Family Advocate I

FIVE18 Family Services Operations Inc.•Forest, VA

About The Position

Are you looking for a career where you can make a difference? Are you looking for work that is relation-focused and not just a daily grind? We are looking for someone who is interested in coming alongside parents and caregivers to help strengthen their families. At FIVE18 Family Advocates guide their clients to resources, offer an ongoing connection and presence, and teach skills to equip. Does this sound like something that you would like to jump into? Then we would like to talk with you! The Family Advocate provides comprehensive case management services, therapeutic intervention, and community advocacy for families in need, ensuring that FIVE18 delivers the necessary resources to support and strengthen family units. The purpose of this position is to enhance the well-being and stability of all families with primary relationship to a child by linking them to appropriate services and resources. This individual will communicate effectively with colleagues and consumers to create and cultivate a positive impression of FIVE18, striving to present a culture of hospitality and competence.

Requirements

Knowledge of best practices in child welfare
Knowledge of state and federal agencies/regulations/laws pertaining to child welfare
Virginia LCPA licensing standards (required after hire)
Teaching Family Model (required after hire)
Be committed to diversity
Be passionate about this work
Exhibit discernment, empathy, and compassion
Work well with others
Commit to the Mission and Vision of FIVE18
Bachelor’s degree in social work or related field (preferred) - with minimum of 1 year of related experience
Associate’s degree in social work or related field - with minimum of 2 years of casework and related experience
High School degree - with minimum of 5 years of related experience
Experience Defined: Providing case work services to children and/or families, working on an interdisciplinary team, providing direct trauma-informed care to children and/or families.
Competency with using computers, scanners, copiers, fax machines, and telephones; proficiency preferred in Google suites, Extended Reach
Must have a valid driver’s license and an acceptable driving record, with safe and reliable transportation for work related purposes.

Nice To Haves

Trauma-informed modalities of care (preferred upon hire)
Virginia Notary Public Commission (preferred)
Knowledge of child development and trauma-informed modalities of care.
Demonstrated ability to come alongside with a family who is distressed and assist them in navigating resources/processes to provide adequate support for their family to thrive.
Authentic passion for working with a team to collectively effect change in families.

Responsibilities

Coordinate services for and provide direct support to families, ensuring comprehensive and continuous access to necessary resources.
Minimize fragmentation of care, reduce barriers, and link families with appropriate services.
Provide direct support to families, including goal setting and assisting them in skill growth and accessing benefits and services to achieve their goals.
Facilitate and support family caregiver support groups.
Execute timely case management and maintain accurate documentation.
Respond to new referrals within 2 business days and follow a level-based contact schedule for established clients.
Maintain daily case records and prepare requested documentation promptly.
Contribute to regular outcome measures reports demonstrating the effectiveness of services provided.
Contribute to direct and indirect marketing to promote awareness of FIVE18 services.
Connect with families through the website, direct referrals, and community outreach.
Facilitate and maintain an online resource directory to assist families in accessing local, state, and federal resources.
Attend TBRI training and advance through the Trauma Informed Care training.
Attend team meetings and participate in consultative supervision routinely.
Lead training at regular support group meetings.
Create and cultivate a positive impression of Family Care and FIVE18 programming in all communication modalities and context, striving to present a culture of hospitality and competence.
Produce accurate, timely, consistent, thorough, and concise efforts.
Maintain a caseload of 2.5 units/hour of work.
Lead at least 1 training session quarterly.
Maintain favorable, proactive relationships with local DSS agencies.
Achieve Teaching Family Model Lighthouse Certification within 1 year of hire.
Provide support to at least 30 families annually.
Produce accurate, timely, ongoing documentation and contribute to quarterly reports indicating high-quality services rendered.
Be aware of and appropriately share upcoming events and training opportunities.
Participate as an active and collaborative member of the Family Care team.