Family Advocate/Family Support Specialist at Puget Sound Educational Service District (PSESD) – Orting, Washington

Purpose Statement

Puget Sound Educational Service District seeks a dynamic, highly skilled Family Advocate/Family Support Specialist for the purpose of enrolling Latinx and all families in program, enlisting parental involvement in a variety of workshops, parenting classes, and engagements for families and youth; working with parents and youth in identifying and achieving goals; accessing support services; creating training programs; and facilitating positive parent, school and student relationships.

This is a school-scheduled position, initially set at 20 hours per week, with the possibility of extension depending on funding availability. The position may be extended to 40 hours per week following the school schedule.

The candidate will support the Orting School District and be based at the Orting Family Resource Center.

This job reports to Assigned Administrator.

Essential Functions

• Administers program standards for the purpose of ensuring program eligibility and compliance with mandated regulations.
• Assesses family and youth needs for the purpose of determining eligibility and/or developing an action plan to remove barriers.
• Assists parents in a variety of areas for the purpose of developing an action plan to remove barriers to youth's success in school and supporting the family.
• Maintains a variety of manual and electronic documents, files and records for the purpose of providing required information and/or documentation.
• Orients prospective participants for the purpose of establishing familiarity with program, services, and required processes.
• Participates in workshops, meetings, community events, etc. for the purpose of receiving and/or presenting information.
• Plans and facilitates family meetings and parent involvement events for the purpose of providing for family support needs.
• Provides outreach to Latinx communities as well as Orting community and within the school district, by establishing trust and a variety of resources for Latinx and Orting residents, developing resources, and building partnerships with community members.
• Supports and plans the Parent Leadership committee, Asociacion de padres Latinos del Condado de Este de Pierce.
• Recruits and enroll families for the purpose of maintaining enrollment and serving families most in need of services.
• Reports suspected incidents (e.g. physical, sexual and/or substance abuse, contagious diseases, etc.) to appropriate parties for the purpose of maintaining students’ personal health and safety and adhering to Education Code, district and/or school policies.
• Visits families' homes for the purpose of 1:1 meetings, informing parents/students of school and/or community resources and providing school, community and child development and parenting information.

Other Functions

SKILLS are required to perform multiple tasks for the direct service support at the Orting Family Resource Center, family and school engagements and collaborations with community and schools.

KNOWLEDGE is required to perform basic math, including calculations using fractions, percents, and/or ratios; read a variety of manuals, write documents following prescribed formats, and/or present information to others; and understand complex, multi-step written and oral instructions.

ABILITY is required to schedule activities and/or meetings; gather, collate, and/or classify data; and use basic, job- related equipment. Flexibility is required to work with others in a wide variety of circumstances; work with data utilizing defined and similar processes; and operate equipment using defined methods. Ability is also required to work with a wide diversity of individuals; work with similar types of data; and utilize specific, job-related equipment. Some problem solving may be required to identify issues and select action plans.

JOB-SPECIFIC COMPETENCIES

COMMUNITY AND FAMILY ENGAGEMENT: Demonstrates knowledge and expertise related to engaging with stakeholders, including children, families and communities, to promote wellness, culture, and self-sufficiency.

COURAGEOUS CONVERSATIONS: Engages in uncomfortable or difficult conversations to explore others’ views in order to gain a shared understanding.

PERSISTENCE AND RESILIENCE: Steadily working toward Agency goals and remaining encouraged while navigating challenges and obstacles. Ability to stay engaged and present during difficulties and demonstrates capacity to effectively work through challenges.

PLANNING, ORGANIZATION, AND PRIORITIZATION: Assesses the work to be performed, and considers how it should be organized and accomplished, with appropriate priorities and realistic time parameters.

RECORDKEEPING AND DOCUMENTATION: Gathers, organizes, and maintains records, following confidential information and security protocols as needed. Accurately documents relevant/essential actions, processes, and practices.

Responsibility

Responsibilities include working under limited supervision following standardized practices and/or methods; providing information and/or advising others; operating within a defined budget. There are some opportunity to affect the organization’s services.

Work Environment

The usual and customary methods of performing the job's functions require the following physical demands: some lifting, carrying, pushing, and/or pulling, frequent stooping, kneeling, crouching, and/or crawling and significant fine finger dexterity. Generally, the job requires 50% sitting, 25% walking, and 25% standing. The job is performed under minimal temperature variations and under conditions with some exposure to risk of injury and/or illness.

• Professional experience working directly with youth and families in educational or community-based settings.
• Community college and/or vocational school degree with progressively responsible experience in job related areas, OR Associate (AA) degree in any field with progressively responsible experience in job related area OR High School Diploma/GED with progressively responsible experience in job related areas.
• Bilingual proficiency in English and Spanish.
• Hands on experience in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, Outlook, and PowerPoint) for documentation, communication, and reporting.
• CPR/First Aid Certificate within 60 days of hire.

• Directly working experience with students from K-12.
• Experience engaging diverse families especially Latinx families and supporting culturally responsive family involvement initiatives.
• Familiarity in managing program budgets, including expense tracking and reporting.
• Experience in event coordination skills, including planning, organizing, and facilitating family, youth, and community engagement activities.
• Proficiency in data entry and reporting using MCR or similar systems, with attention to accuracy and confidentiality.
• Experience identifying and bridging gaps between families and schools.