Family Services Advocate

Richland County First Steps•Columbia, SC

7d•$20 - $22

About The Position

The Family Support Advocate provides prevention-focused, home-based services to pregnant women and families with children ages 0–5 who are involved with the State Child Welfare system in Richland County. Using the Parents as Teachers curriculum, the advocate conducts weekly or biweekly visits based on families’ risk factors and provides child development support, parent education, case management, and family support. The Connected Families Program seeks to promote family permanency and child well-being, prevent unnecessary removal of children from their homes, and reduce further Child Welfare system involvement by connecting families with voluntary, coordinated services and community resources. The role is grounded in positive, ongoing, goal-oriented relationships with families. Intended outcomes include stronger parent-child relationships, improved family well-being, support for families as educators and learners, stronger peer and community connections, and families’ development as advocates and leaders. The advocate maintains a caseload of 12–15 families, documents services and referrals, participates in reflective supervision, staff meetings, and training, and develops age-appropriate transition plans for each child and family. The regular schedule is Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., with occasional evenings and weekends for community events.

Requirements

At least an associate degree in Early Childhood Education, Social Work, Psychology, or a closely related field.
Experience working with infants, toddlers, and families from varied educational and socioeconomic backgrounds and cultural groups.
Experience working in varied settings with culturally diverse families and communities, with the ability to be culturally sensitive and appropriate.
Experience working with families in crisis, especially families involved with the Welfare System.
Ability to establish rapport with assigned families.
Proficiency with technology and ability to learn new database systems used for documentation.
Reliable transportation and a valid driver’s license.

Nice To Haves

Bachelor’s degree is highly preferred.

Responsibilities

Conduct weekly or biweekly home visits using the Parents as Teachers curriculum.
Provide child development services, parent education, case management, and family support.
Connect families with community resources, including medical homes, counseling, community assistance, employment, and training; follow up with families and agencies and document referral use and outcomes.
Treat participants, community members, and fellow staff with positive regard.
Complete required documentation promptly, including visit logs, child assessment and screening information, and activity reports.
Enter accurate and complete information for families into the appropriate databases.
Create, maintain, and break down comprehensive binders for each family.
Participate in reflective supervision with the Director of Home Visitation, staff meetings, and training.
Establish transition plans for each child and family based on the child’s age.
Maintain a caseload of 12–15 families.