Residential Family Advocate

The Residential Family Advocate will provide comprehensive case management and advocacy services to child survivors of domestic violence and their non-offending caregiver in the Women In Distress’ Emergency Shelter. Case management services will consist of advocacy, counseling, completing child assessments, reporting child abuse when appropriate, creating and reviewing safety plans, providing appropriate resources and referrals, and providing supportive services to the children and their caregiver. The Family Advocate will be familiar with community resources as a referral source for families in need of therapeutic, financial, legal, medical, educational, and employment assistance. The family advocate will be responsible for identifying, creating, and implement weekly and monthly family enrichment activities for the children and their families. The Family Advocate will work closely with the Residential Shift Supervisor and Outreach Family Services Team to create efficient and engaging programs for children and their families. Candidates must exhibit a positive, non-judgmental approach to survivors. In addition, candidate must have the ability to demonstrate a clear understanding of the dynamics of domestic violence, forming proper boundaries, and use of good judgment. Lastly, candidates should preferably have case management experience. The Residential Family Advocate will ensure that all services provided are empowerment-based and are consistent with Department of Children and Family (DCF) standards. The employee holding this position must be able to perform the essential functions of the position with or without reasonable accommodation. This job description is intended to describe the nature and level of work performed in this position. It is not an exhaustive list of all responsibilities and duties required and management may assign or reassign duties and responsibilities at any time.

Tuesday-Friday 1:30pm-10:30pm Saturdays-10:00am-7:00pm (5-8 Hour days) or Wednesday-Saturday 10:00am-9:00pm (4- 10 Hour days) hours may vary depending on department/agency needs.

• Provide trauma-informed direct services to child survivors of domestic violence and their families including individual support, child/family advocacy, crisis intervention, safety planning, information and referrals, counseling, support groups, and transportation to critical services/safe housing/school as needed. Utilize the empowerment model and maintains a non-judgmental attitude towards participant’s decisions
• Provide comprehensive survivor centered service management and advocacy services to child survivors and their caregivers/parents. Ensure that the basic needs of all families are met during their stay, including but not limited to: food, clothing, education, and medical needs. Work collaboratively with the assigned advocate to create goals and action plans as it relates to the children/family's needs. Provide education and support to the parent/caregiver in developing any strategies to address challenging behaviors or strengthen the overall family dynamic.
• Provide enriching and engaging programming for children and their caregivers including creating weekly Family Enrichment Activities, Children's Support Groups, and Parenting Support Groups. Build positive relationships with the children and model and actively promote positive, nurturing interactions between parents/caregivers and their children.
• Maintain an active presence in the shelter while providing a safe and positive environment. Monitor and mediates communal living challenges and participant conflicts. Model non-violent conflict resolution and takes appropriate steps to deal with emergency/crisis situations with the goal of maintaining the safety of all clients. Cleary communicate and document all emergencies and crisis to the residential leadership team and across shifts.
• Promote a healthy, safe, equitable, inclusive, and welcoming living environment. Actively participate in monitoring and maintaining the shelter's health and safety standards by conducting daily checks and taking corrective action necessary. Ensure all residents understand and adhere to the shelter’s health and safety guidelines. Continuously address any concerning safety or health hazards (including cleaning kitchen/communal area, emptying trash, identifying/monitoring maintenance issues, maintaining the pet shelter...etc.); and communicate effectively with the participants, residential leadership, and across shifts of any ongoing safety or health concerns.
• Follow all shelter operational procedures include inventory management and distribution of all basic needs and financial assistance to include effectively stocking and maintaining storage spaces; and accurately documenting the distribution of all basic needs and financial assistance provided to participants. Assist in the pick-up, shopping, and unpacking of all supplies purchased for the residential participants
• Maintain up-to-date and accurate client's service file and client database including appropriate documentation of all individual services, referrals, and financial assistance assistance provided. Ensure releases of information are up to date and detailed. Participates in peer file reviews to ensure quality assurance of files. Meet position's quality assurance standards and any funding contractual obligations.
• Establish and maintain a working relationship with appropriate service providers/community agencies to assure basic needs of children and their families are met. Participate on the homeless provider meetings and work collaboratively with the Broward County Heart Program and Early Learning Coalition. Facilitate system navigation through case coordination (effective communication, information sharing, and collaboration). Advocate on behalf of the participant to ensure timely access to services, appropriate interventions are being offered, and barriers are being reduced across services and systems of care services. Follow and maintain all confidentiality standards when advocating on behalf of the participant with a community partner.
• Follow State and Agency guidelines when reports of child abuse and incident reports as required and notifies supervisor in a timely manner.
• Completes other tasks as assigned.

• Employee will be required to take the Department of Children and Families (DCF) Core Competency training and obtain a passing grade of 75% or higher.