Are you a socially conscious, dedicated individual who is committed to building a better future for children, families, and their communities? If so, join us as we support early childhood education programs across the country to create positive outcomes for the children and families served.

The Family Engagement and Support Advocate is responsible for providing individualized, intensive support to the most vulnerable families in our Head Start program, including families experiencing a significant crisis, families who are recently homeless or whose children are in foster care, as well as families
impacted by substance abuse, family violence or mental health concerns. The incumbent will be expected to establish and maintain relationships with community providers to provide the resources, counseling, treatment, or other interventions needed to assist them to stabilize their circumstances and enhance their overall well-being. Based upon center size and family distribution, the position may have a caseload assignment at more than one center-based location as deemed necessary for program operations.

Job Responsibilities:

- Participates in outreach, recruitment, and attendance activities to engage families in our program and to motivate their active participation.
- Builds trusting relationships with families on their caseload.
- Utilizes a systematic Family Partnership Process, including a Family Engagement Contract to build shared accountability for promoting children's development.
- Ensures family engagement and relationship-building are appropriate to families' cultural context, as well as respectful of family circumstances.
- Engages all families on caseload, including modeling and coaching families and using individual and group strategies to tailor engagement with all families.
- Works in conjunction with center staff and families to plan and conduct a wide variety of family engagement activities that provide opportunities for families to support one another, learn about local community resources, and understand the impact of positive parent/child interactions.
- Builds social capital among parents and creates a welcoming program community committed to family engagement in children's learning and development.
- Cultivates family leadership and support their advocacy efforts through participation in program governance bodies such as delegate Policy Committee and grantee Policy Council, as well as neighborhood and community based advisory groups.

- Engages in a process of collaborative partnership building with families of children receiving center-based Head Start services.

- Utilizes family self-assessment information to assist families with self-identified goals to enhance self-sufficiency in areas such as education, employment, housing, and access to community resources.

Job Requirements:

1. Bachelor’s Degree in social work, human services, family and child development, or a related field required; MSW preferred.
2. Experience providing services to and training for the parents of young children preferred.
3. Physical exam and background checks are required for this position.
4. Travel required locally or long-distance up to 10% of the time for work-related meetings and functions.
5. Must have a valid driver’s license and/or reliable transportation.

This is a full-time position and the pay rate is $23.73 hourly.

Why Acelero Learning or Shine Early Learning?
- Ability to make an impact in the lives of the children, families, and partners we serve
- Career growth and professional development opportunities
- Supportive working environment
- Average of 5 weeks of paid time off during 1st year of employment
- Comprehensive benefits, including 401K matching and 100% vesting program

We are an equal opportunity employer, committed to creating a diverse and healthy work place.