Purpose Statement

The job of Inst Asst 4 / Student and Family Advocate is done for the purpose/s of providing support for the instructional program with specific responsibilities of working with families in identifying and achieving goals; accessing support services; creating training programs; facilitating positive parent, school and student relationships; monitor and provide intervention for students with truancy problems; assist with coordinating student services and child welfare programs (court, guardian, Ad Litem, foster parents, Children's Justice Center, Youth In Custody, social workers, teachers, etc.) provide services to migrant educational students; supply information to students, parents, school offices, community representatives, etc.; and assists in implementing and maintaining services within established guidelines and standards. This job is distinguished from similar jobs by the following characteristics: Works district-wide. This job reports to Coordinator 6 / Student and Family Advocate.

Essential Functions

·         Appears in adult and juvenile courts, district attorney hearings, etc. for the purpose of representing the district as the child welfare and attendance representative.

·         Assists Administrators in developing program resources for the purpose of fostering community needs.

·         Attends local, State, and National meetings/trainings for the purpose of understanding current trends and best practice guidelines.

·         Attends work regularly for the purpose of providing quality educational experiences and continuity to assigned students, parents, and the overall school community.

·         Collaborates in the planning, development, implementation, and evaluation of the Migrant Education Program (e.g. reports, memos, letters, etc.) for the purpose of ensuring compliance with grant policies and State and Federal guidelines.

·         Collects and maintains all the necessary records and statistics for the purpose of compiling and reviewing data, and disseminating information related to the Youth and Custody and Truancy as required by the District, State, and Federal reporting procedures and timelines.

·         Conducts home visits for the purpose of distributing information, conducting interviews, assessing needs, collecting data, establishing rapport, and providing supportive services.

·         Conducts meetings (e.g. curriculum, safety, site advisory, special district committees, etc.) for the purpose of coordinating activities and ensuring that outcomes achieve school, District, and/or State objectives.

·         Coordinates with outside agencies, school sites, etc. for the purpose of providing program referrals to students and families.

·         Files probation referrals and criminal complaints on behalf of juveniles for the purpose of complying with mandated requirements.

·         Initiates phone calls for the purpose of ascertaining reason/s for absences and informing students and/or parents of provisions of compulsory attendance laws and ramifications of such.

·         Maintains a variety of manual and electronic files and/or records for the purpose of providing up-to-date references and complying with regulatory requiremen ts and established guidelines.

·         Organizes directs and participates in activities and community meetings for the purpose of strengthening parent engagement with the school and enhancing the student's educational experience.

·         Orients students, families, and volunteers for the purpose of establishing familiarity with program services and requirements.

·         Participates in school site team meetings with other staff (e.g. administrator, counselor, resource officer, trackers, social worker, gang prevention specialist, etc.) for the purpose of addressing student and family issues of concern.

·         Performs other related duties as assigned for the purpose of ensuring the effic ent and effective functioning of the work unit.

·         Prepares written material (e.g. reports, memos, letters, etc.) for the purpose of documenting activities, providing written reference, and/or conveying information.

·         Responds to school requests for the purpose of investigating and reporting cases of child abuse and molestation.

·         Responds to inquiries from a variety of internal and external sources (e.g. parents, community agencies, auditors, students, etc.) for the purpose of providing information and/or direction.

·         Serves as liaison for the purpose of representing the District to County/State child welfare and attendance agencies.

·         Supports families with equity and advocacy needs (e.g. diversity, language, 504, SEPs, IEPs., etc.) for the purpose of enhancing the students' educational experience.

·         Tracks student data; (e.g. grades, attendance and interventions, etc.) for the purpose of offering additional resources to students and families.

·         Verifies residence of students for the purpose of processing inter- or intra-district transfer permits and proof of school enrollment and attendance for special programs.

Work Environment

The usual and customary methods of performing the job's functions require the following physical demands: some lifting, carrying, pushing, and/or pulling, and significant fine finger dexterity. Generally, the job requires 50% sitting, 25% walking, and 25% standing. This job is performed in a generally clean and healthy environment.