Family Advocate

**Job description**

Family Advocate

**Title**:Family Advocate
**Reports to**:Program Director
**Status**:Full-time
**Work Schedule**:M-F, 9:00 am to 5:00 pm, some evenings and weekends may be required

**Salary**:$45,000

**job summary**
The family advocate will provide support to the families and children of justice involved women who are detained at Rose M. Singer Center and serve as a bridge between the families and the various systems involved, offering advocacy, education, and support under the supervision of the Director of the Visiting and Family Assistance Program.

**Duties and Responsibilities**:

- Complete Family Intake Forms with all families that would like assistance and assess their needs
- Coordinate assistance to the families and children which may include provision of basic needs such as food, clothing, shelter, crisis intervention, information and/or referrals
- Provide emotional and practical support to the caregivers in the communities, including navigating community supports, public assistance appointments, and other social services as needed
- Accompany caregivers to family court appearances and child welfare meetings
- Establish collaborative working relationships with referring agencies and other community based organizations
- In collaboration with the social workers, assist with the development of family service plans and identification in gap of services
- Maintain appropriate client information and documentation in electronic databases and hard files, and submit accurate data on regular basis
- Attend internal staff meetings, trainings, and supervision, as well as related external meetings and trainings with resource partners
- Perform additional department or agency related duties or special projects as directed by supervisor

**Specifications for Physical Requirements (as applicable)**:

- Ability to travel across the five boroughs and to the Rose M. Singer Center on Rikers Island

**Qualifications and Requirements**:

- Associate’s Degree with 1-3 years relevant work experience

OR
- High School Diploma/GED with 3+ years relevant work experience

AND
- Lived experience with criminal justice, child welfare and/or family court systems
- Have successfully reunified with child or youth for at least one year or exited the child welfare system for at least one year
- Knowledge of court system and process
- A demonstrated commitment to parents’ rights and social justice
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills
- Must have the ability to provide effective services and produce accurate written documents in a timely fashion
- Must be able to work with people from diverse backgrounds in a culturally
- inclusive manner
- Must be able to work independently and as part of team
- Must be able to have solid, productive boundaries
- Computer and technical skills, specifically Microsoft Office programs
- Spanish language fluency is preferred
- We are an organization that is choosing to require all our employees be fully vaccinated against COVID-19

**Job Types**: Full-time, Part-time

Pay: $45,000.00 per year

**Benefits**:

- 401(k)
- 401(k) matching
- Dental insurance
- Employee assistance program
- Flexible schedule
- Flexible spending account
- Health insurance
- Life insurance
- Paid time off
- Retirement plan
- Vision insurance

Schedule:

- 8 hour shift
- Day shift
- Weekends as needed

Work Location: In person