Lead Family Advocate

Life changing work * Welcoming staff * Generous benefits * Advancement opportunities

Join the St. Vincent de Paul Society of San Francisco and be part of the solution to break the cycles of homelessness and domestic violence in San Francisco.

St. Vincent de Paul Society of San Francisco operates the Multi-Service Center - Northern California’s largest homeless shelter, Navigation Centers for chronically homeless individuals and couples and the Riley Center - Domestic Violence shelter and services for survivors. We have over 175 employees working in 4 locations. We are proud of our diversity and of our more than 150 year history of helping others in San Francisco.  St. Vincent de Paul Society of San Francisco’s mission is to offer hope and service, on a direct person to person basis, working to break the cycles of homelessness and domestic violence.

SUMMARY: 

Under the supervision of the Riley Center Residential Program Manager, the Lead Family Advocate is a growth opportunity towards a potential leadership position within the Riley Center. This position is focused on providing housing advocacy, case management and supportive services for domestic violence survivors and their families while they increase their self-sufficiency and transition into permanent housing. The position will also have a keen focus, and be responsible for the implementation and development of the Riley Center Children's Program and services. this is a full-time, non-exempt, union position. The schedule is Tuesday through Saturday 3:30PM-12:00AM. The location is a confidential shelter in San Francisco.

SALARY AND BENEFIT OVERVIEW

This position starts at $31.66 per hour.

St. Vincent de Paul of San Francisco offers a robust benefits package that includes 

• Two Kaiser HMO medical care options
• Voluntary dental, vision, and life insurance
• 403b retirement plan with employer-paid match after one year of employment
• Employee Assistance Program
• Ten vacation and ten sick days accrued per year, two personal floating holidays and twelve and a half holidays offered per year.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

• The Lead Family Advocate will assess eligibility in transitional housing, provide case management and advocacy toward personal safety and increased self-sufficiency, provide education around budgeting and similar life skills, and assist families in locating and determining appropriateness of long-term housing options. 
• Develop, coordinate & provide structured services to children and their mothers, including:  individual counseling, play/educational activities, field trips, child care, case management and advocacy.
• Utilize client-centered needs assessments, service plans and motivational interviewing to empower and motivate clients toward achieving goals related to housing, childcare, employment, benefits, legal services and other needs. 
• Monitor clients for progress and review eligibility criteria for ongoing participation in the program. 
• Provide education on budgeting techniques, employment preparation, and other life skills either individually or in a group setting as assigned. 
• Link families to other services such as job training, credit counseling, Cal Fresh, or similar in a manner that promotes engagement.
• Facilitate client group work as assigned, including:  children's support groups, mother’s support groups and parenting skills education to mothers.
• Maintain and compile client records and service documentation in an accurate and timely manner.
• Provide guidance and support for program needs. Collaborate closely with residential and community office case managers to implement programs, services, and coordinate care for clients and their families. 
• Oversee protocol for Children's Protective Services reporting on suspected child abuse, including notification, written responses and intervention.
• Participate in regular staff meetings: Community Time, In-Services and Case Management.
• Represent the Riley Center in community activities and projects, specifically the Homeless Education Council and the Homeless Children's Network.      
• Assist the Volunteer Coordinator in screening, training, scheduling and supervising volunteers and interns as needed for the children's program and the Riley Center in general.
• Maintain children's program areas and supplies.
• Participate in appropriate on-going staff development training.    
• Attend Riley Center staff meetings, supervision and trainings as required.
• Assist with other direct client services in emergency situations. 
• Participate in on-going cross training to perform duties in other departments of the agency as needed.
• Perform other appropriate duties as assigned.               

QUALIFICATIONS:

• BA degree in social services or psychology.  Four years of work experience in the social service field may be accepted in lieu of a degree or a combination of college and experience.
• 40-hour domestic violence certification is required.  The next DV training can be taken if certification is needed.
• Experience and familiarity with a variety of creative arts and children's play/educational activities.
• Knowledge of issues of child abuse/neglect, children who have experienced domestic violence, and child development.
• Demonstrated skills in counseling, case management, and client advocacy with children and families.
• Familiarity with Harm Reduction philosophy and approach.
• Strong interpersonal, verbal, and written communication skills.
• Understanding of domestic violence issues, especially in context to race, class, gender, and sexual identity.
• Knowledge, experience, and comfort working with a diverse community, including LGBTQQ, youth, immigrant, low-income communities, and communities of color.
• Working knowledge of community resources.
• Demonstrated commitment to open, direct, and non-violent communication.
• Ability to de-escalate crisis situations and make decisions under pressure.
• Basic reporting skills including data entry, Outlook, Excel, and Word processing.
• Strong initiative and ability to work both independently and cooperatively in a small office.
• Ability to maintain professional boundaries with clients, volunteers, and staff.
• Commitment to the mission of St. Vincent de Paul Society of San Francisco

Covid vaccination and negative result on TB test required.   

Background check completed upon acceptance of job offer.

St. Vincent de Paul Society of San Francisco celebrates diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging and is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer.

Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction.