Job Description

The Vocational Family Advocate (VFA) is responsible for supporting families in increasing their employability skills, advancing their education and obtaining employment to support family well-being. The VFA provides vocational case management, referrals and support services to families. The VFA develops and implements a Parent Training Program. The VFA works collaboratively with staff, families and community partners. Work is reviewed through regular coaching and feedback and annual performance reviews with supervisor.

Ensure the delivery of high-quality program services that are developmentally, culturally and linguistically appropriate. Support school readiness in a coordinated approach to comprehensive services, aligned with the Head Start Program Performance Standards, State and local licensing regulations, and Children First, Inc. Policies and Procedures.

• Bilingual Spanish speaker, preferred.
• Have or within 18 months of hire, a credential or certification in social work, human services, family services, counseling or a related field.
• Preferred: Baccalaureate Degree in Human Services, Social Work, Psychology or related field with coursework in social services, counseling, psychology, child development, etc.
• Identify family strengths and needs related to family engagement outcomes as described in the Head Start Parent, Family and Community Engagement Framework, including family well-being, parent-child relationships, families as lifelong educators, families as learners, family engagement in transition, family connections to peers and the local community and families as advocates and leaders.
• Collaborate with families in a family partnership process that identifies needs, interests, strengths, goals and services and resources that support family well-being, including economic stability.
• Research and recommend new resources within the community.
• Develop and implement a Parent Training Program (PTP) that provides families with opportunities to work in a variety of areas with Children First, i.e. early childhood development, food service, clerical services or maintenance/craftsmanship.
• Integrate strategies into all systems and program services to support family well-being and promote children's learning and development.
• Build partnerships to facilitate access to employment and education opportunities within the community.
• Maintain professional relationships with staff, families and community agencies/businesses/schools.
• Assist families to understand economic stability and mobility.
• Participate in identification and recruitment of eligible families.
• Maintain regular contact with families to promote continuing services.
• Provide community resource referrals relevant to family needs and serve as liaison with those resources, follow-up as appropriate.
• Participate in agency and community sponsored events to promote family economic mobility through education, training and employment.
• Systematic approach designed to assist staff in acquiring, increasing and sharing the knowledge and skills needed to provide high-quality services within the scope of their job responsibilities.
• Assist in providing parents with educational and employment support services.
• Provide opportunities for parents to understand vocational services.
• Support families to participate in the agency offered family strengthening and economic stability and mobility offerings.
• Facilitate necessary referrals to community services.
• Other duties as assigned.

Children First offers a competitive benefits package and salary. Children First is an equal opportunity employer.

PI4758c2203f59-30492-35215475

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