Family Advocate

Position Title: Mary’s Home Family Advocate Accountable To: Lead Advocate Status: Full Time / Hourly / 40-Hours per week ORGANIZATION OVERVIEW Dream Centers is a faith-based non-profit organization founded in 2011 to provide health and hope to people of Colorado Springs who are working to rebuild their dreams. Mary’s Home, a program of Dream Centers, opened in 2015. Mary’s Home is a faith-based supportive housing program that provides single mother families with the opportunity to gain holistic health and sufficient career resources so as to live a stable and successful life. JOB SUMMARY The Family Advocate (FA) monitors all aspects of a family’s progress through the Mary’s Home Program, holding high accountability for a participant’s growth in character, career development and self-sufficiency. Family Advocates often work in emotionally charged situations that require an understanding of trauma-informed care , as well as professional maturity , in order to help families in crisis. A sense of compassion, active listening abilities, and good organizational, problem-solving, and time-management skills are also key. The Family Advocate navigates her role through three primary modalities – Coaching, Case Management, and Collaboration. The Family Advocate reports to the Mary’s Home Lead Family Advocate and is part of the Advocacy Team. AREAS OF RESPONSIBILITY Coaching Conduct regular recurring meetings with each participant to build professional relationships and to assist with goal achievement and progression in the program. Responsible for regularly communicating, tracking, and following up with participants on all expectations of a participant's phase in the program . Using the Family Growth Assessment (FGA) tool, coach participants with a supportive yet challenging approach for creating and achieving weekly and monthly goals. Monitor, assist, and ensure progress in life domains and outcomes as identified in the FGA through goal setting, coaching, support, etc. Meet participants for additional time to assist with complex issues, to assess surfaced trauma, to provide additional coaching and support , or to engage other staff, volunteers and service providers. Maintains awareness of each participant’s relationships in and outside of the community ; monitor healthy parenting and family patterns; maintain childcare; monitor mental health and engagement in therapy; establish needed supports; and provide support plans when necessary. Coach and collaborate with participants on caseload to enroll in Mary’s Home Academy classes and workshops. Assist participants with maintaining a personal schedule that meets program requirements and building a realistic family financial plan. Prepare and conduct quarterly Family Growth Assessments for each participant on caseload to check progress and set goals with participants, provide staff with participant-specific information, measure participant progress in the program, and to contribute to program outcomes. Case Management Oversee each participant’s arrival into the program to include initial scheduling, move in logistics, assignment to peer support, volunteer participation, communication to staff and community, introductions, etc. Manage each participant’s assessment period by conducting initial orientation, communicating expectations (written and verbal) with regular follow-up, close monitoring of participants and family with regular check-ins (formal and non-formal); consult regularly with Lead Family Advocate regarding resident progress or lack thereof, etc. Conduct initial Family Growth Assessment with new participant within first 60 days or by deadline of quarterly outcome reporting. Assure the professional, accurate and timely completion, organization, upkeep of all documentation, case notes, and participant records. Assess mental, emotional, physical and spiritual health of residents on caseload and establish necessary services, coaching, and support while continuing to monitor resident participation. Assure the provision of program information and program resources to residents on caseload. In collaboration with the participant, develop plans for parenting, family, legal, and safety issues with client and external family members as appropriate. Provide professional and timely case notes in the key areas of child welfare, medical care, mental health status, faith, community, legal issues, finances, and other life domains as pertinent. Maintain and develop strong relationships with community partners and resources. Conduct regular home reviews and drug tests for residents. Collaboration Participate in the interview process of program applicants in collaboration with the Lead Family Advocate and Admissions Team . Collaborate with staff regarding the progress, needs, supports and celebrations of all residents on caseload. Work closely with other staff and volunteers involved in resident support. Participate and contribute to the strategic planning and development of the program, processes, systems, and training with staff, volunteers, community partners, collaborators and consultants. Meet regularly with the Lead Family Advocate to review professional development, program systems, and participant progress and to address any complex or problematic issues as needed. Attend and participate in program and corporate staff meetings, volunteer training, professional training, events, and other meetings relevant to professional and program development. Attend and participate in Mary’s Home special events and community networking meetings and events as the schedule allows. Work in close coordination with the Advocacy Team, and other Mary’s Home, and Dream Centers staff, as well as volunteers, partners, and service providers . Provide leadership as assigned to volunteers and volunteer teams directly supporting the Advocacy Team. RELATIONAL JOB FUNCTIONS Maintain a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, be a consistent witness for Jesus Christ, maintain a Christ-like attitude with people, and uphold the Dream Centers ministry in prayer. Engage in supportive services as needed to address personal needs related to vicarious trauma, maintain healthy boundaries and prioritize self-care. Foster healthy and supportive relationships with staff, volunteers, participants, children, community partners, service providers, donors, guests and other advocates in the local community. Learn, understand, and adopt best practices and trauma-informed care for the residents. Act as a liaison between participants and staff and therapists and other community partners. Act as an advocate for single mothers and their children who are homeless, raising awareness of their plight and their potential, and influencing greater community involvement on their behalf. Uphold all ethical standards within the program through training, documentation, communications, and structure and assist with coaching staff and key stakeholders in these ethical standards. Build and foster a healthy, caring and professional relationship with the Program Director and other key staff to assure open communications and effective and efficient program operations.