Child Advocate Case Manager

Type: Regular, Full-Time Benefit Eligible, M-F, 8:30am - 5:00pm

FLSA: Non-Exempt

Location: Fresno

Pay Rate: $23.00 – $32.20/hourly (Depending on experience)

Reports to: Child Advocate Program Manager

SUMMARY: The Child Advocate Case Manager is responsible for working as part of a Children’s Services team. The Children’s Services team provides support and resources to children exposed to domestic violence whose parent is receiving services through any of the MMC Programs: residential shelters, the Family Stabilization Program, Housing programs, and Community. The Child Advocate Case Manager will develop individualized child case management plans with agency families, under the supervision of the Children’s Services Program Manager (CSPM) and in conjunction with Case Managers, focusing on early intervention. The individualized child case management plans may include, but are not limited to: developmental assessments, internal and external referrals, planning and implementation of activities, parent support, and other supports based on the individualized needs of the child, child-parent duo, and whole family. Other duties may include, but are not limited to: data tracking for MMC and funding purposes, supporting the Child Advocates in the Enrichment Center, providing support and educational groups as assigned, and other duties as assigned by management staff. This position may be required to serve at any (or multiple) MMC locations and programs.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES include the following:

Under the direction of the Child Advocate Program Manager, the Child Advocate Case Manager will contribute to the service delivery in the following ways.

• Design and implement activities focusing on educational, social-emotional, and developmental needs of children at a variety of developmental stages.
• Assist parents and facilitate parent/child interaction activities and/or groups.
• Provide children’s case management, through the Child Advocacy program (at the direction of the CSPM and in conjunction with Case Managers) to families connected to internal MMC programs, focusing on Intervention, positive family engagement, and resiliency.
• Child case management may include, but is not limited to: assessing the needs of the child/family, creating and implementing a plan of care, parent-child bonding activities, parent support and coaching, child observations, internal and external referrals, and child development activities.
• Provide in-home based Case Management services in order to provide those families residing in their own home with the continued support and interventions needed, and with the continued focus of increasing child resiliency and positive family engagement.
• Collaborate with internal departments and Manager in order to communicate and document observed behaviors, needs, and progress of participating children.
• Complete ASQ’s with parents, track completions of ASQs, provide feedback to parent regarding results, and ensure that MMC and the parent have documentation of the child’s development status and progress.
• Will be central to the design and planning of key events that are held on a monthly to yearly basis- in conjunction with Program Manager.
• Per agency and granting requirements: Prepare and maintain client’s records and documentation, update client files as needed, and ensure documentation of services on agency database (Apricot).
• Provide Nurturing Parenting education classes (per curriculum), "Kid’s Group", and other support and educational groups, as assigned.
• Assist Child Advocate staff with daily procedures, child sign-in and wellness checks, activity set-up/clean-up, supervision of children, and parent interaction, as assigned by Manager.
• Practice communication and behaviors that incorporate a trauma-informed perspective, as well as an appreciation for and responsiveness to individual differences.
• Promote practices of personal cleanliness, self-care, professionalism, and teamwork.
• Perform duties that are required of a Mandated Reporter of Suspected Child Abuse.
• Attend and actively participate in all in-service trainings, as well as other trainings, as directed by the CSPM.
• Adhere to MMC policies and procedures, as well as CEC guidelines.
• Safeguard assets of the MMC and clients.
• Safeguard client security and confidentiality.
• Work as a member of a team to support the agency’s mission, goals, and core values.
• Aid team members in quality operation of the service site, filling in to address direct service needs or other needs when necessary. Which may include assisting in other departments and duties outside the FSS II job description.
• May require the use of own vehicle when agency van is not available.
• Participate in active 1:1's with Children’s Program Manager.
• Will attend agency meetings, site meetings, and team meetings as scheduled.
• Ensure that active communication is continuously taking place with direct Manager; in order to aide in the continued support of professional growth; in addition to maintaining and reporting on overall programmatic outcomes.
• Contribute to the ideas of future and strategic planning of the Children’s department and services offered.
• Regular attendance and promptness are considered part of each employee’s essential job functions.

NOTE: The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by people assigned to this job. They are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, and requirements, which may change from time to time based on business needs. Employees will be required to follow any other job-related instructions and to perform other duties requested by their supervisor in compliance with federal and state laws. When appropriate, reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the job, so long as those accommodations do not create an undue hardship for the agency.

The Marjaree Mason Center is 24/7 operation and all employees, at any point of time, may be asked to perform other work duties from those normally assigned such as working in our emergency services.

QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS: To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the additional knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE:

• Must have Bachelor’s Degree in Child Development, Family Science, or closely related field.
• One to two years’ experience in child care setting and/or courses in child development.
• One to two years’ experience and training working in a shelter environment preferred.
• Case management or curriculum development experience preferred.
• Customer service and problem-solving skills essential.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS:

• Ability to effectively communicate in English.
• Ability to read and interpret and comprehend documents such as safety rules, operating and maintenance instructions, and procedure manuals.
• Ability to be adaptable (open to feedback, change, and new ideas)- as well as the flexibility of job tasks within a team format.
• Ability to speak effectively before groups or organizations.
• Bilingual is a plus (Spanish, Hmong, Punjabi etc)
• The ability to work in a fast paced, high volume, trauma setting with those children and families that have been impacted by Domestic Violence.
• Ability to write routine reports and correspondence.
• Ability to speak effectively with clients or employees of agency.
• Ability to drive or arrange transportation between and among multiple sites.
• Ability to adapt to the environment, to solve practical problems, to deal with a variety of multiple variables in situations where only limited standardization exists and to make independent decisions within scope of responsibility.
• Knowledge of Apricot Client Management System is a plus
• Ability to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, diagram, or schedule form.
• Ability to adapt to the environment, to solve practical problems, to deal with a variety of multiple variables in situations where only limited standardization exists and to make independent decisions within scope of responsibility.
• Ability to understand the needs of families and children and a willingness to address their concerns with action designed to create change; sensitivity to issues pertaining to domestic violence.

CERTIFICATES, LICENSES, REGISTRATIONS:

• Require possession of a valid California driver's license and proof of liability insurance.
• Must be insurable at all times at standard rate set by MMC insurance carrier.
• Must pass a tuberculosis, drug, and fingerprinting test.
• Adult, Infant, Child, CPR and First Aid preferred.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS: The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit; use hands to finger, handle, or feel objects; talk or hear; stand; walk; reach with hands; arms and keyboarding.
• The employee is occasionally required to sit, stoop, kneel, or crouch; and smell.
• The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds.
• Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.

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.

• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is occasionally exposed to fumes and toxic or caustic chemicals.
• The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.
• There may be occasional exposure to pathogens that require an understanding of universal precaution.

OTHER SKILLS and ABILITIES:

• Demonstrated ability to work with sensitivity and without discrimination towards peoples of diverse cultures, races/ethnicities, socio/economic positions, ages, religions, genders, physical/mental challenges/disabilities and sexual orientations.
• Sensitivity to issues pertaining to domestic violence.

The Marjaree Mason Center, Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer. It is our policy to make all personnel decisions without discrimination on the basis of race, color, creed, religion, sex, physical disability, mental disability, age, marital status, sexual orientation, citizenship status, national or ethnic origin, and any other protected status.