Family Advocate

Family Advocate

The Family Advocate's job is to provide advocacy, counseling and case management services to children and families who have emotional or behavioral challenges referred by The Department of Children and Family Services or designated agencies. Promotion of quality services, family empowerment, and provision of support to family members are central features of this position.

Provide comprehensive case management services to all clients including: intake assessment, benefit assessment, goal setting, long-term case development, weekly case plan development, progress monitoring, advocacy and referrals. Maintain the assigned caseload of families. Meet with clients weekly or bi-weekly for up to 6 months. Connect families with needed and available community resources. Follow-up with clients and agencies as appropriate to document use/success of referral.

Input accurate and complete data for all contacts with clients into agency database. Ensure that all documents/reports submitted on behalf of a client are valid. Provide all required documentation/reports in a timely manner, which may include client follow-up, outcome evaluation, client contact sheets, and evaluations. Participate in regular staff meetings, staff training programs, supervisory sessions, and accept the responsibility for aiding the development of positive team relationships as requested.

Adhere to agency policy, procedures and the professional code of ethics. Performs related duties as assigned.

Minimum education requirement of BA/BSW and 3 years experience in social services or related field. Knowledge of community resources and counseling/social work practices with high risk populations. Strong team building, problem solving, organizational, and oral communication skills are necessary. Demonstrated knowledge of multiple cultures and the cultural impact on the delivery of services. Experience working with persons in crisis. Good documentation skills.

Excellent written and verbal communication skills, ability to establish rapport. Ability to motivate others towards achieving goals. Ability to work independently with strong sense of focus, task-oriented, nonjudgmental, open personal qualities, clear sense of boundaries. A strong sense of and respect for confidentiality involving both clients and fellow employees. Ability to work in a variety of settings with culturally-diverse families and communities with the ability to be culturally sensitive and appropriate.

Ability to legally operate a motor vehicle and provide own transportation.

Possession of a valid Class D Illinois driver's license or an equivalent license from the employee's state of residence. Physical Demands 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 accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

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

The employee regularly lifts and/or moves up to 25 pounds and occasionally lifts and/or moves up to 50 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by the job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.

The City of Rock Island offers a wide range of competitive benefits including personal leave, paid holidays, accumulated sick leave, paid vacation, longevity pay, health, dental & vision, employee discounts, pensions, bereavement pay, workers compensation, disability insurance and optional life insurance plans.