SUMMARY OF PRIMARY FUNCTION:

The Child Advocate responsibilities include working one on one with a child who has a special need(s) in the classroom environment. The Child Advocate will promote the development of the individual child within the classroom environment and assure the opportunities for the child meet their individual needs. Helps recruit potential parents by providing information to the about the various program services and benefits offered to enrolled children and families.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

Safety & Sanitation

• Assists in maintaining a safe, clean, care-giving environment, practices good personal hygiene and hand washing, and assures the well-being and safety of all of the children in that environment.
• Utilizes disciplinary measures appropriately as outlined in the Behavior Guidance Policies and Procedures.
• Protects all children from physical punishment or verbal abuse by anyone in any program activity, and immediately reports any such incident to the person in charge.
• Provides for the physical safety of each child from arrival time until departure time.
• Assists in providing a healthy and safe classroom and playground environments throughout the day.
• Assures that safety and sanitation policies and procedures are followed appropriately.
• Assures that children are dressed appropriately for the weather and type of play in which they are engaged.
• Assures that children are always supervised.
• Administers First Aid and/or CPR (if trained) when necessary.

Meets Individual Needs of Children with Special Need(s)

• In coordination with the Education Disability Services team and/or other multi-disciplinary teams, determines the individual needs of the child.
• Collects and tracks data and assists the teacher with other assessment activities to determine the developmental level of individual children, as requested.
• Assists in the planning and conducts activities with the child that creates an individualized environment and varied range of opportunities to explore and experience, which meet the individual needs of the child (i.e. developing social and communication skills, self-esteem, creativity, self-reliance, etc.)

Communication

• Maintains open, friendly, and cooperative relationship with each child and family.
• Greets children and their parents warmly and with enthusiasm.
• Maintains a cooperative attitude of working together with other staff, parents, and volunteers in planning and implementing activities for the program/classroom.
• Maintains a positive, calm attitude and a pleasant, soothing voice and models this attitude and voice for parents and others working and volunteering in the program.

Parent Contact and Involvement

• Assists in conducting parent conferences and home visits as requested.
• Assist in providing ongoing contact with families via telephone calls, notes or visits, and documents contact under the direction of the teacher.
• Attends IFSP/IEP meetings as requested.

• Must be at least 18 years of age; or have a high school diploma or GED, and be turning 18 by the end of August of the current year.
• Excellent communication skills.
• Must enjoy and respect young children and their families.
• Experience working with infants, toddlers and preschoolers.

Head Start Program Performance Standards require vaccination against COVID-19 for all staff, unless granted an exemption by the agency due to a medical condition or sincerely-held religious beliefs.

Tri-Valley is a non-profit community action agency.

We believe in the value of all human beings. It is that belief that drives our efforts to identify needs, seek resources and provide opportunities for people to thrive.

Our work is committed to strengthening our communities so that its citizens have better places to live, work, worship and enjoy.

The mission of Tri-Valley Opportunity Council, Inc. is to provide opportunities to improve the quality of life for people and communities.