Family Services Advocate

POSITION SUMMARY: Responsible for responding to service needs of victims of domestic abuse and sexual assault, assisting with program and facility needs and assisting with community education and outreach activities as assigned in a trauma informed way. This includes providing non-resident and resident crisis intervention services for children/youth and their parent, and the community by answering hotline calls; assisting walk-in’s, and meeting with victims and their children one on one.

PRIMARY DUTIES:

• Create an atmosphere of support and nurturing for families in shelter; facilitate a positive communal living environment. Promote parent-child relationship building. Actively engage in positive role-modeling and mentoring. Encourage/train other staff to be positive role-models.
• Provide support, information, resources and encouragement to program participants to achieve their family goals.
• Collaborate with the Program Services Supervisor/Counselor to set appropriate goals and foster a healthy, trauma informed approach to support advocacy for families.
• Provide information, support and advocacy to parents related to child development, effects of abuse/witnessing abuse on children, behavior, positive parenting, etc.
• Develop and implement procedures to provide children and youth with age-appropriate orientation to the shelter living.
• Develop and implement intake procedures to identify the health, educational, developmental, social and emotional needs of each child.
• Work with each child/family to develop a personalized Safety Plan.
• Work with clients to identify the needs of their child/ren and family. Make appropriate referrals for community based services (i.e. schools, Human Services, NEWCAP, physical and mental health services, child care, etc.) Provide advocacy and accompaniment as needed or requested.
• Coordinate and implement educational and recreational activities for children and families in shelter including birthday and holiday celebrations and cultural experiences.
• Plan, coordinate and implement individual and group activities that address common problems affecting children and youth exposed to domestic violence. Facilitate weekly support groups.
• Develops, schedules and provides prevention education programming to area schools.
• Maintains accurate, concise and timely records for grant and other funding purposes.
• Assists with agency fundraisers and other community awareness activities as assigned.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

MINIMUM TRAINING AND EXPERIENCE REQUIRED

Bachelor’s Degree required with post-secondary course work or equivalent in Social Work, Human Services with an emphasis in Child Development, Child Psychology or Education. Experience working in crisis intervention or with group facilitation is a plus. Relative work experience or volunteer experience may be considered in lieu of a degree.

SKILLS AND ABILITIES

1. Ability to communicate effectively with clients, volunteers, shelter staff, donors, police personnel, community agency representatives and others; both verbally and in writing.

2. Ability to operate a variety of office equipment including personal computer, photocopier and telephone.

3. Ability to work in a crisis situation and possess problem solving skills.

4. Understanding of domestic violence issues and ability to relate to people from diverse backgrounds.

5. Ability to prepare and/or interpret a variety of documents including client records, police reports, counseling forms, letters and other correspondence.

COMPETENCIES

• Sets high standards of performance for self and assumes responsibility and accountability for successfully completing assignments or tasks.
• Builds and maintains client/community satisfaction with the services offered.
• Promotes cooperation and commitment within a team to achieve goals and objectives.
• Builds constructive working relationships characterized by a high level of acceptance, cooperation and mutual respect.
• Makes timely, informed decisions that take into account facts, goals, risks and constraints.
• Conducts self within appropriate and expected professional boundaries and policies.
• Maintains composure in highly stressful or adverse situations.
• Helps create an environment that embraces and appreciates diversity.
• Maintains confidentiality and earns others’ trust and respect through consistent honesty and professionalism in all interactions.

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: From $20.19 per hour

Work Location: In person

Salary : $1 - $20