Family Advocate

Job Description

JOB TITLE: Family Advocate (Part-time position, 16-20 hours per week). Hours will be 4pm-8:15pm during the week and every other Saturday but may need to be flexible depending on scheduling needs.

ACCOUNTABLE TO: Family Visitation and Exchange Center Coordinator

LOCATION: Sioux Center, IA

BENEFITS INCLUDE: Part Time Position, Health, Dental & Vision Insurance, Vacation/Sick Leave, Simple IRA, Non-Exempt

PRIMARY OBJECTIVE OF THE JOB:

Provides a safe, confidential, and neutral environment for families to exchange children and for on-site parenting time/visitations.

AGENCY VALUES:

• Client Centered – Our clients come first. Meeting them where they are in their journey is a priority. We will always carry our mission forward.
• Family – The greatest resource in carrying out our mission is our staff. Our work family positively supports each other and promotes self-care.
• Integrity – Honesty, transparency and accountability guide actions and decisions. Reliability preserves trust among clients and coworkers.
• Resilience – The ability to adjust and push forward in times of great difficulty. Able to identify, validate and address concerns.
• Synergy – Working collectively through positive collaboration. Considerate of others and use time, talent and treasure for the benefit of all.
• Self-Awareness – Able to communicate personal limits and implement solutions. Positive contributor and empowered through a strong sense of role.

SUPERVISION RECEIVED:

Works under the supervision of the Coordinator of the Family Visitation Center

SUPERVISION EXCERCISED:

May supervise interns, volunteers, and other staff as assigned

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Facilitates safe exchanges between parties, maintains a “no contact” policy for families of domestic violence, dating, sexual assault and stalking.
• Intervenes in parent-child interaction that violates policies or procedures.
• Be knowledgeable with dynamics of domestic violence, stalking, child abuse, sexual assault, perpetrator behaviors, evidence-based risk factors of domestic violence and dating violence and the needs of safety, security, privacy and confidentiality in cases of persons with protection orders.

• Uses online Database for daily job duties and documenting services
• Maintaining confidentiality for all participants served
• Ability to be flexible when working with and scheduling participants
• Supervises parent-child interaction and objectively documents on-site and off-site parenting time
• Maintains/updates appropriate information in participant files
• Professional phone etiquette; must be able to learn phone skills, including how to answer multiple phone lines, transfer phone calls, as well as update and maintain phone logs online
• Facilitates communication between parties regarding immediate welfare of their children and services the parties receive
• Recruits, interviews, and trains unpaid staff (volunteers and interns)
• Attends interagency meetings, trainings and workshops as directed by supervisor
• Provides parenting information and make referrals to community resources for parties
• Assist marketing and development with fundraising efforts, which may include but not limited to, selling raffle tickets, attending vender fairs, and helping at fundraising events.
• Maintains a clean office area, including ensuring chores that need to be done are completed
• Skills in managing crisis situations/conflict resolutions skills
• Communicate effectively orally and in writing
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with coworkers, supervisors, clients and the general public

OTHER RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Performs other duties and assumes additional responsibilities as directed by supervisor to ensure efficient operations.
• Must obtain Iowa Victim Advocate Training and maintain certification throughout employment

DESIRED MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

• Individuals with diverse backgrounds, varied life experiences, who are bilingual, and/or survivors of crime encouraged to apply.
• Education and Experience
  o A high school diploma or equivalent (G.E.D.)
  • Work experience/education in child development, social work, foster parenting, mediation helpful but not required
  • Must be computer literate

FCC is an equal opportunity employer. FCC is fair and impartial in all of its relations with its employees and applicants for employment and makes all employment related decisions without regard to race, creed, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, socio-economic status, parental responsibility, language, national origin, age, health status (including HIV-positive), physical or mental disability, or any other categories protected by federal, state, or local law.