EMP Family Advocate in White Bear Lake, Minnesota at " Metropolitan Alliance of Connected Communities"

Title: EMP Family Advocate
Job Category: Health/ Human Services
Requisition Number: EMPFA002260
Job Type: Full-Time
White Bear Lake, MN, 55117, United States

Description

Who We Are

Solid Ground (SG) is an award-winning nonprofit organization whose proven, holistic approach helps families build the strong foundations they need to emerge from homelessness into a brighter future. Through safe, affordable housing and innovative supportive programming, Solid Ground helps families transition to a higher-level of self-sufficiency and break the cycle of homelessness and poverty for the next generation.

Why You’ll Love Working Here

At the heart of Solid Ground is the belief that housing stability is fundamental to the healthy development of children and to a family’s ability to be contributing members of the community. Solid Ground currently runs eight programs in suburban Ramsey and Washington Counties and housing over 660 individuals annually. Our mission is to prevent and end homelessness for families with children in the communities we serve through housing, resources, and opportunity.

Wages

$23.00 - $25.00 per hour depending on qualifications and level of experience

Benefits

• Paid vacation and sick time
• 12 paid holidays
• Competitive health, dental, and vision insurance
• Health Savings Account (HSA) and options for Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA)
• Long-term disability insurance – the employer pays the premiums
• Employer-paid basic life insurance with the option for additional coverage paid by the employee
• Voluntary benefits: Accident, hospital indemnity, critical illness, short-term disability insurance
• SG sponsors a retirement plan with automatic enrollment at 3% and a 3% employer match after one year of service, plus immediate vesting.

Because Solid Ground is a member with Metropolitan Alliance of Connected Communities (MACC) who partners with St. Mary’s University, Solid Ground employees and their spouses are also eligible for the following benefits at St. Mary’s University:

• Discounted tuition for Bachelor’s, Master’s, and Doctorate programs
• Professional development opportunities
• Access to advancement (internships, job placement, field practice)

Job Summary

Solid Ground is hiring an EMP Family Advocate to conduct in-depth Family Assessments for families entering our East Metro Place (EMP) transitional housing program. Family Advocates will work with parents to develop individualized goal plans to support families with housing and economic stability.

Responsibilities

• Commit to the Housing First philosophy, including meeting families where they are at and working to address their barriers to stability.
• Provide intensive, supportive services and community referrals to give families the necessary resources and skills to achieve self-reliance, housing stability, and their self-identified goals.
• Attempt to meet with participants at a minimum of once per week (including in-home visits at least monthly) to assist them in developing and achieving goals and to provide ongoing support through resources and encouragement.
• Develop an individualized goal plan for each family within 60 days of the participant's entry into the program.
• Comply with mandated reporting standards and responsibilities.
• Encourage and support participants in attending the various services Solid Ground offers for their participants, such as budgeting, tenant training, job searching, DBT groups, etc.
• Assist in providing social, recreational, and educational activities for participants and their children.
• Collaborate with Child and Youth Advocates to help children and youth achieve their goals.
• Manage client assistance funding for each family, ensuring spending is allowable and within budget.
• Partner with property management as needed to promote housing stability and success.
• Provide support during site based and client related crises, including de-escalating residents when needed.
• Coordinate and document all work done on behalf of participants to maintain accurate progress and recordkeeping for participants, agencies, and funders.
• Work with participants to develop clear goal plans and financial evaluations once every six months and document all progress and changes.

What You Bring

• A bachelor's degree in human services, social work or a related field, plus at least one year of experience in a social service advocacy position; or you have a combination of education and experience providing equivalent knowledge.
• An LSW or MSW is preferred but not required.
• Previous experience working with underserved communities and families experiencing behavioral and/or mental health issues, chemical dependency/substance abuse, homelessness, and/or other barriers that affect participants.
• Strong skills in crisis intervention and trauma informed care.
• Excellent skills in motivational interviewing with the ability to learn and apply knowledge.
• A demonstrated understanding and commitment to the 'Housing First' philosophy and Trauma Informed practices.
• A valid driver’s license, access to reliable transportation, and the ability to meet Solid Ground’s driving record requirements. Please note that if the license was not issued in the state of Minnesota, you have 60 days after becoming a Minnesota resident in which to apply for your Minnesota driver's license or permit.

Diversity and open expression are fundamental to the work of Solid Ground. We are passionate about building and sustaining an inclusive and equitable working environment where everyone can belong. Every member of our team enriches our work by exposing us to a broad range of ways to understand and engage with the world, identify challenges, and to discover, design, and deliver solutions. We welcome everyone to apply, especially those individuals who are underrepresented in our sector: individuals who identify as BIPOC, Indigenous or people of culture, LGBTQI+ and gender fluid or gender nonconforming, individuals with disabilities (both seen and unseen), veterans, people of any age or family status. We value the contributions of a diverse workforce, and we welcome and encourage applications from all underrepresented groups. We encourage you to apply even if you feel like you don't fit 100% of the technical requirements.

Equal Opportunity Employer: All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, creed, ancestry, religion, national origin, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, familial status, disability, age, marital status, membership or activity in a local human rights commission, status with regard to public assistance, criminal history (justice-impacted status), housing or homelessness status, height, or weight.

Our organization has a partnership with Metropolitan Alliance of Connected Communities (MACC) to provide administrative services including management of the hiring process. If you apply for this position, you may see references to MACC in some online materials.

Solid Ground participates in E-Verify and will provide the federal government with your Form I-9 information to confirm that you are authorized to work in the U.S. See E-Verify’s official poster at https://e-verify.uscis.gov/web/media/resourcesContents/E-Verify_Participation_Poster_ES.pdf. See E-Verify’s Right to Work poster at https://www.e-verify.gov/sites/default/files/everify/posters/IER_RightToWorkPoster%20Eng_Es.pdf.

Equal Opportunity Employer
This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws. For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor.