Position: Family Advocate
Program: Head Start/Early Head Start
Reports to: Family Services Coordinator
Status: Full Time, 37.5 hours per week
Schedule: Monday through Friday
Hourly Wage: Starting wage $17.81 - $18.62 per hour
Job Function: Responsible for implementing the core family partnership, family engagement, and community partnership functions for the center-based option of a Head Start/Early Head Start program.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities include the following. Other duties may be assigned.
- Recruits and complete intake process for potential participants in the program.
- Monitor absenteeism and provide necessary follow-up/ family support plan and documenting steps taken and progress.
- Offer each family a home visit every other month, conducting additional home visits as needed.
- Work with families on an individualized basis throughout the year to identify family goals, strengths, and necessary services and supports, and to track progress in achieving family goals.
- Encourage parents to be involved in all areas of the program.
- Coordinate or refer families to opportunities through formal or informal networking in the community. Record, monitor and follow-up on referrals for support services for reporting requirements.
- Take an active role in community planning and advocacy to improve the delivery of services to children and families.
- Assist with classroom activities planned by classroom staff.
- Assist in planning and implementing program wide family events.
- Implement, and oversee bi-monthly Parent Committee meetings.
- Facilitate parenting education classes using a researched based parenting curriculum.
- Maintain planning and communications systems which assure that information is processed in a timely manner to parties needing that information.
- Enter all documentation in Child Plus within 48 hours.
- Prepare and disseminate required reports to supervisor.
- Communicate regularly with the Family Services Coordinator and other Head Start support staff.
- Complete team conferencing for all assigned classrooms monthly and participate in case conferencing twice per year.
- Maintain on-going contact with teaching staff to integrate family partnership goals with classroom efforts, ensure integrated child and family curriculum and gain information regarding child performance in the classroom.
- Maintains and updates child’s file and ensures that all documentation is current.
- Participates in intensive staff pre-service, in-service, and orientation sessions.
- Fulfill role as mandated reporter as stated in Child Abuse and Neglect Policy.
Education and/or Experience
Minimally a High School Diploma/GED required with coursework in human services and you must obtain an associates degree within 18 months of hire, at a minimum, a credential or certification in social work, human services, family services, counseling or a related field. It is preferred that you have an Associates Degree in Human Services.
Certificates, Licenses, Registrations
Valid NYS Drivers License
Other Qualifications
Clearance through the NYS Maltreatment Registry. Annual Physical Examination, TB Test and Fingerprinting for criminal background. Must be able to travel to all Head Start sites, training, children’s homes, etc. as necessary and requested.
Physical Demands The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to stand; walk; use hands to finger, handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms; talk or hear and taste or smell. The employee is occasionally required to sit and stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision and distance vision. The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.
CAPCO is an Equal Opportunity Employer and we do not discriminate against employees or applicants for employment on any legally recognized basis including, but not limited to: veteran status, uniform service member status, race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, age, and physical or mental disability. CAPCO will make reasonable accommodations for qualified candidates in adherence of the Americans with Disabilities Act and New York Human Rights Act.
Application Deadline: Interested candidates should apply no later than Monday, June 8, 2026 using the application link or forward a resume and letter of interest via email to hiring@capco.org or at the CAPCO Main Office, 32 N. Main St., Cortland, NY 13045.
