lifting, use of fingers for – picking, pinching and typing; grasping, feeling, talking, hearing, repetitive motion of the wrists, hands, and/or fingers.
  • Physical requirements of this position – medium work; exerting up to 50 pounds of force occasionally and/or up to 30 pounds of force frequently, and/or up to 10 pounds constantly to move objects.
  • Visual acuity requirements – close visual acuity to perform an activity such as preparing and analyzing data and figures; transcribing; viewing a computer terminal; extensive reading.
  • Conditions subject to in this position – environmental conditions; protection from weather conditions but not necessarily from temperature changes.

 

TAP participates in the Virginia DMV Driver Alert Program. Employees who operate a TAP vehicle or their personal vehicle for TAP business may be subject to driver record monitoring through the Virginia DMV Driver Alert Program.

At TAP, we focus on the Whole Family Approach.   Whole Family is a family led strategy to achieve set goals.  As an employee you may be required to attend Whole Family training and subject to data entry into the agency’s software as part of the Whole Family approach and serving clients.

This description provides information regarding the essential functions of the designated job, and general nature and level of work associated with the job.  It should not be interpreted to describe all the duties that may be required of such employees or be used to limit the nature and extent of assignments such an individual may be given.

 

We only hire individuals legally eligible for employment in the United States.

Equal Opportunity Employer/Drug Free Workplace

Bilingual Ability is a plus.