Program Advocate, Young Parent Living Program
About The Position
The Program Advocate works in the Open Pantry Teen Parenting Program, a residential program serving teenage parents and their children. The role supports shelter operations during assigned shifts, including maintaining the house, supervising families, and responding to clients’ needs. The program is based in a three-story house in the North End of Springfield, Massachusetts. Staff conduct hourly in-house checks and must be able to respond to guests on all floors. The position requires driving to pick up program referrals and may involve direct or incidental contact with clients served by SMOC in programs funded or administered through the Executive Office of Health and Human Services. The program is not handicapped accessible.
Requirements
- Strong verbal and written communication skills.
- Ability to climb three flights of stairs and travel up and down stairs throughout the assigned shift.
- Ability to work overnight shifts.
- Ability to perform assigned chores that may involve bending, stooping, carrying, light lifting, and pushing.
- Ability to conduct hourly checks and respond to guests’ needs on all floors.
- Ability to drive, as picking up program referrals is required.
Nice To Haves
- Previous experience working with homeless people and/or teenagers.
- Bilingual ability.
Responsibilities
- Know house rules and expectations and document any infractions.
- Complete assigned household tasks, such as laundry and remaking rooms.
- Attend staff meetings and required training.
- Complete hourly house checks for safety and security.
- Participate in shift change at the beginning and end of shifts.
- Answer the phone and take messages.
- Maintain cleanliness and order in the staff office.
- Build and maintain respectful helping relationships with clients.
- Supervise curfews and bedtimes when applicable.
- Engage clients by understanding and addressing their needs, whether or not those needs fall within the program specialty.
- Attend and participate in engagement team meetings, follow up on client service plans, and communicate effectively with clients and staff in other specialty areas.
- Ensure compliance with program, department, agency, and/or funder requirements and SMOC policies and procedures.
- Drive to pick up program referrals.
- Perform other duties as assigned.
Benefits
- Full-time employees can accrue up to three weeks of vacation and two weeks of sick time and are eligible for 12 paid holidays during their first year.
- Employer-paid life insurance and accidental death and dismemberment insurance, and long-term disability coverage for full-time employees.
- Medical plans through Mass General Brigham with an HRA employer cost-sharing program, dental plans with orthodontic coverage, and EyeMed vision insurance for full-time employees.
- 403(b) retirement plan with a company match starting on day one for full-time and part-time employees.
- Voluntary term and whole life insurance, accident insurance, critical illness coverage, hospital indemnity, and short-term disability.
- Flexible spending accounts, dependent care accounts, employee assistance program, and tuition reimbursement.
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Part-time
Education Level
No Education Listed
