Job Description

Full job description

Casper, WY

POSITION AVAILABLE: Wyoming Child & Family Development, Inc. – Casper Head Start is now scheduling interviews for a Family Advocate. This is a full-time position of 40 hours a week. We offer a full benefits package, no weekends, most major holidays and an extended winter holiday break. The base hourly rate is $16.20. For more information, please contact the Center Director; Jennifer at jmesina@ wyomingchild.org or call 307-266-5480. For more details on the job description and to submit an application, please visit: Deadline for applications: 09/20/2024

We look forward to visiting with you! “ This institution is an equal opportunity provider. ”

Job Summary:

Responsible for the recruitment and enrollment of children in the Early Childhood Center. Responsible for identifying the strengths and needs of the child and his/her family. With the assistance of other staff members, takes appropriate action to meet identified needs and furnish appropriate referrals and follow-up. Promotes Parent, Family and Community Engagement activities in the center, community and in the child’s home. Responsible for individual assistance to children and families in the areas of child development, health, nutrition, and school readiness.

Supervisory Responsibilities:

• N/A

Duties/Responsibilities:

ALL REQUIREMENTS FOR THIS POSITION WILL MEET THE HEAD START/EARLY HEAD START PERFORMANCE STANDARDS, DFS LICENSING, NAEYC STANDARDS, WYOMING DIVISION OF DISABILITIES RULES AND REGULATIONS AND WCFD POLICIES AND PROCEDURES. ALL EMPLOYEES WILL ADHERE TO THE MISSION, VISION, AND VALUES OF WCFD.

• Recruits children for the program within the guidelines established by the Department of Health and Human Services and Wyoming Child and Family Development, Inc.

• Visits each child's family in the program a minimum of four times a year, of which two will be scheduled in the child’s home. The Family Advocate must work closely with the parents in order to jointly identify individual family strengths and needs and help to identify solutions to meet the identified needs and follow-up, as appropriate.

• Encourages positive parent-child relationships, along with connections to peers and community.

• Assists parents in finding the available resources they need to increase family well-being. Visits to community agencies, to establish and maintain contact, are required.

• Understands how trauma may affect children and families in order to support their health, healing, resilience and well-being.

• Responsible for establishing and securely maintaining child and family information/records in ChildPlus, and in paper files, as appropriate. Must ensure all necessary data is obtained from families and accurately entered into ChildPlus. If information is incomplete or missing, must contact parents or guardians for completion, or to provide additional information.

• Must keep all family and child data current in the ChildPlus system, including Family Partnership Goals and Outcomes, child health and screening information, notes regarding contact, etc. Documents, such as Enrollment Paperwork and In-kind, must be kept and maintained on a consistent basis.

• May assist and attend Health Services Advisory Committee and Human Resource meetings.

• Organizes and helps to facilitate Family Engagement Activities and parent meetings, including trainings, with input from parents. Actively encourages families and community members to volunteer and be engaged in children’s education.

• Ensures that screening has been completed on all children, including hearing, vision and development, and keeps up-to-date and accurate individual health records on all enrolled children in ChildPlus, within the allotted time frame as stated in the Head Start Program Performance Standards

• Works with educational staff to inform parents of any medical or oral health needs or problems of their child. Makes referrals for medical and oral health care and assists with follow-up.

• Informs other staff members of health and/or social service needs for the child or family.

• Assists the family in securing a medical and/or oral health home. Helps make appointments and arranges transportation, as needed. Assists families with obtaining health insurance. When necessary, transports children and families to appointments with approval of the Center Coordinator.

• Assists with monthly screenings at the center and within the community, as needed.

• Works to ensure family engagement is present and active in all areas of the program and is central to their approach of partnering with children and families.

• Supports parent participation in Parent Group, Policy Council and other leadership and advocacy efforts on behalf of their children and Head Start.

• Encourages families as lifelong educators and learners.

• Assists families as their child transitions to the next educational setting.

• Performs other duties as assigned by the Board or its designee.

• Able to perform the essential functions of the position, as defined in the job description, without presenting a danger to either self or others, with or without reasonable accommodations.

• Must have an employment physical and TB risk assessment prior to working with children.

• Must have AHA CPR and First Aid Training completed within 90 days, unless otherwise specified by the supervisor.

• Wyoming Child and Family Development, Inc. requires all prospective employees to participate in a Central Registry and criminal background check, including fingerprinting upon hire and every 5 years.

• Must have a valid driver’s license, safe driving record and liability insurance as required by Wyoming State Law. Driving records are reviewed annually.

• Wyoming Child and Family Development requires an initial statement of health from a licensed healthcare provider and a health status annual assessment.

Required Skills/Abilities:

• Must be able to identify and understand the needs of others.

• Must be able to work with families and children birth through age 5.

• Must be able to interact with and engage children and adults.

• Must be able to have or to gain knowledge of available services in their community, as well as be able to provide families with appropriate information and/or referrals to address the family’s strengths, needs and/or challenges.

• Must be able to develop positive collaboration or working relationships with other staff, professionals and agencies in the community.

• Must be able to effectively engage a variety of families, to include, but not limited to, fathers, partners, grandparents and significant others in all aspects of their child’s education.

• Must possess proper stress management techniques.

• Must be able to work in a flexible daily routine and change as required.

Education and Experience :

• Prefer an Associates or Baccalaureate in social work, human services, family services, counseling, or a related field. Wyoming Child & Family will only accept college degrees from accredited institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.

• Staff who work directly with families on the family partnership process must have within 18 months of hire, at a minimum, a credential or certification in social work, human services, family services, counseling or a related field.

Physical Requirements:

Reasonable accommodations can be made for persons with disabilities.

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job.

• Must possess visual acuity and stamina to read technical material for extended periods of time.

• Be able to sit, stand, or walk for long periods of time without fatigue or discomfort.

• Must be able to travel to site locations, meetings and trainings, both in and out of state.

• Must be willing to drive in a variety of weather conditions.

• Must be able to hear and process ordinary conversation and telephone conversation.

• Must be able to tolerate air-conditioned buildings and fluorescent lights.

• Must be able to climb stairs, stoop, kneel, crouch and/or reach, to retrieve materials and supplies from ground level to a height of at least 5 ft.

• Must have upper body strength to lift and carry the equivalent of 50 pounds.

• Must be able to assist a child to safety in case of an emergency.

• Must be able to work in a variety of temperatures, including hot and cold weather.

Transportation staff must:

• Able to tolerate possible exposure to biohazards, i.e., body fluids, etc.

• Ability to recognize mechanical problems that would require stopping of bus to prevent damage or potential accident while driving.

• Able to read gauges on dash of bus and recognize indicator of problems.

• Able to tolerate possible gas and diesel fumes.

• Able to tolerate dust and gravel.

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