Family Advocate at Hourchildren.org – Long Island City, New York

Position Title: Family Advocate

Location: NY, Long Island City
Shift: Days

Description:

Title: Family Advocate
Reports to: Program Director
Status: Full-time
Work Schedule: M-F, 9:00 am to 5:00 pm, some evenings and weekends may be required

Salary: $45,000-$50,000/yr.

Job summary
The family advocate will provide support to the families and children of justice involved women who are detained at Rose M. Singer Center and serve as a bridge between the families and the various systems involved, offering advocacy, education, and support under the supervision of the Director of the Visiting and Family Assistance Program.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Complete Family Intake Forms with all families that would like assistance and assess their needs
• Coordinate assistance to the families and children which may include provision of basic needs such as food, clothing, shelter, crisis intervention, information and/or referrals
• Provide emotional and practical support to the caregivers in the communities, including navigating community supports, public assistance appointments, and other social services as needed
• Accompany caregivers to family court appearances and child welfare meetings
• Establish collaborative working relationships with referring agencies and other community based organizations
• In collaboration with the social workers, assist with the development of family service plans and identification in gap of services
• Maintain appropriate client information and documentation in electronic databases and hard files, and submit accurate data on regular basis
• Attend internal staff meetings, trainings, and supervision, as well as related external meetings and trainings with resource partners
• Perform additional department or agency related duties or special projects as directed by supervisor

Specifications for Physical Requirements (as applicable):

• Ability to travel across the five boroughs and to the Rose M. Singer Center on Rikers Island

Qualifications and Requirements:

• Associate's Degree with 1-3 years relevant work experience
  OR
• High School Diploma/GED with 3+ years relevant work experience
  AND
• Lived experience with criminal justice, child welfare and/or family court systems
  • Have successfully reunified with child or youth for at least one year or exited the child welfare system for at least one year
• Successful completion of background investigation by DOC as part of volunteer application process
• Knowledge of court system and process
• A demonstrated commitment to parents' rights and social justice
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Must have the ability to provide effective services and produce accurate written documents in a timely fashion
• Must be able to work with people from diverse backgrounds in a culturally- inclusive manner
• Must be able to work independently and as part of team
• Must be able to have solid, productive boundaries
• Computer and technical skills, specifically Microsoft Office programs
• Spanish language fluency is preferred
• We are an organization that is choosing to require all our employees be fully vaccinated against COVID-19

EOE Statement:

We are an equal employment opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status or any other characteristic protected by law.

Category: Justice Initiatives

Position Requirements:

Exempt/Non-Exempt: Exempt

Req Number: JUS-25-00010

Location: III Main Office

About the Organization:

Hour Children is a leading provider of services to incarcerated and formerly incarcerated women in New York State. Focused on women and their children, we support families during a mother's incarceration and help families get back on their feet upon release. We do this by providing housing, childcare, job training, and mental health services.