Overview

Provides support and advocacy services to families as defined by Community Access guidelines and regulatory contracts, including assisting with defining personal, familial, vocational and educational goals. Assistance to program participants uses a person-centered model that supports individuals in their recovery, hopes and opportunities.

Core Principles

The job responsibilities of all staff extend to understanding and incorporating certain principles into their work and into their relationships with program participants. These principles are:

• Program participants’ right to self determination
• Respectful communication
• Services that support recovery and healing consistent with and nurturing each participant’s cultural background, experience, identity, and values.
• Clear professional boundaries to support the limits and possibilities of services.

Essential Job Functions

• Provide outreach, advocacy and supportive services to assigned families as defined by program requirements.
• Develop and assist in implementing service plans determined by goals of program participants, including reviewing service plans with family, identifying progress and revising plans as needed.
• Facilitate support groups and parenting skills workshops
• Assist in navigating the child welfare system for involved families
• Advocate for families within the community to ensure their needs are being met, including assisting in navigating the school systems
• Work in collaboration with other support staff to provide supportive services that meet the needs of children, youth, and families
• Organize and support social and recreational activities for families
• Provide education and support for co-workers regarding family systems and family related concerns
• Produce and maintain thorough, accurate and timely documentation, including charts and documentation of interactions with program participants, services provided, important information and/or events, and contacts with other agencies and service providers, as required by agency policies, and relevant contracts and regulatory agencies.
• Assist program participants in advocating for quality care received from external service providers, including educating providers on special issues, etc.
• Assist program participants in maintaining apartment free from unsanitary conditions and safety hazards, utilizing individualized strategies, e.g., teaching, feedback, demonstration and other forms of hands-on interventions, as needed.
• Provide referrals for treatment for mental health, physical health problems, and other issues that may arise dictated by the family.
• Assist program participants in identifying vocational and educational goals and opportunities, including assessment, support and follow-up.
• Assist program participants with conflict resolution, as necessary.
• Provide harm reduction strategies to promote healthier living and wellness as well as education and assistance.
• Provide outreach to program participants who are not indicating their goals or who are not engaged.
• Provide crisis intervention, as necessary
• Provide support and training on skill-building, including assertiveness, self-advocacy, socialization, parenting, and other skills on related issues.
• Maintain quality service by establishing and reinforcing program/agency standards in all interactions with program participants.
• Create or maintain a special project each year (e.g. participate in the advocacy department, coordinate an activity, participate in a committee, etc.)
• Coordinate with property management department regarding apartment repairs and/or program participant requests.
• Attend and participate in supervision, meetings and training sessions, as required.
• Provide holiday, evening and weekend coverage
• Provide coverage and support for non-assigned program participants, as needed.

• Assist with training (after six months to a year) new staff on essential job functions.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

This job description reflects management’s assignment of essential functions; it does not prescribe or restrict the tasks that may be assigned.