Address
Form of workTITLE: Family Advocate Worker
DEPARTMENT: Family & Youth Services
SUPERVISOR: Center Program Manager
LOCATION: Family Focus - Lawndale
Job Summary: The Family Focus Advocacy Centers are community based comprehensive programs funded by the Department of Children and Family Services to provide holistic services for vulnerable children and their families. The programs operate by working with and supporting families in the community who are having difficulty parenting and may be at risk of having their children removed; foster families with a goal of reunification; and community members in need of other forms of assistance.
Responsibilities and Duties:
Responsibilities and Duties:
- Assist in planning and implementation of all program components related to Family Advocacy Center Support.
- Establish a trusting relationship with all family members.
- Provide home and/or site visits to participants.
- Intake and assessment of families
- Develop Individual Family Support Plans with all families.
- Accompany participants to identified service providers.
- Conduct and co-facilitate group services, parent education classes
- Develop and maintain close working relationships with case managers and other professionals.
- Advocate and refer families to internal and external community- based organizations for services.
- Conduct a variety of outreach activities to engage and recruit families into program services.
- Present Center services, outcomes and projections at local agencies and in community committee meetings to build and enhance collaborating partnerships
- Assist in developing collaborative relationships with community-based agencies and develop formal agreements with other community-based agencies to offer beneficial services to FAC families.
- Attend monthly meetings with other FAC Staff to share pertinent program information.
- Maintain confidentiality and ethical standards of practice with families and coworkers.
- Function as one of many team members working to support identified families.
Education and Experience:
- Bachelor’s degree in a human service field and a minimum of 2 years of experience working in a strengths-based capacity with family, children or youth.
- Knowledge and skill in working with families in crisis or in sensitive situations.
- Knowledge of DCFS policies and procedures as well as experience working with DCFS-involved families.
- Ability to communicate clearly with participants, staff and key stakeholders.
- Proficient in Excel and Microsoft Office.
- Ability to use SPSS, Survey Monkey and other data analysis tools.
- Sensitive to diverse cultures and populations.
- Must have access to transportation.
- Work related travel required. Some evenings and occasional weekends required.
This is a full time exempt position.
Salary: $46,800/year
Equal Opportunity Employer
Family Focus is an Equal Opportunity Employer that invests in strengthening families and their children in Chicago and NE Illinois, so they build social capital and achieve upward economic mobility through high-quality innovative programs and services, grounded in anti-racism and social justice.
FF provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, ancestry, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, marital status, religion, age, disability, gender identity, results of genetic testing, or service in the military. Equal employment opportunity applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leave of absence, compensation, and training.
