Family Advocate - On Call

Job Title:

Family Advocate - On Call

Department:

Family Services

Reports to:

Children and Family Services Manager/Assigned Manager on Duty/Director of Program Services

Supervises:

None

Salary:

$19.55/hour to $20.55/hour, depending on experience; additional $50.00 stipend for after-hours shifts

Hours/Shifts:

On Call

All standard shifts are from 8:30am - 5:00pm. Standard shifts may vary based on parent need within these shifts: 6am-2pm, 10am-7pm or 8:30am-5pm. After Hours shifts are from: 5:00pm-1:00am.

All on-call family advocates are required to work at least twenty-four (24) hours every four (4) pay periods to retain employment with the Nursery.

* This is a union-represented position under AFSCME Local 3481.

Organization Summary: As a trusted resource for families, the Greater Minneapolis Crisis Nursery partners with parents to promote strong, healthy families by offering free, voluntary services for parents who face barriers such as unemployment, homelessness, medical or mental health concerns, poverty, domestic violence, or other difficult situations. We help strengthen families by connecting them to resources, caring for their children during difficult times, and setting goals that promote self-sufficiency and make the relationship between the parent and child stronger.

Position Overview: The Family Advocate is part of a team that is responsible for answering the crisis line and meeting with families during the intake and discharge process. The purpose of this position is to help strengthen families by providing crisis intervention, referrals, support and assistance to families who are stressed and at risk of child abuse/neglect. At the Nursery, "crisis" is defined by the family and can include anything from domestic violence to exhaustion.

Family Advocate After Hours shifts last from 5pm until 1:00am. In addition to a nightly shift differential, employees must clock in for any time spent responding to calls and completing follow-up documentation.

Responsibilities:

Answer calls to the Nursery's Crisis Line while in the office, and during one after hours on-call shift per week.

• Assess immediate risk of abuse/neglect for children and the overall safety of the family.
• Provide short-term supportive counseling and crisis de-escalation.
• Assist families in determining appropriate intervention strategies.
• Determine if the family meets the criteria for placement.
• Link family to relevant community-based services and resources.

Provide direct care services for families (including children) accessing the Nursery's services.

• Complete phone placements, intakes, and discharges with families placing children at the Nursery.
• Communicate with Children's Services staff information regarding intakes, discharges, and children's needs.
• Provide recommendations for resources and referrals for families to community resources and partner agencies based on Family Basic Needs Assessment.
• Routinely research and identify new resources/partnerships which expand the Nursery's resources for families.
• Complete all required documentation promptly and accurately.
• Provide backup childcare when safety and compliance ratio is at risk of being compromised.

Professional Development

• Attend and participate in regularly scheduled team meetings, department specific training (including, but not limited to Reflective Consultations sessions), and routine check-ins with supervisor.
• Attend and participate in designated community-engagement events.
• Maintain client confidentiality in accordance with HIPAA, agency policies and other applicable laws, regulations, and ethical standards.
• Other duties as assigned.

Organizational Expectations:

• Role model healthy, professional behavior while working with children, families, staff, volunteers, and anyone else you come into contact with at the Nursery.
• Communicate effectively with other staff, supervisors, and volunteers.
• Work well as part of a team to complete duties and meet agency needs.
• Value diverse economic, cultural and racial backgrounds outside of one's own identity and experience.
• Commitment to equity and social justice.
• Must be willing to challenge one's own perspective and experience in an effort to be in community while working at the Nursery.

Qualifications:

• Education:
  • Bachelor's degree in social work or closely related field.
  • Equivalent knowledge base obtained from professional or lived experience is accepted in lieu of degree.

• Experience:
  • One or more years' experience working with families in crisis situations.
  • Experience working with communities outside of one's own background and identity, communities with different socio-economic statuses outside of one's own lived experience, communities of color which have been historically marginalized, and vulnerable populations.

• Skills and Abilities:
  • Ability to intervene, de-escalate, and handle situations involving families in crisis.
  • Knowledge of family dynamics and child development.
  • Understanding of systems theory, attachment theory, strengths-based philosophy, trauma-informed care, and crisis…