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Direct Service Family Advocate
This position has a requirement that you live within a 30 minute drive of our office location in Sonora, California.
Full Time: 32 hrs.
Salary/Wage Range: $31.49 – 37.06
Benefits: Sick time, Personal Time Off, Holidays, Health Benefits for employee and Simple IRA match. Holidays and sick time paid upon hire, remaining benefits begin the first of the month following sixty days of employment.
General Description of Job
Under the direct supervision of the Advocacy Coordinator the Family Advocate is responsible for supporting families who are survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, and or human trafficking. This includes developing and implementing family goals that meet the needs of each youth within the family unit. The Family Advocate is a mandated reporter and must adhere to all laws pertaining to that responsibility. This position is responsible for developing and implementing a comprehensive youth program for the emergency and transitional shelters that CNVC operates. This position is the designated staff member that all youth will consistently look to for support that will be tailored to each family’s individual needs. This position will provide services in group and individual settings. This position must be willing to provide services from a place of cultural curiosity in order to provide services that are culturally competent.
This position provides direct services to domestic violence and sexual assault clients at the shelters or at the main office as required. These may include crisis line coverage, emergency response, peer counseling, advocacy or court accompaniment.
This position requires a willingness to work flexible hours, including some weekends, early morning, and evening hours. All employment is dependent upon grant funding and can be terminated dependent upon funding, county, state, and federal budgets.
Example of Program Duties
➢Provides emergency shelter intake, crisis intervention, assessments of parents and children, and peer counseling
➢Creates and provides age/ability appropriate trauma reduction activities. Examples are:
Facilitating and modeling healthy parent/child relationships through parent training/education in real life settings. This could be preparing meals with the families, going on outings in the community or collaborating with the development of healthy daily care routines.
➢Create weekly activity schedules for youth. Examples of classes and events scheduled weekly could include:
Interactive learning activities: gardening, cooking, art, music, outdoor play, and community outings.
➢Provide age and ability appropriate skill building and educational support.
➢Provide advocacy for children in schools, Child Welfare Services, Courts, etc.
➢Provide referrals and obtain resources necessary for the child to thrive.
Support case management plans in collaboration with Advocates to meet the needs of family members; may include safety, education, job training, housing, medical, psychological, and legal needs.
➢Conduct observations and assessment of youth in collaboration with parents and advocates.
➢Develop individual case management plans based on the information learned in observations and assessments that are appropriate for each youth in the family unit.
➢Facilitate children’s school enrollment and provide safe transportation as needed with agency vehicle.
➢Become familiar with laws and regulations pertaining to youth in educational settings and who are unsheltered. Use this information to advocate on behalf of survivors.
▪Example: McKinny-Vento Homeless Assistance Act
➢Implement trauma-informed programming focused on emotional regulation, coping skills, and resilience.
➢Must be willing to engage in courageous conversations with parents regarding immediate health and safety concerns regarding youth in adherence with CNVC’s philosophy regarding delivery of services.
➢Educate youth about domestic violence, personal safety and identification of feelings and needs at age/ability appropriate levels.
➢Model healthy communication skills and appropriate ways to express feelings.
➢Offer support and non-judgmental interaction through a non-biased and trauma informed lens.
➢Assist families with extracurricular activities depending on youth’s interests:
▪Dance, music, sports, etc.
➢Initial set up and maintenance of designated youth space.
➢Maintain inventory of necessary items for this space and care for the indoor and outdoor cleanliness.
General Duties
➢Conduct accurate data collection, documentation, and reporting
➢Participate in staff meetings, committees, trainings, education, and conferences.
➢Participate in Volunteer and Guardian Council meetings as requested.
➢Participate in fundraising activities as requested
➢Participate in Crisis Intervention Training as requested
➢Commitment to contributing to the operation and growth of the agency by taking on administrative/operational tasks and providing leadership as appropriate
➢Provide transportation for children and parents as required to meet mental health, physical health, economic, legal, educational needs.
General Qualifications
➢A minimum of two years’ experience working with children in an institutional setting (school, day care, recreation, church, etc)
➢A minimum of 24 units of early childhood development preferred (work experience can supplement units)
➢Working knowledge of software programs including Word, Excel, Access, Publisher preferred
➢Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, oral and written including:
ability to listen to make a difference instead of listening to defend or blame,
clearly state feelings and needs, and requests in I statements,
express disagreement in observation language,
➢Compose written documents that are grammatically accurate and spell checked.
➢Commitment to creating/maintaining a work environment that reflects the agency’s mission, values and philosophy.
➢ Commitment to the agency’s efforts to be inclusive and make the services accessible and welcoming to all people.
➢ Commitment to one’s own personal growth as key to working responsibly and effectively with others.
➢ Appreciation of the agency’s philosophical understanding regarding non-violence, oppression, and empowerment within a Feminist context
Requirements
➢ Reliable transportation, a valid California Driver’s License, Proof of Auto Insurance, and a current DMV printout, if requested
➢ Pass Department of Justice background check
➢ Pass TB test and other required immunizations, at the expense of CNVC if working directly with children or adults.
➢ Complete a minimum of 12 hours of CNVC approved communication/personal growth training. Non-Violent Communication skills training is preferred.
➢ Complete Sexual Assault & Domestic Violence Crisis Intervention Training.
➢ Demonstrable experience in good judgment when making decisions
➢ Ability to take initiative and use creativity and resourcefulness to solve problems
➢ Ability to balance autonomy, accountability, and collaboration within a team framework.
➢ Ability to collaborate with others, including ability to effectively and respectfully give and receive feedback.
➢ Ability to work in a collaborative fashion with a diverse population, staff, volunteers, Guardian Council, clients, community members, and community organizations.
➢ The work environment is in residential program settings. Local driving is required to various agency sites. Must be able to lift and carry 25 lb occasionally. Extend both arms above the head and /or reach below the waist, stoop, squat, crawl, bend the back to retrieve items, climb stairs. Must be able to sit and get up on one’s own from the floor/ground to engage with youth. Employees may also need to remain in one position (i.e. sitting or standing) for an extended period while completing work tasks.
Benefits:
- 401(k)
- Dental insurance
- Health insurance
- Paid time off
- Vision insurance
Education:
- Associate (Preferred)
Language:
- Spanish Speaking (Preferred)
Work Location: In person
