Role: Family Advocate for First4ME-LA
Across Lewiston-Auburn, individuals and organizations have come together to transform the early childhood ecosystem (birth to age 5) by working together as the First4ME - LA coalition. The coalition’s vision is: All children and families in Lewiston-Auburn have equitable access and participate in supportive and high quality early education.
First4ME Early Care and Education is a two-generation framework for a comprehensive and coordinated birth to kindergarten-entry program which provides quality early care to support a child’s school readiness. With families as partners, childcare providers and public PreK educators will work together with children using a holistic approach that supports all areas of the child’s development.
The Coalition is hiring two positions: A Family Advocate and a Community Coordinator (see separate job posting).
First4ME Family Advocate:
This supportive role will work for the First4ME Coalition and specifically with families to create authentic partnerships with the early educators. This person will provide family stabilization support and education to increase resilience in families with young children identified as “at risk”. Children that may have particularly high needs will be well supported with connections made to special service programs in the community. This role would be in close coordination with the F4M Coordinator, Coaches and the Child Care Providers (CCPs).
DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES
- Engage and communicate with families, demonstrating respectful interest in learning about each family’s values, beliefs, faith, traditions, cultural influences, family structure and circumstances, supporting parent-child relationships, and promoting parents as first and most important teachers while emphasizing connections to school readiness.
- Support providers in identifying F4ME families and collecting data.
- Promote protective factors to prevent child abuse and neglect; as a mandated reporter, identifies and refers families to the Department of Health and Human Services Child Protection Services as needed.
- Support families in setting and achieving their goals in coordination with the Child Care Providers, the FIRST4ME Coordinator and the F4ME Coalition.
- Ensure consistency between a child’s home and their provider location, with open communication established to assist family in taking part in decision making, including involvement with screenings, assessments, and their child’s learning environment.
- Assist families in establishing and maintaining children’s medical, mental health and dental appointments, with ongoing care and treatment following Maine’s Early Periodic Screening Diagnosis and Treatment Schedule (EPSDT).
- Collaborate with local services providers and SAUs to coordinate services to providers, families, and children.
- Work with families to develop a strong Family Network where families understand the tools being used and the community and state resources available to them, and are celebrated for the important role they play in their child’s education.
Family Network: At least one family member from each of the Child care Providers will be a representative to the Family Network. This Network will have representation on the Coalition and be responsible for determining and distributing the stipends for families and hosting events for families with support from the F4M Family Advocate, Coordinator and the Coalition.
POSITION REQUIREMENTS
- Must have a minimum of a CDA or training in Early Childhood Education or a related field, preferably with cross training and /or experience in Human/Family/Social Services
- Must demonstrate strong skills in: interpersonal work across cultures, written and verbal communication, data collection appropriate to the language spoken, documentation, critical thinking, and computer proficiency
- Must possess a valid driver’s license and have use of a vehicle insured to State of Maine requirements, have the ability to travel within multiple counties, and adjust to flexible schedule
- Must be able to meet requirements of agency & State Child Care Licensing regulations for background checks and physical exams
GENERAL EXPECTATIONS
- Be committed to the First4ME mission and goals.
- Adhere to all program policies and procedures, including maintaining strict confidentiality
of internal and external participant information.
- Exhibit a positive, professional, collaborative approach in all internal and external
connections, including maintaining a professional appearance and communication, both
written and verbal.
- Be punctual for scheduled work and use time appropriately.
- Follow accepted safety practices when performing all tasks and never work in a way that
compromises his/her safety or that of clients or co-workers.
- Perform other reasonably related job duties as assigned, including physical demands.
SPECIFICS
This is a 3 year, grant funded, full time, exempt position. The salary is $62,500 with benefits. Travel within the community is required. Attendance at monthly F4ME Coalition meetings is mandatory. Background check and fingerprinting is required before position commences. Ideal start date is early December, 2023.
TO APPLY
Include cover letter, resume, contact info for 3 references. For questions, please contact Karen White - kwhite@cmcc.edu
***Applications close Nov 10.***