Family Advocate

Why join our countywide agency?

• Because each day we are making a difference in our community, and because we have a positive, employee- and client-centered work culture.
• We pay competitive rates and offer a strong benefits package that includes generous vacation, sick leave and holiday pay, employer-paid medical insurance, a free subscription to the meditation/sleep app Calm, and much more!
• We offer continuous employee education and development and paid clinical supervision.
• We work with our staff to offer flexibility whenever possible.

We look forward to you joining our team at FSA of Santa Barbara County!

The Position

The Family Advocate position is an opportunity to provide crucial resources to families. Family Advocates will work collaboratively with families, individuals, and community partners to provide guidance in overcoming challenges and work towards stronger families and stronger communities. Through advocacy, goal setting, and connecting with community resources, the Family Advocate will help families identify challenges, boost their strengths, and help parents learn skills and information to handle stress, build resilience, and create caring environments for their overall well-being.

FSA strives to be a trauma-informed and resilience-oriented organization. Because working with those impacted by trauma can affect staff in various ways, FSA actively identifies and employs methods to support staff to embody a healthy and sustainable balance of care for both themselves and others.

Sample Job Duties and Responsibilities

• Utilize assessment skills and screening tools to triage families and determine appropriate services (case management, information and referral, parent education).
• Develop a solid understanding of community resources and consistently offer suitable referrals to help individuals access social, educational, and health services.
• Serve as a liaison between the family, school, and community to support academic success, social emotional well-being, and family wellness.
• Encourage parental strength and social interactions by providing engagement opportunities such as workshops, Parent Café, and more.
• Provide education and resources to increase parent’s knowledge of child development.
• Offer interpretation and translation assistance as needed to facilitate communication between families and community resources.
• Engage in program outreach and represent FSA during collaborative meetings and community events.
• Use databases to keep track of and review program interactions, events, and results.
• Attend meetings with community partners to coordinate services and promote continuity of care. Services can be provided in the home, in the community, and/or schools. This may also include schedule flexibility and working evening and/or weekend hours at some point.
• Collaborate closely with various school personnel, such as social workers, administrators, and school liaisons as needed.
• Contribute to program goals and ensure that services provided are within scope of practice.