The Family Advocate is responsible for developing a trusting relationship with EHS parents as a support and resource person. Family Advocates plan, develop and implement appropriate prenatal, family and child development curriculum and other activities including parent socialization events and other parent groups that will enhance the parent/child bond and relationship; reinforce the crucial role of parents as the primary educator of their children; ensure that all special education, health, mental health and nutritional needs of children are met; serve as a positive liaison to other community agencies, provide assistance and guidance to families; assume a lead role in implementing social service coordination by providing on-going comprehensive support and case management services to assigned families which promote positive family development, self-sufficiency and social competency; and assume a lead role in assuring parent involvement through opportunities that foster parent and family growth.
Practice with families is informed using Head Start Relationship-Based Competencies and Infant Mental Health principles; Family Advocates work closely with Home Based Managers, Nurses, Mental Health Consultants and other appropriate individuals for support in maintaining effective and appropriate practices.
Hours: 40 hours/week, Full Year
Location: North Side of Madison
Reach Dane provides high-quality early childhood services to over 1,000 underserved children ages 0-5 in Dane County through center based and home visitation programs. Our staff work tirelessly every day to reach the most vulnerable children and families in our community, and the need for our services is growing. The number of infants and toddlers experiencing homelessness enrolled in our programs has tripled over the last four years. Last year, Reach Dane served more homeless children than any other Head Start program in Wisconsin.