JOB TITLE: Family Advocate

Department: Family Care Team

Job Status: Active

FLSA Status: Non-exempt

Reports To: Director of Family Advocacy

Grade/Level: Caseworker

Amount of Travel Required: up to 20% travel time required

Job Type: Part Time, Hourly

Positions Supervised: None

Work Schedule: 20 hours, Monday-Friday (with varied evening/weekend hours)

Position Summary: The Family Advocate provides comprehensive case management services, therapeutic intervention, and community advocacy for families in need, ensuring that FIVE18 delivers the necessary resources to support and strengthen family units. The purpose of this position is to enhance the well-being and stability of all families with primary relationship to a child by linking them to appropriate services and resources. This individual will communicate effectively with colleagues and consumers to create and cultivate a positive impression of FIVE18, striving to present a culture of hospitality and competence.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

Reasonable Accommodations Statement: To accomplish this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform, with or without reasonable accommodation, each essential function satisfactorily. Reasonable accommodations may be made to help enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

*Service Coordination and Direct Support

Coordinate services for and provide direct support to families, ensuring comprehensive and continuous access to necessary resources.

Minimize fragmentation of care, reduce barriers, and link families with appropriate services.

Provide direct support to families, including goal setting and assisting them in skill growth and accessing benefits and services to achieve their goals.

Facilitate and support family caregiver support groups.

*Case Management and Documentation

Execute timely case management and maintain accurate documentation.

Respond to new referrals within 2 business days and follow a level-based contact schedule for established clients.

Maintain daily case records and prepare requested documentation promptly.

Contribute to regular outcome measures reports demonstrating the effectiveness of services provided

*Promote awareness of Family Care Services

Contribute to direct and indirect marketing to promote awareness of FIVE18 services.

Connect with families through the website, direct referrals, and community outreach.

Facilitate and maintain an online resource directory to assist families in accessing local, state, and federal resources.

*Participate in and occasionally lead various meetings and training.

Attend TBRI training and advance through the Trauma Informed Care training.

Attend team meetings and participate in consultative supervision routinely.

Lead training at regular support group meetings.

*Create and cultivate a positive impression of Family Care and FIVE18 programming in all communication modalities and context, striving to present a culture of hospitality and competence. Produce accurate, timely, consistent, thorough, and concise efforts.

Non-Essential Functions:

Other administrative duties as necessary or assigned

Other hospitality and/or housekeeping duties as necessary or assigned

Other tasks as needed to support the overall mission and operations of FIVE18

Deliverables:

Maintain a caseload of 2.5 units/hour of work.

Lead at least 1 training session quarterly.

Maintain favorable, proactive relationships with local DSS agencies.

Achieve Teaching Family Model Lighthouse Certification within 1 year of hire.

Provide support to at least 30 families annually.

Produce accurate, timely, ongoing documentation and contribute to quarterly reports indicating high-quality services rendered.

Be aware of and appropriately share upcoming events and training opportunities.

Participate as an active and collaborative member of the Family Care team.

Work Contacts/Employees Supervised:

Communicates with:

Colleagues, volunteers, and varied community stakeholders - collaborating with other team members and interacting with client families and volunteers on a daily basis

Immediate supervisor, reviewing activity via email and personal meetings

Peers and managers in other programs, as well as program directors and chief officers as necessary for effective program implementation

Direct Supervision Over:

N/A

Decision Making Authority:

This position will be responsible for the successful coordination, training, and support of services provided to families, impacting all Family Care services, and thus uses a MODERATE level of decision-making authority.

POSITION QUALIFICATIONS

Knowledge of:

Best practices in child welfare

State and federal agencies/regulations/laws pertaining to child welfare

Virginia LCPA licensing standards (required after hire)

Teaching Family Model (required after hire)

Trauma-informed modalities of care (preferred upon hire)

Job Competencies:

Upon hire, the Family Advocate must:

Be committed to diversity

Be passionate about this work

Exhibit discernment, empathy, and compassion

Work well with others

After hire, the Family Advocate must:

Commit to the Mission and Vision of FIVE18

Tools and Equipment Used:

Computer, Telephone, Scanner

Copier, Printer, Vehicle

Education & Experience:

1. Bachelor’s degree in social work or related field (preferred) - with minimum of 1 year of related experience
2. Associate’s degree in social work or related field - with minimum of 2 years of casework and related experience
3. High School degree - with minimum of 5 years of related experience

Experience Defined: Providing case work services to children and/or families, working on an interdisciplinary team, providing direct trauma-informed care to children and/or families.

Technology Skills: Competency with using computers, scanners, copiers, fax machines, and telephones; proficiency preferred in Google suites, Extended Reach

Certification & Licenses: Virginia Notary Public Commission (preferred)

Other Requirements:

Knowledge of child development and trauma-informed modalities of care.

Demonstrated ability to come alongside with a family who is distressed and assist them in navigating resources/processes to provide adequate support for their family to thrive.

Authentic passion for working with a team to collectively effect change in families.

Must have a valid driver’s license and an acceptable driving record, with safe and reliable transportation for work related purposes.