Home Based Family Advocate
Full Time
Cass County
The Center for Human Services (CHS) has provided exceptional opportunities for individualswith intellectual and developmental disabilities since 1955.Currently, CHS provides programs and services to assist individuals with disabilities, low income, at-risk children, and their families to meet their goals, and experience their best lives while living, working, playing, and becoming a part of their communities. As an organization, we are leaders in excellence, we have a steadfast commitment to solutions, we respect all differences, abilities, and similarities in our employees and clients, and we advocate autonomy!
POSITION SUMMARY:
The Head Start/Early Head Start Home Based Family Advocate supports families with children between the ages of 0-5 years old by encouraging family engagement, child development, and overall family well-being through weekly home visits. During home visits, the home visitor provides learning experiences for the child and supports the parents to actively engage in the activities of the home visit to promote school readiness for every child in the program. The home visitor conducts screenings of the children, assists parents in goal setting and provides information and resources to ensure every child and family is successful in the program.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
- Assists HS/EHS families in assigned service area.
- Provides all HS/EHS families with weekly 90-minute home visits.
- Carries a caseload consisting of 10 to 12 families and children.
- Meets the needs of working parents in the evenings, as needed.
- Organizes and maintains caseload files required to meet all state, federal, and local requirements.
- Enters data and documentation into assigned data bases weekly.
- Possess and demonstrate strong working knowledge of Head Start Performance Standards and developmentally appropriate practices.
- Initiates and maintains intensive, flexible, comprehensive, and responsive home visits to families of infants and toddlers enrolled in home-based program.
- Conducts weekly observations of parent-child interaction and child development for assessment.
- Maintains professional boundaries and assures the confidentiality of information regarding children, families, and coworkers.
- Assists in strengthening the parent-child relationship.
- Assists parents in improving their skills to optimize the home environment.
- Assists in improving the family support system.
- Assists in increasing the familys ability to problem solve and assumes the role of advocate for themselves and their children.
- Assists families in identification of goals for Individualized Family Partnership Agreement (IFPA) and implementation of goals.
- Assists families in identification of developmental goals for the enrolled children for School Readiness Plans
- Screens HS/EHS children for normal growth and development.
- Consistently addresses children, families, community member and co-workers in a courteous, pleasant, and respectful manner.
- Consistently maintains and promotes excellence in services though open and honest relationships with parents, and co-worker.
- Serves as a resource to low-income families to identify needs and refer to other supportive agencies.
- Facilitate monthly socialization activities in partnership with other home visitors and families and organizes and assists with monthly parent meetings.
- Obtain required program certifications.
- Maintain educational requirements associated with each credential.
- Accepts and willingly carries out special assignments, as directed by Home Visitor Supervisor
- Collaborates with other agencies involved with families- including First Steps and CWS by supporting the goals of the family with those agencies and attending transitional meetings or conducting co-visits with other providers.
*SKILLS AND ABILITIES *
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required to complete the essential duties and responsibilities of the job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
- Ability to work independently, manage a caseload and complete documentation on time.
- Knowledge of child development for the years of 0-5
- Ability to collaborate and work with other home visitors.
- Ability to problem solve and think critically.
- Ability to obtain required certifications- Infant Massage, Parents as Teachers, and Doula.
COMPETENCIES:
Accurate Listening
Attention to Detail
Attitude Towards Others
Conceptual Thinking
Empathetic Outlook
Developing Others
Gaining commitment
Relating to Others
QUALIFICATIONS:
- Minimum of a high school diploma or general education degree (GED) and completion of the Home Visiting CDA, Parents as Teachers (PAT) certification or comparable credential or equivalent coursework as part of an associate or bachelors degree or the ability to obtain PAT certification within 6 months of hire. Credentials must be maintained as a term of employment.
REQUIRED EXPERIENCE:
- Excellent Excel, Access, Word, and PowerPoint skills.
- Strong communication skills both written and verbal.
- Must obtain Class E drivers license within 30 days of starting.
- Must provide proof of personal valid vehicle insurance (all applicants).
- TB Assessment and/or requirements
- Background screening to include fingerprinting is required.
PREFERRED EXPERIENCE:
- Experience in the delivery of family-centered services to infants, toddlers, and families and early childhood education is preferred.
- Knowledge of child health, safety, and nutrition along with adult learning principles and family dynamics is preferred.
- Knowledge of Child plus and Parents as Teachers curriculum.
PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:
Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
Include the physical requirements that the employee needs to perform the essential duties and responsibilities.
Some examples can be found below:
- While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to stand; walk; use hands to finger, handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms; climb or balance; and stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl. The employee must frequently lift and/or move up to 50 pounds.
- Prolonged periods sitting at a desk and working on a computer.
BENEFITS:CHS offers best-in-industry benefits.Click here to view our Benefits guide for more details.
SHIFT: FT (35 hrs/wk) Mon-Fri: TBD
EEO STATEMENT
Center for Human Services/Chariton Valley Association provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.
This statement applies throughout the life cycle of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of abse
