Verified
This profile is verified using an email address.
Michelle Fuhrmann
Huntley,IL
Summary
Dedicated Head Start Family Advocate skilled in early childhood education and family support services. Developed comprehensive family service plans and connected families to essential community resources. Fostered strong relationships with diverse families to enhance child development and family well-being, while promoting nurturing environments that encourage parental engagement.
Overview
8
8
years of professional experience
Work History
Head Start Family Advocate
Utah Community Action
Salt Lake City, UT
08.2025 - 02.2026
- Upheld confidentiality of family records while ensuring documentation submitted to management personnel.
- Monitored health requirements, ensuring timely follow-up and education on well-child exams and immunizations for assigned caseload.
- Facilitated community outreach initiatives to strengthen recruitment strategies, resulting in increased program enrollment.
- Coordinated effective community referrals aligned with unique family requirements, promoting access and satisfaction.
- Served as liaison between clients and outreach agencies to enhance communication and support services.
- Cultivated partnerships with families to enhance advocacy for children's unique needs, fostering a supportive family environment.
- Assessed family needs through interviews and home visits.
- Facilitated workshops addressing child development issues, focusing on discipline techniques and safety awareness.
- Developed individualized service plans for families, outlining goals and objectives to guide progress toward self-sufficiency.
- Partnered with community organizations including schools, daycare centers, public assistance agencies, and mental health providers to deliver comprehensive wrap-around services addressing family unit needs.
- Participated in professional development opportunities relevant to Head Start Family Advocacy work in order to stay current on best practices.
Head Start Master Teacher
Utah Community Action
Salt Lake City, UT
08.2018 - 08.2025
- Provide active supervision at all times for the safety and wellbeing of the children.
- Facilitated a healthy environment promoting children's social, emotional, cognitive, and physical development.
- Make healthy relationships with family members so they are able to advocate for their children’s individual needs.
- Document observations and enter them into Teaching Strategies Gold.
- Making lesson plans and setting up the classroom to provide a safe and fun learning experience.
- Work collaboratively with all departments to ensure that all program operations support the delivery of high-quality services to families and children in each Head Start classrooms.
- Maintained confidentiality with all families and submitted records to appropriate management personnel.
- Coordinated with Special Needs Support, Mental Health, and school district to identify, refer, and deliver services for children with special needs, including Individual Education Plans.
- Able to work together with the classroom team to develop and implement the behavior intervention process.
- Conduct home visits and staff- parent conferences.
- Track the children’s growth throughout the year through observations, portfolio documentation, and assessing children with the PEEPS and KEEPS assessments.
- Upload information into Child Plus this includes, monthly family check-ins, health, education, mental health, PIR, Ready Rosie, attendance, referrals, and if there are any concerns the family and/or classroom teams see.
- Assessed classroom activities and provided on-the-job guidance and training to Head Start staff, volunteers, lab students, and university interns through structured observations.
Education
Bachelor of Science - Psychology
Grand Canyon University
Phoenix, AZ08-2021
Associates in Applied Science - Child Development
Redlands Community College
El Reno, OK05-2014
Some College (No Degree) - Major in Social Work and Minor in Psychology
Southwestern Oklahoma State University
Weatherford, OKSkills
- Confidentiality practices
- Case management
- Family advocacy
- Community outreach
- Client relations and support
- Critical thinking
- Time management and multitasking
- Record keeping and organization
- Crisis intervention
- Multicultural sensitivity and awareness
- Teamwork and collaboration skills
- Self-motivation and initiative
- Communication skills
References
- Amber Pendleton, Head Start Program Specialist, 1259 E 270 S, Tooele, UT, 84074, Amber.Pendelton@utahca.org, 801-859-8570
- Jamie Castleton, Head Start Family Partnership, ERSEA, and Health Manager, 1307 S 900 W, Salt Lake City, UT, 84104, Jamie.Castleton@utahca.org, 801-540-2739
- Olga Lugo, Head Start Master Teacher, 3888 S 8365 W, Murray, UT, 84044, Olga.Lugo@utahca.org, 801-649-9695
- Misty Carman, Kindergarten Teacher and Long-term acquaintance, 24060 E 1070 Road, Weatherford, OK, 73096, micarman@thomas.k12.ok.us, 580-819-0106
Languages
English
Professional
Timeline
Head Start Family Advocate
Utah Community Action
08.2025 - 02.2026
Head Start Master Teacher
Utah Community Action
08.2018 - 08.2025
Bachelor of Science - Psychology
Grand Canyon University
Associates in Applied Science - Child Development
Redlands Community College
Some College (No Degree) - Major in Social Work and Minor in Psychology
Southwestern Oklahoma State University