Family Advocate

FAMILY ADVOCATE# FAMILY ADVOCATE Fort Pierce - Fort Pierce, FL 34947## Description
** POSITION FUNCTION/OVERVIEW:
** This position is responsible for the provision of intensive, in-home family support services to families whose children are at risk of abuse or neglect.  The Family Advocate (SFC) serves as a part of a team offering crisis intervention, assessment, counseling, case management, respite, and advocacy.
** PRIMARY DUTIES/RESPONSIBILITIES**:
* Provide Support for Families in Crisis services in the family’s own home and community consistent with the needs of family members for three to four months
* Maintain an active caseload of twelve (12) families, meeting all contractual requirements
* Provide crisis intervention services to clients and is available on-call to families at all times including evenings and weekends during the period of service to each family
* Identify need for respite services
* Provide information, referral and advocacy to children and their families
* Teach family life skills, including budgeting, nutrition, personal hygiene, household maintenance and purchasing
* Teach and assist parents to meet the physical, mental and emotional needs of their children
* Provide appropriate referrals for clients and assist in linkage to those referrals as necessary
* Provide transportation, short-term child care, routine household maintenance when necessary
* Assist clients in identifying and accessing necessary supports in the form of in-kind and other community resources
* Provide follow-up on closed cases, assuring completion of satisfaction survey, parenting inventory, etc.
* Compile required reports on families on caseload in a timely and accurate manner
* Maintain complete, accurate and comprehensible records within a 24-hour time frame
* Maintain professional and ethical behavior
* Complete all other duties as assigned## Qualifications
** QUALIFICATIONS

REQUIRED:

*** High School Diploma required, Associates Degree in social work or related field preferred.  A combination of education and experience may be substituted for a degree if enrolled as a degree-seeking student in related human service courses during employment
Two (2) years experience working with families with children
* Demonstrated interpersonal and communication skills
* Valid Florida Drivers License and proof of insurance
* Willingness and ability to travel locally, work a flexible schedule which includes evenings and possibly weekends, and work in a home-based environment
*
* SKILLS:

*
* * Basic Computer skills to include Microsoft Word
* Excellent Communication skills – verbal and written
* Flexibility – ability to work in a variety of situations
* Organizational skills – ability to schedule activities and complete paperwork
*
* PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:

(N=needed  P=preferred)
** Sitting N  Standing N  Walking N  Lifting N  Carrying N  Kneeling N  Pushing/Pulling N  Bending/Stooping N  Climbing n/a  Reaching N  Crawling/Crouching N  Repetitive Motions P  Transporting P   Other (describe                                                                                     )