Family Advocate - SCT

FOUR OAKS FAMILY AND CHILDRENS SERVICES•Ottumwa, IA

14d•Onsite

About The Position

As the Family Advocate you will be responsible for assisting families and children who have been referred through the Juvenile Court Services Officers. The Family Advocate serves as the single point of contact and provides support, resources, referral information, and communications between agencies and service providers. Specific responsibilities include: Provide information to families about resources, funding, and services available in the community, area, and state. Provide referrals to family and/or facilitates access to appropriate services. Assist families in obtaining needed services. Identify and professionally articulate family needs or concerns. Assist families in sharing concerns with providers. Identify barriers or problems regarding a family’s access to services. Assist families in applying for specific services, coordinating applications for funding, necessary evaluations, assessments, and assistance from all agencies selected by the family. Serve as a liaison between the family and the selected services. Assist families in locating appropriate support groups and advocacy organizations. May also develop local family support groups. Develop & maintain a positive and productive working relationship with families by maintaining contact and ensuring that they are knowledgeable of service options for their children. Develop & maintain a positive and productive working relationship with community agencies and service providers, parent to parent networks, support groups, and community health team staff. Provide timely and thorough documentation of service/care/coordination activities and assists in data collection as defined. Collaborate and advocate with community partners to advance service delivery, training, and education.

Requirements

A Bachelor’s degree in Human Services or a related field of study is preferred for this position. Prior experience in mental health and/or child welfare setting is desired.
Intermediate computer skills in a MS Office environment
Strong interpersonal and communication skills
Ability to prioritize and complete tasks on a timely manner

Responsibilities

Provide information to families about resources, funding, and services available in the community, area, and state.
Provide referrals to family and/or facilitates access to appropriate services. Assist families in obtaining needed services.
Identify and professionally articulate family needs or concerns. Assist families in sharing concerns with providers.
Identify barriers or problems regarding a family’s access to services.
Assist families in applying for specific services, coordinating applications for funding, necessary evaluations, assessments, and assistance from all agencies selected by the family.
Serve as a liaison between the family and the selected services.
Assist families in locating appropriate support groups and advocacy organizations. May also develop local family support groups.
Develop & maintain a positive and productive working relationship with families by maintaining contact and ensuring that they are knowledgeable of service options for their children.
Develop & maintain a positive and productive working relationship with community agencies and service providers, parent to parent networks, support groups, and community health team staff.
Provide timely and thorough documentation of service/care/coordination activities and assists in data collection as defined.
Collaborate and advocate with community partners to advance service delivery, training, and education.