Family Advocate Coordinator

Description

FAMILY ADVOCATE COORDINATOR 

The Family Advocate Coordinator ( In-Home Safety & Reunification Services Coordinator)  will work with families referred by the Department of Human Services (DHS) for; In-Home Safety & Reunification Services, or Parent & Relative Support Services.  All of these programs work with DHS involved families in crisis (mainly in the families’ own homes and/or in the community) and address safety issues, as well as other relevant concerns, to ensure that children are able to remain in safe and stable homes with their parents; or to ensure that children are able to return to safe and stable homes with their parents.  While services are being provided, the Family Advocate Coordinator will work closely with a Caseworker from DHS to provide assistance with; child safety, system navigation, emergency placement, identifying barriers, establishing goals, accessing natural and community supports, and developing long  term stability.   Services will be authorized for up to 16 weeks or 60 hours. The Family Advocate Coordinator’s time entails approximately 75% intensive direct face to face contact with referred families and 25% for; documentation, clinical supervision, consultation, on-going professional training, service planning, and other administrative tasks. The Family Advocate  Coordinator works a flexible forty-hour work week, which may include early morning, meal and bed times, evenings and weekends.   This position works out of SEI Community & Family Programs building located at 2205 NE Columbia Blvd., Portland, OR 97211 and reports to the Child Welfare Advocacy Programs Manager.   

PRIMARY JOB RESPONSIBILITIES 

• Short term intensive case management to; resolve safety threats, improve parental protective capacity, develop interventions, assess change to lead to a safe home environment, and develop action plans to address identified concerns.  

• Weekly face-to-face interaction with all referred clients, and 24-hour response upon receipt of new referrals.  

• Provide services in the family’s home when family members are at home and during hours most likely to impact child safety.   

• Attend Child Safety and Family Decision meetings, or other case planning discussions with DHS staff and referred families.   

• Work closely with DHS Caseworkers to create a collaborative problem-solving approach incorporating the use of extended family, neighbors, other community persons and the provider as resources.  

• Provide personal skills training to increase client capacity to maintain parenting stability and maintain stable housing, including; schedule management, behavior management, family communication, budgeting, job readiness, and financial planning.  

• Coordinate services with other social service agencies (i.e. shelter providers, housing assistance, job training, financial planning, etc.).   

• Keep thorough and up-to-date client records in accordance with agency file requirements.  Also prepare additional or specialized written reports, as requested, for the purposes of court hearings or specific case planning meetings.  

• Attend scheduled training sessions and other training geared toward professional growth.  Attend agency staff meetings.  

• Provide a daily and weekly work schedule.   

• Establish and utilize networks within the housing and social systems to assist clients including; landlords, housing agencies, rental assistance programs, shelter services, counseling services, treatment services, assistance programs, etc.  

• Assist and accompany clients to access eligible benefits and community resources to increase their financial stability.  

• Accept other appropriate duties/responsibilities as assigned by management. 

Qualifications

QUALIFICATIONS 

• A Bachelor’s Degree in Social Services or a related field and/or three years’ experience working with families and children.  

• Must be a highly skilled individual with needs assessment and case management experience.  

• Knowledge of crisis, cognitive and behavioral interventions.    

• Knowledge of and ability to navigate, the housing system, preferably in Multnomah County.  

• Able to provide skills training to increase client capacity to maintain safe and financially stable home.  

• Must have effective interpersonal skills.  

• Must have the ability to immediately motivate and connect with parents successfully.  

• Must have excellent writing skills, be highly organized and self-motivated.  

• Must have driver's license, own reliable transportation, and be insurable under SEI insurance policy. 

• Must have current and valid state driver’s license, in good standing with no insurability restrictions and must be insurable under SEI’s auto insurance policy. 

*Note: This job description may change as programming evolves.  SEI management reserves the right to amend this description at any time. 07/2024