Family Advocate

The Immigrant and Refugee Community Organization (IRCO) is a non-profit organization established in 1976 to serve immigrants, refugees, and the broader community in Portland, Oregon. Our mission is to welcome, serve and empower refugees, immigrants and people across cultures and generations to reach their full potential. Find out more at www.irco.org.  

POSITION:                           Family Advocate

JOB CLASS/GRADE:            Hourly/Grade 10

WAGE:                                  Starting at $24 per hour based on experience

FLSA; EEO; WC:                   Non-Exempt; Professionals; 8864

LOCATIONS:                        IRCO Main Office, 10301 NE Glisan St Portland OR 97220,

                                               Hybrid schedule

FTE; FT/PT; STATUS:          Hourly: On Call without Benefits

                                               (Funded until October 31st, 2026)

NUMBER OF POSITIONS: (1)

APPLY AT:                            www.irco.org 

STATUS:                                Oncall/ Casual without Benefits

PROGRAM(S):                      Parent-Child Interaction (PCI)

SECTOR/DIVISION:             Home Visiting/Early Learning Services 

REQUIREMENTS:                Must pass a Background Check.

                                               Bilingual in English and Ukrainian.

                                               Reliable transportation. 

                                               Must possess a valid driver’s license, have verification of current 

                                               auto insurance, and have full use of an automobile during work 

                                               hours.

Program Summary
The Parent-Child Interaction (PCI) Program is a home visiting program focused on early childhood relational health – partnering with families to help the children thrive. Parent-Child Interaction Program is a free, voluntary home-visiting service to support families with young children. It promotes healthy child development, strengthens parent Child interaction and family bonds. PCI Program provides home visits twice a month, 12 monthly group meetings and 6 field trips during the year. Family Advocate brings child development information and activities to do with the parent and child at each home visit using Parent as Teachers (PAT) Curriculum. PCI Program will help children to become ready for kindergarten and will help to enroll them into kindergarten. PCI Program accomplishes these goals through combination of home visits, parent-child groups, developmental screenings, and referrals provided by committed and professional staff.

Position Summary
The Family Advocate (FA) provides parent education and developmental screenings to families with children birth to 5 years old. A Family Advocate (FA) will come to the family’s home to provide home visits twice a month. During a home visit, the FA will share child development information and activities for promoting positive parent-child interaction using Parent as Teachers (PAT) curriculum. The Family Advocate develops and delivers community-aware approach parenting education activities to meet the different needs of enrolled families through community-aware approach in-person home visits and/or virtual visits, applies developmental screenings to children, connects families with services and resources in the community, according to their needs and goals. The Family Advocate works in a multi-background environment to provide services that meet IRCO’s goals and objectives.

Essential Functions

• Outreach and enroll families within Multnomah, Clackamas, and Washington counties into PCI Program
• Establish and maintain trusting relationships with families through regular home visits
• Prepare and provide community aware approach home visits, Share parenting and child development information during one-on-one home visit
• Prepare and bring age-appropriate activities during home visits
• Provide parenting education, guidance, and support to promote positive parent-child interaction, using PAT curriculum and other approved curriculum and wraparound training and resources to support families
• Partner with parents to promote kindergarten readiness
• Teach parents life skills that promotes problem-solving, self-sufficiency, self-regulation, and advocate for the family
• Guide and support parents to create their Family Goal Plan once a year
• Engage families to actively participate in the program and conduct 2 home visits per month, per family
• Plan and organize monthly group meeting or field trip
• Complete developmental screenings Ages and Stages Questionnaires, third edition (ASQ-3) and Ages & Stages Questionnaires - Social-Emotional second edition (ASQ SE) and coordinate referrals for early intervention as necessary
• Maintain accurate and timely documentation of home visits, screens, assessments and referrals
• Provide monthly reports to supervisor at the end of each month
• Participate in Early Learning Service/IRCO all staff meetings, monthly team meeting, one-on-one reflective supervision, training, committees, and volunteer activities to support IRCO’s goals and objectives

Secondary Functions

• Provide referrals to community services and resources such health and dental clinics, family planning, low-income housing, nutrition services, rental and energy assistance, head start and childcare as needed
• Provide interpretation services to parents and assist them with better access to mainstream service providers such as hospitals, clinics, WIC and social service programs
• Translate training materials and brochures/flyers as necessary
• Follow-up on referral made such as counseling, housing, etc. and support as needed for clients and their families

Education & Experience

MINIMUM JOB SPECIFIC QUALIFICATIONS:

Any combination of education and experience that demonstrates the ability to perform the duties of the position is qualifying:

• Education: High School Diploma/GED required, associate degree in social work or Early Childhood Education preferred
• Experiences in early childhood services, parenting education and assessment, infant and child development, nutrition, preventive health care and/or home visiting services.
• Professional level experience providing outreach, information, referrals, and follow-up to clients
• Experience working with young children and their families.
• Must be familiar with service providers involved with parenting education, social services, health care, emergency services, and childcare.
• Must be able to work in a multi-lingual work environment.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Knowledge of child development
• Ability to build trust with families
• Strong computer skills including proficiency in the Microsoft outlook, words and apricot database
• Strong communication skills in a multilingual organization
• Strong ability to work with multi-lingual staff in a team setting
• Ability to utilize and keep track of assigned budget
• Ability and willingness to learn new skills
• Ability to use initiative and judgment in completing tasks and responsibilities
• Ability to courteously meet and deal effectively with other employees, agency representatives, the public, families and others
• Ability to function in a positive manner in a demanding work environment, to demonstrate a high degree of flexibility, to respond to priorities and schedules that change frequently, and to meet commitments

Physical, Mental, & Environmental Requirements

• Hybrid setting job
• Positions require some analysis of problems or decision-making ability
• Work under close supervision
• Well protected environment with minimal hazards or obstacles
• Stable work schedule with some flexibility
• There is regular variation in tasks, and the Family Advocate must decide which task to complete as well as the order in which tasks are completed

Supervisory Responsibilities
Positions at this level are not responsible for any supervisory functions, or responsibilities, but may occasionally be asked to orient and/or train new employees or volunteers.

What We Offer

IRCO is a very employee-friendly workplace and offers great benefit packages to our staff:

• Many flexible working arrangements and schedule
• Amazing opportunity to work with people who come from all over the world
• Work that helps your community
• 3 to 6 weeks of PTO per year
• 401k match of over 100% on first 5%, immediate vesting
• 3% match for student loans or college savings
• 12 Paid Holidays and 1 Floating Holiday
• Medical & Dental insurance options with 90% coverage for employee AND Families, no deductibles
• Employer Paid Life, Short term, and Long-term Disability Insurance
• Flexible spending accounts

Required Engagement

Engage fully in recommended professional development, as well as other assigned or required training activities. This engagement can also include participation in optional activities that embrace IRCO’s mission, vision, and values-based initiatives.

How To Apply

1. Complete the IRCO application in our Careers Portal: IRCO Application for Employment.
2. Upload your resume and cover letter addressing your qualifications for this position IRCO Careers.
3. For questions about this position, please email [email protected]

Please note that physical applications are accessible from IRCO’s main office, 10301 NE Glisan, Portland, OR 97220. Due to the high volume of applications received, we will not be able to contact applicants or return calls regarding applications. Complete applications should include a cover letter, resume, and IRCO application.

IRCO is an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, pregnancy, age, national origin, disability status, genetic information, protected veteran status, or any characteristics protected by State and Federal law. We will make reasonable accommodations to meet our obligations under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and state disability laws.