Job Title: Family Advocate

FLSA: Non-Exempt

Salary Band: 1

Reporting to: ERSEA Manager

Department: Whole Family Services

Scope:

To work as a member of a team with program staff and community resources to provide a continuum of services to children and families in an effort to strengthen and preserve families, assist in identifying individual needs, and providing and assisting in coordinating services to meet each family’s needs.

Essential Functions:

· Engage parents in identifying needs and developing intervention plans.

· Act as an advocate for children and families; assist with identifying needs and accessing services.

· Assist with recruitment, screening, and enrollment as needed.

· Provide support and crisis intervention with families and children involved with the program.

· Advocate for children and families by assisting in the identifying and coordination of support services.

· Plan and implement activities that teach parents/guardians child development/child management, nutrition education, health education, dental education, mental health education, use of community resources, and adult education.

· Intervene where there are problems with attendance.

· Participate in home visits.

· Work in a collaborative effort with agency/community resources to provide wrap around services to families in order to strengthen and enable them to function independently, to improve their capacity to function as a healthy family, or if needed, help find appropriate alternatives for the care of children.

· Keep abreast of local, state, and national legislation and changes that effect component.

· Facilitate parent support groups.

· Conduct parent, child, and staff training sessions.

· Work cooperatively as a member of a team with program staff and community resources.

· Keep client files in order and up to date.

· Work with team members, supervisor, child, families, and community contacts in a manner that is conducive to the philosophy and mission of the program and agency.

· Seek and receive continued professional training.

· Monitor health, nutrition, mental health, social service, and dental needs for each child; participate in developing plans, providing activities, and ensuring needs are met for each child. Work flexible hours to accommodate the needs of the program and clients.

· Assist in recruitment and enrollment for program year.

· Help facilitate parent involvement.

· Cooperate and help investigate matters related to personnel, licensing, accreditation or other circumstances.

· Attend and participate in departmental and agency staff meetings, trainings, and planning sessions.

· Execute other specific tasks as assigned; some of which are continuing, while others are occasional in nature.

· Maintain a positive attitude towards assigned work, clients, and staff, and a willingness to work with others.

· Perform work in a professional manner that upholds Wayne Metro’s policies and procedures.

· Other duties as assigned.

Physical Requirements and Work Environment:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to stand; walk, sit, see, talk and hear, and use hands to manipulate. The employee is occasionally required to reach with hands and arms, climb steps, stoop, bend, kneel, or crouch. The employee is required to supervise students requiring the employee to match walking speed that matches the student and may at times require the ability to run to safeguard students. The employee must occasionally lift (up to 50 pounds), carry, and move students. Employee must occasionally move equipment and/or supplies. The job is performed for the most part in a school setting with occasional outside weather conditions. The noise level is that of a typical school setting.

Minimum Qualifications:

· Bachelor's Degree required; preferred fields of social work, family life education, children and families, early childhood, child development, psychology or other fields of education and experience that are similarly appropriate.

· Previous experience working with low-income families

· Experience working with young children

· Ability to assess individual and family needs, develop plans, and coordinate needed services to fulfill plans.

· Good understanding of child development, common childhood behavior problems and appropriate interventions.

· Ability to engage in problem resolution, assesses need/problem objectively, and manages crisis situations.

· Ability to demonstrate commitment, caring, and respect for children and adults from diverse backgrounds.

· Ability to role model appropriate child-handling techniques to parents and staff.

· Ability to communicate effectively to individuals and groups both orally and in writing.

· Proficiency in second language preferred, but not required.

· Ability to organize, track, plan, implement, and evaluate component activities.

· Ability to be resourceful, flexible, and adaptable.

· Ability and desire for personal growth and skill development.

· Ability to give and receive constructive feedback.

· Commitment to the welfare of the participants the program serves and the delivery of quality services.

· Ability and willingness to make home visits.

· Ability to work well with and be sensitive to the needs of the diverse population served.

· Ability to cooperate successfully as a member of a team.

· Good interpersonal and professional skills including but not limited to professional appearance, tact, punctuality, and dependability.

· Ability to work independently and to manage diversity.

Minimum Competencies:

· Working knowledge of basic internet applications and programs including Google technology and Microsoft Office Word and Excel. The ability to learn and utilize the necessary programs for this position.

· Ability to communicate effectively both orally and in written form.

· Good interpersonal and professional skills including but not limited to professional appearance, tact, punctuality, and dependability.

· Ability to provide services for those persons facing economic, social, health, age, and educational barriers.

· Ability to work independently or in a team environment (as deemed necessary).

· Perform work in a manner that upholds Wayne Metro policies and procedures.

Travel Requirements:

Ability to travel to various sites.

Licensing and Other Requirements:

• Valid driver's license and reliable transportation.
• Must be COVID-19 vaccinated, or partially, with the ability to complete within 30-days of employment. Circumstances preventing vaccination, and corresponding accommodations will be reviewed and considered.

Work Hours:

Work schedule is Monday – Friday, with specific hours to be determined by department needs.

Other Duties

Please note that this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities and activities may change at any time with or without notice.

Wayne Metropolitan Community Action Agency is an Equal Opportunity Employer - EOE/M/F/D/V