Family Advocate

Hourly Compensation: $21.34/hour - 31.88/hour

Position Summary

The Early Childhood (EC) Division at Children's Aid (CA) is founded on the belief that strong communities are built by children and families who have access, skills, and choice to create pathways to their success. The Early Childhood Department serves more than 700 low-income children ages 0-5 and their families in schools and community centers throughout Manhattan, Staten Island, and the Bronx through a combination of Federal, State, and City funding.

The Family Advocate is responsible for supporting positive family and child outcomes through strong family partnerships and community engagement. The Family Advocate connects this work to supporting children and families as they prepare for success in kindergarten and beyond. The position supports the center in meeting and exceeding Head Start Program Performance Standards and other relevant regulatory requirements while maintaining accurate and detailed records across relevant areas. The Family Advocate reports directly to the Education Director and is supported by the Central Leadership Team.

Children's Aid Mission

To help children in poverty to succeed and thrive. We do this by providing comprehensive support to children and their families in targeted high-needs New York City neighborhoods. Children's Aid annually serves children and their families at over forty sites in New York, as well as through three national program models. Children's Aid is concentrating its efforts on creating cradle-through-college pathways in high-need neighborhoods, with a focus on children's health, family stability, education, and social and emotional development.

Culture and Values

We put children, youth, and families first: We listen to and incorporate the voices of children, youth, and families in all that we do.

We seek equity and transformation in our communities: We courageously work within and outside systems to create opportunities for children, youth, and families.

We strive for excellence: We hold ourselves to the highest standards and are committed to continuous learning and improvement.

We are powered by collaboration: Our work is stronger when we trust, partner, and respect each other and the communities we serve.

We are driven by compassion: We lead with kindness, care, and empathy and believe in the endless potential of the people we serve and our team.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Family Engagement

• Develop and maintain positive, purposeful relationships with families in support of strong family and child outcomes.
• Provide necessary support to families based on their strengths and needs, including appropriate referrals, encouragement and coaching, accompaniment to appointments, and other direct assistance.
• Monitor COPA reports regularly to ensure data is accurately captured and entered in a timely manner.
• Track and monitor children's medical records and work with parents to support continuity of care.
• Support children and families throughout the special needs process.
• Conduct a minimum of two home visits per year, per child, with additional visits as needed.
• Participate in child case conferences and parent-teacher conferences, as required.
• Provide support to families during times of crisis.
• Facilitate parent workshops.
• Communicate effectively with families, colleagues, and community partners through written, verbal, and non-verbal communication.
• Demonstrate professionalism, dependability, resourcefulness, and initiative when supporting children and families.

Community Engagement

• Foster effective and strategic community partnerships to meet the needs of children and families.
• Identify opportunities for parent workshops and connect families with relevant community resources.
• Represent Children's Aid at relevant neighborhood events, including community and resource fairs.
• Maintain current knowledge of services and resources available in the community that may benefit families.
• Share highlights and stories related to families, children, staff, and community partners and support engagement of the Early Childhood online community through the EC Instagram Committee.

Eligibility, Recruitment, Selection, Enrollment, and Attendance

• Identify eligible families and support them throughout the Children's Aid application and enrollment process.
• Maintain knowledge of eligibility and enrollment requirements for program models relevant to the funding streams at assigned sites.
• Monitor children's attendance and provide support to families to minimize absences.
• Maintain accurate, complete, and confidential records in both physical and electronic files.
• Utilize computer systems, databases, and data-entry tools accurately and effectively to support program operations and recordkeeping.
• Organize and prioritize work effectively to meet program requirements, deadlines, and family needs.

Professional Development and Compliance

• Maintain comprehensive knowledge of Head Start Program Performance Standards, particularly the Parent, Family, and Community Engagement Framework and its requirements, as well as applicable DOHMH regulations, City guidelines, and Children's Aid Early Childhood policies and procedures.
• Participate in offered trainings, workshops, in-service days, and all-staff conferences.
• Maintain documentation of participation in required and relevant professional development activities.
• Perform other related duties as assigned, at the discretion of the Education Director.

Minimum Qualifications

The Family Advocate must meet the applicable Federal Head Start requirements and New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene Article 47 requirements.

Depending on one's education and certification, a Family Advocate may fall into one of the following categories: Bilingual Preferred

Family Advocate I: Must possess a High School Diploma and a Family Development Associate (FDC) credential.

Family Advocate II: Must possess an associate's degree or equivalent credits (in any area). Depending on the nature of the degree and relevant experience, it may be required to have a Family Development Associate (FDC) credential or be enrolled in a FDC credential program that will be completed within 2 years, which is a condition of employment that cannot be extended.

Family Advocate III: Must possess a bachelor's degree (in any area). Depending on the nature of the degree and relevant experience, it may be required to have a Family Development Associate (FDC) credential or be enrolled in a FDC credential program that will be completed within 2 years, which is a condition of employment that cannot be extended.

Family Advocate IV: Must possess a master's degree in social work.

It is the policy of Children's Aid to provide equal employment opportunity to all employees and applicants for employment and is dedicated to maintaining a work environment that is free from harassment and discrimination. Children's Aid will not tolerate discrimination, harassment, or retaliation on any basis, including race, creed, color, national origin, ethnicity, alienage or citizenship status, gender/sex (including pregnancy), disability, religion, source of income, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, familial status, caregiver status, military status, marital or partnership status, status as a victim of domestic violence, sexual violence or stalking, predisposing genetic characteristics, arrest or conviction record, credit history, unemployment status or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local law. Children's Aid is committed to complying with applicable state and local laws governing non-discrimination in employment. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including, but not limited to, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training.

Children's Aid will conduct a prompt and thorough investigation of all allegations of discrimination, harassment, retaliation, or any violation of the Equal Employment Opportunity Policy in a confidential manner and will take appropriate corrective action, if and where warranted. Children's Aid prohibits retaliation against employees who provide information about, complain about, or assist in the investigation of any complaint of discrimination or violation of the Equal Employment Opportunity Policy.

The incumbent is expected to work a schedule, whether in-person or hybrid, as determined by the department's needs to facilitate effective collaboration with the team. This flexibility is essential for maintaining seamless communication, fostering teamwork, and ensuring the smooth operation of the department's processes. The position's requirements are subject to periodic review and adjustment based on organizational needs and changes in work dynamics.