Lutheran Services Florida·Largo, Florida
The advocate supports families through a case management model by developing partnership agreements and coordinating community services. They also manage enrollment, monitor attendance, and facilitate parent engagement activities to ensure child and family wellness.
Lutheran Services Florida (LSF) envisions a world where children are safe, families are strong, and communities are vibrant.
LSF is seeking a talented Family & Community Engagement Advocate who wants to make an impact in the lives of others.
Supports and assists families as they identify and meet their own goals through a family-centered case management model for developing and carrying out the program family partnership agreements., including responsibility for child files, enrollment/applications, etc. Assists with the completion of the child health requirements and other required screenings and assessments. Participates in the HS/EHS Quality Assurance efforts.
Coordinates with center staff to integrate family partnership goals with classroom efforts and to ensure integrated child and family curriculum.
Participates in team management functions of planning, implementing and evaluating family and community engagement goals and objectives.
Participates in in-service, workshops, conferences and college courses to enhance skills.
Works cooperatively with local agencies to assist families to linkup with services in the local community.
Assists with the completion of the child health screening, other required screenings and assessments and is familiar with referral requirements.
Conducts and documents follow-up on all referrals.
While respecting family confidentiality, regularly shares information with teachers to ensure coordinated services that meet the needs of individual children and families.
Provides health, safety and family literacy activities to parents, as appropriate.
Develops a working knowledge of community resources, and visits, at least annually, with major agencies for service delivery updates and community resource guide updates.
Attends parent/teacher conferences as requested.
Attends multi-team development and staff meetings as requested.
Ensures an appropriate written transition plan is prepared for all children, six months prior to their third birthday.
Attends all required staff and parent meetings and activities.
Maintains strict confidentiality at all times with respect to Head Start/Early Head Start children, families and staff in accordance with established policies and procedures, including the ability to recognize situations in which confidentiality is required.
Other related duties as assigned.
Eligibility, Recruitment, Selection, Enrollment, Attendance (ERSEA)
Implement, document and report on the recruitment, selection and enrollment of potentially eligible children birth through age 5, pregnant women and their families in collaboration with Health and Family Community Engagement Manager.
Recruits prospective families and complete the enrollment process.
Maintain funded enrollment and fill Head Start/Early Head Start vacancies within 30 days.
Accurately verify and determine eligibility for Head Start/Early Head Start enrollment.
Monitor attendance and maintain an average daily attendance above 85%.
Follow up with any families experiencing participation or attendance problems.
Documents all efforts to assist families, tracks family partnership efforts and outcomes, records, monitors and follows up on referrals, and submits reports as required. Attends all workshops and meetings as deemed necessary by the supervisor
Parent Engagement
Coordinate and implement monthly parent committee meeting at your assigned center site(s). Maintain accurate records and documentation (e.g. meeting minutes, agenda, training, sign-in sheet, and PC members’ eligibility paperwork).
Ensure the elected Policy Council representative and/or alternate for assign center site(s) are in attendance for the Program’s Policy Council monthly meeting
Coordinate monthly parent engagement activities through the A Man Everybody Needs (AMEN) and Ladies of Victory and Empowerment (LOVE) support groups.
Implement a comprehensive, individualized and developmental parent engagement and education program responsive to parent needs, concerns and requests that supports parents in their role as the primary influence in their children’s lives.
Ensure comprehensive, timely two-way communication between parents, Head Start staff, and as appropriate, community individuals and organizations.
Encourage parent volunteerism throughout the program.
Provide parents regular opportunities to work together and with other community members on activities they helped develop and in which they expressed an interest.
Encourage parents to take an active role in making community services more responsive to their goals and needs.
Promote full child/family participation in program activities and assist with monitoring and resolution of any problems.
Assist parents, including pregnant women, with the transition process into Head Start from Early Head Start or other settings, and from Head Start to kindergarten.
Health
Assists with the completion of the child health screening, other required screenings and assessments and is familiar with referral requirements.
Promote child and family wellness and the establishment of a medical and dental “home” for each HS infant, toddler and preschool child and each pregnant woman.
Provide physical/dental/mental health and nutrition education activities that are responsive to the ongoing and expressed needs of parents as individuals and in the parent committee meetings.
Provides health, safety and family literacy activities to parents, as appropriate.
Assist and support families with engaging and completing the appropriate disability paperwork for their child requiring services.
The duties above are illustrative and not exhaustive. The omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related, or a logical assignment to the position. Depending on assigned area of responsibility, incumbents in the position may perform some or all of the activities described above.
Reasonable accommodation may be made for otherwise qualified persons with disabilities.
High School diploma or GED but must obtain a credential or certificate within 18 (eighteen) months of hire in social work, human services, family services, counseling or a related field to remain employed in position.
At least three years of experience working with children and families in a social services environment. Head Start/Early Head Start experience preferred.
Certification in First Aid and CPR within three months of the date assigned to this position; and successful completion of a Level II background screening and drug screening prior to hiring. Bilingual preferred: English/Spanish or English and other languages present in the local area.
Must demonstrate sensitivity to our service population’s cultural and socioeconomic characteristics and needs.
Team player with co-workers and all organizational staff.
Cost effective program operations.
Adherence to agency policies, procedures and performance standards.
Effective customer service and group leadership.
Why work for LSF?
LSF offers 60 programs across the state of Florida serving a wide range of populations in need. Mission Driven staff members become part of the LSF community while transforming the lives of those in need. Our staff additionally find growth opportunities as they explore areas of interest within the organization.
LSF is proud to be an equal opportunity employer.
Lutheran Services Florida is mandated to perform background screenings for employment in accordance with the Florida Care Provider Background Screening Clearinghouse as outlined in Section 435.12, Florida Statutes. Additionally, pursuant to House Bill 531 (2025), Lutheran Services Florida must ensure that all job vacancy postings and advertisements include a clear and conspicuous link to the AHCA Clearinghouse website and its requirements. For more information on background screening requirements please visit: https://info.flclearinghouse.com/ [https://info.flclearinghouse.com/]
Market context
In Florida, Family and Community Engagement Advocate roles are often tied to schools, early childhood programs, and community-based services that need staff who can connect families with resources and support. These positions are competitive because employers look for direct experience with children and families, plus a willingness to earn a related credential after hire. Review the AI-summarized requirements and benefits on this platform to save time, then confirm your experience aligns with the background screening and credential timeline before applying.
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