(Permanent, Part time)
Reports To: Resource Center Manager
Position Summary:
The Family Advocate provides individualized guidance, information, resources, and support to assist individuals and families in meeting their basic needs and their long term goals. The Family Advocate puts into practice and promotes the Principles of Family Support in all interactions on behalf of the organization. All staff embrace the values of empowering others, building community, maintaining high quality, and advancing social and racial justice.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities:
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each of these essential duties at a satisfactory level. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
Serve as an advocate, providing families with information and resources in order to empower, encourage, and strengthen them.
Interact with families as a partner, providing support, and building their capacity to navigate systems and to make use of all available resources.
Assess needs and develop individualized, strength-based plans in the areas of housing, education, employment, parenting, mental health, life skills, etc. as needed.
Respond to emerging needs and crises and follow up with participants as needed.
Maintain clear, professional, timely participant contact notes, updates, participant surveys, and other required documentation and data entry.
Participate in developing and implementing programs based on identified needs.
Do outreach to and maintain collaborative relationships with community providers and social service agencies.
Provide collaboration with and mentoring to the staff in order to increase the capacity to provide support and information to families.
Attend FamilyWorks staff meetings and events as needed.
Maintain confidentiality of all information and records.
Provide support for the teen parent program.
Other duties as needed
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:
Must have excellent communication skills—both oral and written.
Must have a working understanding of family and adult development, conflict resolution skills, and family support principles.
Must be able to relate to persons from diverse ethnic and economic backgrounds.
Must be self directed, reliable, and sensitive to the needs of others.
Must have experience in group facilitation and training.
Must have strong leadership and organizational skills.
Must have computer skills–strong working knowledge and experience with MS Windows, Outlook, access data bases, etc.
May be asked to work occasional evening or weekend hours for the purposes of education and outreach.
Must have strong knowledge and understanding of community resources, services, and assistance programs and the skills to successfully connect families with appropriate agencies, services, and personnel.
Must have a valid Washington State driver’s license, insurance, and access to a vehicle.
Spanish language ability is a plus
Education / Experience:
B.A. in a human service related field plus 5 years experience working in child and family services or a Master’s degree with one year of experience, or equivalent.
Physical Demands / Work Environment
The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
Works closely with a variety of individuals and families on a daily basis including participants with mental illness and/or disabilities
Most work is done sitting at desk
Ability to work occasional evening hours
Hours and Compensation:
Permanent, part time position
13-15 hours per week—must be able to work 9-5 on Thursdays and 9-3 on Fridays and one Wednesday evening a month
Paid holidays and accrual of personal leave
$21.00 per hour
How to apply
TO APPLY:
Applicants must complete a FamilyWorks application and submit it with a cover letter and resume. Applications can be found on our website: familyworksseattle.org or via email: shirleyf@familyworksseattle.org. We are located at 1501 North 45th St, Seattle, WA 98103. If you have a question: 206-694-6727
CLOSING DATE: Monday, August 31st @ 3:00PM
PEOPLE OF COLOR AND PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES ARE STRONGLY ENCOURAGED TO APPLY. FAMILYWORKS IS AN AFFIRMATIVE ACTION/EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER.