Family Advocate, Family Enrichment Center

"All persons newly hired for employment by RiseBoro must provide proof of being fully vaccinated by the first day of employment, except for those who obtain an exception due to medical or religious reasons through the reasonable accommodation process." ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES The Family Advocate will be part of the Education Division program staff and will be responsible for contributing to the day-to-day operations of the Brownsville Family Enrichment Center including building connections with other staff, community residents, and community partners; co-designing and delivering relevant programming and offerings; providing advocacy and making referrals for participants; and creating a warm and inviting gathering place for families and individuals using the protective factors model to support community resilience. Duties and responsibilities include:

Responsible for creating and implementing monthly outreach plans to develop effective partnerships with principals, teachers, community leaders, law enforcement representatives, local governmental representatives, local business owners, collegiate organizations, and community-based organizations.

Convene, support, and collaborate with a team of local parents, subject experts, and other residents to deliver monthly events and offerings held at the FEC

Serve as a liaison between client and outside organizations regarding such matters as education, healthcare, and social services

Engage in outreach to parents, youth, and other community members to encourage them to visit the FEC and design offerings

Attend requested conferences and meetings with parents to provide advocacy and assistance with accessing services

Use Appreciate Inquiry and other strengths-based tools to engage community members in co-designing offerings

Create monthly calendars, website content, and other outreach tools to promote and document offerings

Assist clients in attaining their goals by identifying and locating community resources for clients and by making referrals to appropriate services both within and outside of the FEC

Engage community members, especially youth and young adults in a variety of strategies to work toward identified goals, including but not limited to: strengthening problem-solving skills; providing mentoring; engaging in community resources exploration; and providing life skills support.

Promote cooperation between participants and engage the buy-in and commitment of community stakeholders in the activities of the FEC

Conduct outreach activities with vulnerable populations to market the program in order to recruit new clients and re-engage former clients

Effectively utilize tracking and reporting mechanisms and accurately enter data and run reports in the FECs website and other agency databases as needed to obtain program-level data, compiling statistical or written reports for agency and external stakeholders

Co-manage the FEC database system to communicate with and engage FEC membership

Work with Director to monitor and quantify participation in offerings and events

Care for and attend to the physical space of the FEC program to ensure it is safe, welcoming, organized, and appealing to participants and community members.

Handle inventory and ordering/purchasing responsibilities to keep the site running and ensure needed food and supplies are stocked for offerings

Perform other related duties as assigned

COMPETENCIES

Three to five years (depending on credential) of experience in community-driven programs working directly with children, youth, and families

Knowledge of and commitment to Brownsville community required

Ability to work in a fast-paced environment on multiple projects occurring simultaneously

Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to warmly connect with and engage children, youth, and adults individually and in groups

Knowledge of youth, & young adult programming and conducting community events

Be able to use lived experience with disability, mental illness, criminal legal system, special education, substance use disorder, and/or foster care to assist in supporting the community in their resiliency/recovery and wellness

Excellent interpersonal and organizational skills

Demonstrated ability to communicate clearly, effectively, and collaboratively with all levels of staff, participants and community members

Experience preferred developing and implementing a group or a club or coaching a team

Experience caring for children (as a parent, guardian, relative, neighbor, or babysitter) preferred

Must have a commitment to work from a trauma-informed, strength-based, youth and family development perspective

Ability to work a flexible schedule including occasional evenings or weekends as needed to attend program activities

EDUCATION EXPERIENCE

Bachelors degree in Social Work or related field and three (3) years of professional experience in community-driven-programs working directly with children, youth, and/or families; or

high school diploma and five (5) years of professional experience in community-driven programs working directly with children, youth, and/or families.

EEO/Affirmative Action Policy StatementIt is the policy of RiseBoro to provide equal employment opportunity to all employees and applicants for employment. No individual will be discriminated against on the basis of race, color, age, creed, religion, national origin, citizenship status, political or union affiliation, marital or partnership status, sex, sexual orientation or affectional preference, gender identity, familial status, genetic information or predisposition or characteristic, disability, status as a victim of domestic violence, status as a veteran or member of the U.S. military and related obligations, or any other characteristic protected by law. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including but not limited to, recruitment, hiring, job placement, compensation, benefits, training and apprenticeship, employee development, promotion, demotion, discipline, transfer, lay-off and recall, and termination. RiseBoro makes reasonable accommodations based on religion and/or disability as required by law, and requests for accommodation are to be directed to the Human Resources Department.