Family Advocate Worker at Maryville Academy Chicago, IL

Family Advocate Worker job at Maryville Academy. Chicago, IL.

Make a difference to individuals and our community today and for many years to come!
Maryville Academy has a full time opening for Family Advocate in the Crisis Nursery Program.

For more than 134 years, Maryville has been committed to providing protection and guidance to children. As the world has changed, so have the needs of the families and children we serve. Maryville has adapted by focusing on our community’s most critical issues. Today, our range of programs includes residential care, mental health services, healthcare and family support services, as well as a variety of educational and youth development offerings.

Maryville’s mission is to help children and families to reach their fullest potential by empowering intellectual, spiritual, moral and emotional growth.

The Maryville Crisis Nursery provides free short‑term care for children of families who are experiencing a severe disruptive crisis or a family emergency or to prevent that crisis from happening. Children ages newborn through six years receive round‑the‑clock childcare, up to 72 hours a stay. This safe and nurturing environment is designed to protect them from harmful experiences and the damaging effects of trauma.

Issues that bring families to the Maryville Crisis Nursery include unemployment, parental illness or hospitalization, poverty and homelessness.

The Family Advocate’s responsibility is to provide crisis intervention, referrals, support and assistance to families who are stressed and at risk of abusing / neglecting their children. This position requires advanced knowledge in the field of social work, and requires the consistent exercise of discretion and judgment. Must be open to reflective supervision.

• Completes a comprehensive assessment or reassessment of families calling the nursery for services, and determines if the family meets the criteria for placement;
• Determines appropriate intervention strategies with the family;
• Assess immediate risk of abuse/neglect for the children;
• Makes reports to Child Protective Services, when appropriate;
• Provides hands‑on information of community resources; assists families in the utilization of available resources in the community;
• Advocates for families and children within the community and governmental settings;
• Relates to, and takes direction from Program Director, or their designee, coordinating weekly;
• Provides timely follow‑up as needed with individual families (7 days after discharge);
• Documents interactions with families and maintain case files;
• Attends staff / team meetings;
• Coordinates and completes paperwork for the intake and discharge process with families;
• Communicates with line staff regarding care and scheduling for the children;
• Represents and promotes the crisis nursery with outside agencies and within the community;
• Keeps intake office organized;
• Collects data for outcome measures;
• Develops ongoing resources for the program;
• Conducts assessments on the children;
• Helps coordinate and assists with the presentation of pre‑service / advanced / parent trainings;
• Follows up with in‑home visits as needed;
• Assists youth care workers when appropriate by modeling the crisis nursery philosophy of child care;
• Participates in continued performance quality improvement;
• Transports children in a Maryville van, as needed;
• Performs other duties as assigned.

• Two or more years experience working with families;
• Bachelor’s degree in social service or related field, from an accredited college or university;
• Knowledge of family systems and child development;
• Experience with crisis intervention.

• Proficient in Spanish (verbally and in writing), preferred;
• Cultural competency;
• Ability to effectively communicate verbally and in writing;
• Strong interpersonal skills;
• Ability and desire to work as part of a team;
• Basic computer skills;
• Ability to problem‑solve;
• Ability to work under pressure.

• Required to frequently sit, stand, bend, stoop and walk, sometimes for extended periods of time;
• Requi…