Family Resource Advocate (69632)

Job DetailsJob Location: Family Support Services of Suncoast Admin Office - Largo, FL 33771Position Type: Full TimeEducation Level: 4 Year Degree/BA or BSFamily Resource Advocate

Join our team at FSS and enjoy comprehensive benefits including but not limited to:

Tuition Reimbursement

Health Insurance

Dental Insurance

Vision Insurance

Life Insurance

Well-Being Program

Paid Time Off (PTO)

Bereavement Leave

12 Paid Holidays
Flexible Spending Account (FSA)
Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
Short & Long-Term Disability Coverage

Employee Discounts

401k Plan with 3% Employer Contribution

The mission of Family Support Services of North Florida is to be the leader in providing safety, stability, and quality of life for all children by working with the community to strengthen the family unit.

Job Summary

Serves as a point of contact for out of home caregivers. Designated to provide immediate and intensive in-home short-term intervention services and supports to caregivers caring for children who have been placed in their homes. Manage a caseload of children as needed to ensure appropriate intensity of services while meeting the immediate individual needs of the caregiver and/or child(ren) for up to 30 business days. Work closely with caregivers to ensure they have the training and resources needed to provide for the children in their care. Assist all caregivers with system navigation, benefit enrollment and accessing community resources. Work to engage caregivers in participating in FAPA/support groups, training and events. Work in collaboration with internal and external partners as needed for placement stability and support to the caregiver.

Essential Duties

Provide in home supports to out of home caregivers regarding children placed in their homes as needed
Provide immediate stabilization and intervention to caregivers to assist in caring for difficult and challenging youth
Ensure caregivers have the basic necessities required for caring for the children in their care and assist with obtaining resources as needed
Provide skill development and training for caregivers
Manage a caseload of caregivers and youth as needed to ensure appropriate intensity of services and meet individual short term needs
Perform and document face to face client contacts in the Florida Safe Families Network (FSFN)
Link caregivers with Healthy Start, child care services, and other resources as needed
Collaborate with FSS Placement & Licensing to ensure effective services and supports to youth and caregivers
Collaborate with Family Service Counselors/Dependency Case Managers and other child-related parties, as needed
Ensure high level of customer service and support to caregivers with solution oriented focus
Maintain FRA tracker(s)
Responsible for communications via email, text and mail to caregivers
Assist with placement stabilizations.
Assist staff and caregivers with accessing community resources
Serve as expert on community events, resources, and opportunities for caregivers, including child care and summer camp resources
Develop and coordinate the mentor program for foster parents
Attend and participate in various meetings and events, participate in department meetings, communicate issues, resolve problems and maintain specified level of knowledge pertaining to new developments, requirements and policies
Performs other duties As Needed

QualificationsMinimum Qualifications

Education

Bachelors Degree in a Human Services related field from an accredited program.

Experience

3-4 years experience working directly with high-risk children and families. Prior experience with parenting programs or other curriculum such as TBRI or CORE Teen preferred.

Licensure, Certification, and/or Registration

Valid drivers license required. Child welfare certification preferred

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The qualifications listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Ability to

Represent self and the organization in a professional manner with respectful communication
Work independently with little direct supervision
Think and write creatively
Assess a situation and make appropriate recommendations/ decisions
Research, organize and analyze data
Solve problems and to think through critical, time sensitive issues
Establish and maintain relationships
Work collaboratively with staff at all levels in the organization
Follow through on commitments, projects and responsibilities
Communicate effectively through writing including articles, presentations, speeches, reports, correspondence, and documentation.
Speak effectively before small and large groups.
Maintain confidential information
Use of de-escalation and conflict resolution skills
Ability to support and train staff
Maintain data tracking and reporting

Skills

Strong follow-up and follow through
Strong organizational and time management
Proficiency in Excel and Microsoft Word. Experience with PowerPoint

Other Requirements

Clear a Level II Background screening (Live Scan) in which your fingerprints will be used to conduct the screening. Please see the link with further details: https://info.flclearinghouse.com
Clear a reference check.
Clear a local background check from the County in which you reside.
Clear a substance abuse screen.
Provide a copy of all degrees prior to your first day of employment.
Clear a Motor Vehicles Records check and must be insurable under the company’s automobile policy.
Provide copy of automobile insurance.
Provide proof of and maintain a minimum personal auto liability insurance level $100,000/$300,000 if deemed to be a driving risk.
Clear an E-Verify check to substantiate that the successful candidate meets the Department of Homeland Security authorization requirements to work in the United States (for more information visit www.dhs.gov/e-verify).

FSS is an affirmative action and equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran status, or genetic information. FSS is committed to providing access, equal opportunity, and reasonable accommodation for individuals with disabilities in employment, its services, programs, and activities. If you require a reasonable accommodation in completing an application, interviewing, completing any pre-employment testing, or otherwise participating in the employee selection process, please direct your inquiries to Human Resources at [email protected].