Personnel Commission

CLASS SERIES TITLE: Family Advocate I/II - Restricted

DESCRIPTION OF BASIC FUNCTION AND RESPONSIBILITIES
To advocate for children and families in the Head Start and/or Early Head Start program; to conduct outreach, recruitment and enrollment activities; to provide case management and social services support; to perform health and nutrition assessments; and to maintain records in accordance with State and Federal Head Start Regulations and Performance Standards. Employees in this classification work with families and children in the Head Start program and serve as a link between the center and the home. This class series is responsible for providing information and communication to program participants and community service organizations.

ALTERNATE CLASS SERIES SPECIFICATIONS
The classes Family Advocate I - Restricted and Family Advocate II – Restricted serve as an alternate class series. Incumbents may be employed in either level depending on their qualifications. Incumbents initially employed in the entry level as Family Advocate I - Restricted may reasonably expect to be reassigned to the journey level of Family Advocate II – Restricted upon the recommendation of the appointing authority and a passing score on qualifying examination(s). In general, it is expected that Family Advocate I incumbents will be trained and prepared for reassignment to Family Advocate II - Restricted after a two-year period.

The Family Advocate I – Restricted is the entry/trainee level of this class series. Incumbents in this classification receive training and learn the regulations and performance standards for the Head Start and/or Early Head Start Program. Employees in this level of the series receive direct supervision and guidance within a standard framework of policies and procedures.

The Family Advocate II – Restricted is the journey level of this class series. Employees at this level of the series possess full knowledge of and demonstrate the ability to adhere to the regulations and performance standards for the Head Start and/or Early Head Start Program. Employees in this level of the series receive general to limited supervision within standard framework of policies and procedures.

• Provides case management services for children and families in the Head Start or Early Head Start program. This includes:

  • maintaining regular ongoing contact with parents through home or site visits,

  • conducting outreach, recruitment and enrollment functions

  • following up on service plans developed by program staff,

  • providing support to families and monitor their progress towards goals,

  • documenting pertinent health data, maintaining confidential information and current records of family information

• Recruits and enrolls children in the Head Start and/or Early Head Start program; monitors changes to eligibility and withdraws ineligible children as appropriate

• Receives, obtains and evaluates program applications materials including occupational, financial, education and health status information; determines eligibility or continued eligibility

• Explains, interprets and clarifies Head Start program regulations and guidelines; promotes Head Start and Early Head Start program objectives

• Acts in a support role as advocate for child and family and provide support for families and children

• Provides information regarding health care resources and community service agencies; serves as a liaison between the families and schools, community service agencies and other program staff

• Conducts assessment of family needs; assists parents to develop personal goals

• Administers the health screening test; evaluates results for referral; provides parents with results and follows up with re-checks

• Obtains, updates and assesses individual health information for enrolled children and ensures established dental/medical requirements are met

• Reviews and analyzes reports related to enrollment, health, disability and family services

• Coordinates parent involvement program activities with parents, plans and coordinates parent meetings; actively supports parent committees and solicits parent involvement (volunteers) in the classroom

• Translates oral and written materials from English to a specified foreign language and from a specified foreign language to English

• Prepares and distributes routine reports, forms, correspondence and other documents as needed; responds to requests for program information

• Participates in program review and self-assessment activities as assigned

• Participates and/or attends in advisory councils, conferences, staff meetings and staff development activities

• Operates a computer; inputs, edits and maintains eligibility, family and health related information using specialized software and manual record-keeping systems

• Works with, contributes to and serves as a member of a multi-disciplinary team; confers with teachers, staff and agency representatives regarding assigned functions

• Transports children/families when necessary

• Performs related duties as required.

Possession of:

• A valid California Class C Driver’s License

• A driving record which meets the County Office of Education’s insurance requirements

Knowledge of:

• Community social and health services agencies, practices and procedures

• State and Federal regulations on community action and Social Services programs

• Proper interviewing techniques

• Office methods, practices and procedures including record-keeping and filing systems

• Health assessment procedures

• Working in multi-cultural and multi-ethnic communities

• Proper English including grammar, punctuation, spelling and sentence structure

Ability to:

• Understand, follow and adhere to State and Federal Head Start and Early Head Start regulations, performance standards and guidelines

• Remain abreast of emerging issues social services and health care

• Organize work assignments to meet established deadlines

• Establish, prepare and maintain reports and systematic (database) records related to assigned functions

• Work closely with families (including those with special needs) of diverse cultural, racial and ethnic backgrounds

• Interview family applicants, perform family assessments, develop family partnership agreements and refer families to community resources

• Interact with the general public, parents, staff and representatives of community agencies with tact and courtesy

• Analyze situations accurately and adopt an effective course of action

• Operate standard office equipment including a computer and other peripheral equipment

• Accurately input/retrieve data at a rate that ensures successful job performance

• Effectively communicate in both oral and written forms

• Work independently and in a team environment under limited supervision

• Establish and maintain effective work relationships with those contacted in the performance of required duties

Requires:

• Bilingual and/or biliterate skills in another language other than English as designated by the County Office of Education.

Family Advocate I-Restricted: Generally, the required knowledge and abilities will have been acquired through any combination of education and experience equivalent to two (2) years of college and at least one (1) year of experience working with children, families, community groups and public agencies.

Family Advocate II-Restricted: Generally, the required knowledge and abilities will have been acquired through any combination of education and experience equivalent to two (2) years of college and at least two (2) years of experience comparable to that of a Family Advocate I - Restricted.

Bargaining Unit: Office, Technician and Business Services (OTBS) Unit

WORKING CONDITIONS: Duties are performed in an office environment or at a Head Start (classroom) center. Incumbents may be required to work a flexible schedule evening and weekend hours. Duties require incumbents to drive a vehicle to attend parent meetings and to make home visits.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS: Incumbents regularly stand and sit for extended periods of time, walk short distances on a regular basis and on uneven surfaces whenever necessary; dexterity of hands and fingers to operate a computer keyboard and other office equipment; kneeling, bending at the waist, and reaching overhead, above the shoulders and horizontally, to retrieve and store files and supplies; seeing to read fine print; hearing and understanding voices over the telephone and in person; moving and transporting program materials, and lifting light objects.

NOTE: In accordance with law, the County Office of Education will consider any request for reasonable accommodation.

Approved by Personnel Commission: February 15, 2007