Family Advocate-Family Empowerment Center

POSITION DESCRIPTION

Position:
Family Advocate-Family Empowerment Center (FEC)

Reports to:

Program Coordinator

Classification:
Full-Time 32 hours per week

Under the supervision of the FEC Program Coordinator, the Family Advocate provides support, outreach, and training to families of children and young adults between the ages of 3-22 with special needs. The Family Advocate will provide comprehensive and culturally competent support services to clients. Educate families on resources based on their current needs and assist in the development of community support systems and networks.

Provide client advocacy to families with all disabilities. Assist parents with understanding their child's education and developmental needs, communicate with service providers and serve as a resource and support through the IEP process. The Family Advocate works with families to build upon strengths and to enhance self-sufficiency. Provide support, mentoring, resources, referral, education, training, activities, and assistance to the family to identify and utilize resources within the community.

• Provide parents and families of children and young adults with disabilities, resources, and support to access accurate information, specialized training, and peer-to-peer support in their communities in a linguistically and culturally affirming manner.
• Coordinate with existing local and regional service providers to improve, expand, and aid in a network of existing resources available for parents and families of children and young adults with disabilities.
• Prepare families to partner with professionals in obtaining appropriate education for children with disabilities.
• Collaborate with schools and community agencies to support families in navigating the special education system and IEP process.
• Work with the family to develop goals.
• Utilize community resources, and support problem solving to help families meet goals.
• Assist families in resolving day-to-day logistical problems, negotiating systems, and linking activities to their goals.
• Assist family to identify needs and resources to meet those needs.
• Maintain regular contact with parents in the program.
• Model good communications and relationships skills with the family.
• Provide referrals, resources and information on development, special needs, and systems regarding special education, Early Start, and Regional Centers.
• Other duties as assigned.

Must be a parent or family member of a child or young adult with disabilities. Bilingual in Spanish. An associate degree in social work, childhood development, special education, psychology, public health, or nursing preferred or equivalent experience in a related field.

Advocate will utilize their experience and knowledge to assist with planning, problem solving, education and family empowerment.

• Good oral and written communication skills.
• Relate well to people in a non-judgmental and caring manner.
• Possess skills to deal with diverse client population.
• Assess client needs and formulate a comprehensive care plan.
• Good understanding of community services available for client referral.
• Exercise sound judgement in problem solving.
• Organize time and set priorities quickly and efficiently.
• Good problem-solving skills and can work with families to empower them to engage in problem solving.
• Manage multiple objectives, both scheduled and unscheduled.
• Manage time-sensitive materials.
• Work with a minimum of supervision.
• Be diplomatic, tactful, and professional.
• Possess good judgement and work well with others.
• Maintain client confidentiality.
• Knowledge and experience in PC operations and Office 365 Software;
  Proficient in Word and Excel.
• Personal vehicle with proof of insurance and valid California Driver's License required.

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodation will be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to stand; walk, use hands to handle, or feel object, tools, or controls; and to talk or hear. The employee frequently is required to reach with hands and arms, stoop, kneel and crouch. The employee is occasionally required to climb or balance; crawl; and taste or smell.

The employee must regularly lift and/or move up to 10 pounds. The employee frequently lifts and/or moves up to 20 pounds and occasionally lifts and/or moves up to 40 pounds.

Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of the job. The noise level in the work environment is usually mild to moderate.

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