EHS Family Engagement Advocate

Position Summary

The Family Engagement Advocate (FEA) leads and assists in outreach events and activities for recruitment and enrollment of pregnant women and families with very young children into the EHS program. The FEA provides early learning-focused and curriculum-based home visits to parents of infants and toddlers, to promote the families' ability to support their health improvement, social empowerment and child's development towards school readiness.

FEAs work collaboratively with Coordinators and Site Supervisors in order to encourage children’s attendance and parent involvement, monitor child/parent participation, and support families in completing EHS health and education requirements.

Essential Functions

Assists and supports the FCE Coordinator in the administration of services and initiatives, development and maintenance of tracking systems for enrollment and other service deliverables. Obtains and maintains in good standing all required credentials, certifications and trainings deemed necessary to perform their job duties such as, but not limited to Home Visiting CDA credential, Parents as Teachers (PAT) Training, Serv.

Safe Certification, and 1 st Aid license. Attends orientation and ongoing training sessions on maternal and child health and welfare, early learning, child abuse, housing, nutrition, substance abuse, counseling, parenting, infant, family support issues, ERSEA; parent, family and community engagement and other training as assigned/recommended by the FCE Coordinator.

Offers services to families including, but not limited to, providing encouragement, guidance, direct services, identifying client needs and goals around health, education, child development and social services and, supporting clients to access needed services. Participates in ongoing monitoring efforts and review of service area policies and procedures to ensure the program continually meets and exceeds Head Start Program Performance Standards Prepares parent newsletters and reports on a monthly basis and as assigned.

Reviews, monitors and analyzes data from Child Plus on an ongoing basis in order to support and encourage families’ participation, and ensure timely completion of EHS requirements with clients. Communicates with community resources regarding program, and assists with the development of partnerships and MOUs with service providers in the community under the direction of the FCE.

Assists in coordination of and attends meetings for Parents, Parent Committee, and Policy Council, and other activities representing MCC as needed. Plans weekly visits that include activities to support learning and development to enhance the family’ skills as their child’s first teacher. Is prompt to re-schedule any missed visits in order to provide a minimum of 4 visits each month and a minimum of 46 visits to each client throughout the program year for home-based children.

Participates in outreach efforts to raise awareness and promote education of issues faced by EHS clientele, identify candidates and families for enrollment, and direct them to needed EHS, health, education and social services. Utilizes a professional, culturally-sensitive and respectful approach when visiting/addressing clients and their families at all times and during all types of communication.

Provides curriculum-based education sessions and resources (hand-outs) for families with infant and/or toddler age children to ensure that their developmental, health, social, mental health, and educational needs are met. Connects families to resources and social services networks in and around the Pottstown area. As applicable, supports clients in planning for their own health and social service needs by assisting clients in identifying goals, making appointments, and/or facilitating transportation to offices of service providers.

Contacts participants before/after home visits, by email or telephone and, maintains complete and accurate records of all communication with clients on Child Plus at all times. Maintains a collaborative relationship with identified clients, provides support as needed, and ensures confidentiality of client records. Conducts client assessments to determine strengths and areas of need on a timely basis (according to EHS Performance Standards) and uses this information to set goals in collaboration with the family.

Participates in the collection and distribution of supplements, diapers, formula, clothes and donations for EHS clients. Refers participants needing more intensive follow-up to appropriate resources within MCC and other community agencies. Learns about and makes contact with community resources needed by clients. Encourage parent participation in all EHS events such as parent meetings, trainings, policy council meetings, outreach events, parent orientations, volunteering opportunities and socializations.

Assists in organizing client meetings and other special events including, but not limited to, those celebrating Mother’s and Father’s Day. Other Tasks Attends to, facilitates planning of, and participates actively at Site Meetings and Socializations. Attends community meetings, health fairs and represents MCC as requested by the FCE Coordinator.

Responds promptly to inter-agency communication using Child Plus and other computer systems including e-mail, Internet and word processing. Meets with supervisor regularly and on a monthly basis to discuss clients’ progress. Observes punctuality, responsibility and accountability in regards to their daily schedule, discussing with the FCE Coordinator in advance any time off requests.

Assists FCE Coordinator with the development and implementation of the EHS Male Involvement program initiative, and provides staff support for ongoing activities. Maintains records and submits regular reports on Parent Engagement activities and committee meetings. Experience, Education, and Licensure Required High School Diploma or equivalent Valid driver's license Preferred BA/BS degree from an accredited college or university in a related field of study 2+ year experience providing direct services in a community outreach setting Experience with maternal, child and community health issues Knowledge and experience on child development, pregnancy, breastfeeding, and early childhood education.

Experience with positive parent-child interactions or Early Head Start programs Bilingual language skills (Spanish, Burmese or Arabic)