Family Advocate - Bilingual Spanish - Head Start & Early Head Start (Multiple Openings)

Please note:

• Location: We are hiring for positions at our Head Start locations in East Portland, Gresham & surrounding areas.
• We are hiring for multiple vacancies and applications will be reviewed as they are submitted. 
• FTE: .88076 - Full Time Hours, Partial Year 
• Eligible for a 5% bilingual differential for English/Spanish bilingual skills that meet department and/or community needs. 

Job Summary

Provides consultation to families in the program helping them in the evaluation, planning, and achieving their family goals and success. Works with families in the areas of social services, transitions, health, nutrition, inclusion, mental health, and parent engagement. Develops compassionate partnerships with families, and provides referrals and support in accessing community resources for needed services. Assists families in crisis, and supports the culture and value of each family. Provides parent education opportunities.

Essential Job Duties

1. Consults with families to evaluate family needs and develops individualized support plans that describe family strengths, goals, resources, and needed services.
2. Provides support, education and resources to parents, including assisting in obtaining current, up-to-date preventative medical, dental, mental health, disabilities, and nutrition requirements, including all necessary referrals and follow-up. Completes mandatory and additional home visits as necessary to meet family needs. 
3. Maintains documentation of needed treatments, follow-up efforts, resources and referrals, and plans made with families. Ensures health requirements are completed and documented. 
4. Partners with classroom and other staff to share support plans and ensure consistent support from all areas. Works closely with teachers and families to address child attendance concerns and address barriers. Attends and participates in consultations and support plan meetings as needed.
5. Provides resources to parents for activities for children at home, at school, and in the community.
6. Encourages and maintains active parent leadership in the site, providing parents opportunities to be involved in group activities, including Policy Council, parent center committee meetings, and educational activities, based on interest and need.
7. Facilitates, develops content, and plan for parent center committee meetings and workshops based on interests and needs. Engages parents in contributing to program activities and services through volunteering, community service, and other activities.
8. Provides crisis intervention supports to families to help them quickly achieve stability and safety. Provides referrals and/or additional resources as appropriate.
9. Conducts outreach and recruitment at events and in the community. 
10. Completes eligibility verification for new families applying for services, and provides follow-up for final enrollment in compliance with required timelines. 

Additional Duties

1. Participate in regular training and technical assistance activities
2. Maintenance of center facilities, equipment and materials.
3. Represent agency on various committees and projects.
4. Performs other related activities as needed.

Minimum Qualifications

Education: High school diploma or GED certificate AND Approved Social Service Certificate/Credential in social work, human services, family services, counseling, a related field OR Associate degree in social service, mental health or related field OR ability to obtain one of these requirements within eighteen (18) months of hire

Experience/Training:

• Minimum (2) years of experience providing social services to children and/or families 
• Bilingual skills with oral and written fluency in English and Spanish
• Experience working with diverse backgrounds of the College’s community, students and employees
• Current driver’s license, insurance, and access to a reliable automobile during work hours. Must have at least three (3) years of driving history

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in social work, counseling, psychology or related field

Additional Qualifications

• Must be enrolled in the Oregon Central Background Registry prior to beginning employment and enrollment must be maintained throughout employment
• Post-offer fitness for duty evaluation, must be obtained within 30 days of hire date: 
  1. TB screening
  2. Health appraisal
• Complete required Department of Early Learning and Care (DELC) licensing within 30 days of hire
• Must possess or obtain current Infant/Child First Aid/CPR certification within 60 days of hire
• Must possess or obtain Food Handlers Certificate within 30 days of hire
• Must be able to works occasional evening hours as needed (i.e., parent meetings, home visits, etc.)

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

Skills in:

• Excellent interpersonal, verbal and written communication skills
• Leadership and staff training
• Organizational skills

Ability to:

• Apply the understanding of developmentally appropriate activities of children
• Meet and promote the social-emotional, physical and cognitive development needs of children
• Provide and model best practice in ECE and to facilitate team development
• Problem-solve
• Multi-task
• Make sound judgments and demonstrate appropriate role modeling
• Maintain full attention and awareness of children at all times
• Work as a team member and to be self-directed.
• Manage large caseloads at multiple sites

Knowledge of:

• Basic computer skills

Physical Requirements: Ability to lift/carry up to 50lbs a distance of 10 feet. Ability to push/pull up to 50lbs.a distance of 10 yards. Sufficient mobility and range of motion to perform repetitive standing, walking, balancing, stooping, bending, crouching, crawling, sitting on the floor, reaching, squatting, kneeling, and twisting for up to 8 hours per day. Sufficient stamina to perform job duties at frequency required. Ability to react quickly to the physical actions of children. Sufficient vision and hearing to perform job duties. Sufficient manual dexterity and eye-hand coordination to perform job duties.

This position is primarily on site but may be eligible for remote work on an intermittent basis.

Exposure to Hazards: Unpredictable child and family behavior, hazardous chemicals, contagious conditions, work with office equipment. Driving and riding in motor vehicles. Working conditions include indoor/outdoor environments, preschool center classrooms, playgrounds, offices, frequent local and occasional out-of-town travel.

Salary Placement

Initial salary placement will be based on applicable education and/or years of relevant full-time equivalent experience at the sole discretion of the College, per the guidelines in the Collective Bargaining Agreement and in accordance with all applicable state and federal laws. Please include all relevant education and full and part-time experience (including unpaid and volunteer experience) in your application that you want the College to review towards potential placement. Hired employees will not have an opportunity to update past education and/or experience or appeal initial placement after the time of hire.

Family Advocate I - OSEA Range 11 - $20.55-$21.69 Per Hour - Family Service Credential
Family Advocate II - OSEA Range 13 - $21.60-$22.80 Per Hour - Associate's Degree
Family Advocate III - OSEA Range 19 - $25.04-$26.41 Per Hour - Bachelor's Degree