Family and Children Service Advocate

Job Description 

Job Title:       Family & Children Service Advocate 

Department: Child Care Family Services 

Reports To:   Associate Director of Family Engagement 

FLSA Status: This is a Fulltime (37.50 hours/week), Non-Exempt/Union position 

Level:             7 

Salary:              $57,058.95-$60,533.85 

ABOUT CHILDREN’S COUNCIL 

For more than 50 years, Children’s Council has been the heart of child care and early education in San Francisco, advancing the belief that high-quality child care can transform lives and communities. Our more than 150 team members help families navigate their child care and preschool options and secure financial assistance to pay for it. We provide home-based child care businesses with the training and resources to succeed. Through a wide range of free programs and workshops, we support parents and caregivers as they build child development skills. As the city’s second-largest nonprofit contractor, with an annual budget of over $240 million, we are a major stakeholder in the child care system. We educate the public and advocate for increased investment in early education at the local and state level. If you are a child care champion, we want you on our team. 

ABOUT THE CHILD CARE FAMILY SERVICES TEAM 

Our Child Care Family Services Department is invested in offering a wraparound service model that builds on individual and family strengths to help families achieve positive goals and improve well-being. We offer an array of supportive services to families, which includes child care financial assistance for children 0-13, help in finding high quality child care educator in San Francisco, various levels of case management, family engagement activities and caregiver workshops. 

Position Summary 

Family and Children’s Services connects families with child care and additional supportive services 

for children at risk or who are currently receiving Child Protective Services. 
This team uses trauma informed strategies and a wraparound informed service model to address
complex situations to support the needs of children, caregivers/parents and child care
educators.  

The Family and Children Services Navigator
proactively links families to local, state, and federally funded child care subsidies in their county. He/She/They are a trusted resource for families navigating the child care and subsidy choices available to them. He/She/They ensure a successful enrollment and good fit for the child, and
provide families a warm handoff to other supportive services and community resources to reach their goals. Combining strong time management, proactive and equitable
solutions, the Family & Children Services Navigator
coordinates multiple family and program-driven deliverables to empower families with information and support. 

Key Qualities 

• You have an understanding of trauma informed care principles and wrap around service. 

• You are an advocate for children and families and seek equitable access to services for all of your families. 

Key Responsibilities 

Navigation 

• Administer one-on-one child care subsidy eligibility determinations and family needs assessment for children at risk or who are currently receiving Child Protective Services.  

• Ongoing follow up with
  families and child care
  programs to ensure good fit for the child and ensure a successful enrollment. 

• Engage and empower caregivers and parents with child development and family strengthening principles. 

• Partner with Protective Service Workers and other social workers to facilitate
  with child & caregiver goals. 

• Build and maintain professional connections with community-based organizations to provide integrated support for families. 

• Plan and facilitate learning events and support groups for families, staff and community partners, on topics including, but not limited to, Trauma Informed Care practices, FCS services, child wellness and resilience, child care search and continuity of care. 

• Support Provider Engagement Coach with
  Trauma-Informed Care events and sharing trauma informed knowledge with Children’s Council staff.  

• Provide enhanced child care referrals - communicate with child care programs to determine availability, meet the child’s unique needs, and secure optimal
  child care environments.   

Program Evaluation and Continuous Improvement 

• Track family outcomes, monitor family progress and produce summary reports. 

• Analyze data and share internally and externally the impact of this program. 

• Participate in ongoing conversations with funders and community partners to advocate for accessible and continuous
  early care and education. 

• Identify gaps in service delivery and work with the Associate Director to propose and implement solutions. 

Program Administration 

• Refer families by doing a warm handoff to community-based organization when services needed fall outside our agencies’ scope of knowledge and expertise. 

• Maintain in-depth knowledge of services and organizations families can access in their communities. 

• Maintain in-depth knowledge of and compliance with all relevant program regulations, policies and best practices in a rapidly changing environment.   

• Maintain accurate, up-to-date client records in electronic and hard copy files. 

• Adhere to all relevant confidentiality policies under all circumstances.   

Key Qualifications 

• At least two years experience working with social services in the child welfare system. 

• Minimum 2 years of experience working and/or case management with marginalized families or who receive child protective services. 

• Must be cognizant of trauma informed care, with an understanding of wrap around informed service model. 

• Sensitivity to and knowledge of family with substance abuse, domestic violence, and mental health issues. 

• Knowledge of mandatory reporting requirements for people working with children, including laws and procedures related to child abuse matters. 

• Demonstrates the necessary attitudes, knowledge, and skills to deliver culturally competent services and work effectively in cross-cultural situations. 

• Energetic ability to be achievement oriented, set and meet goals/deadlines, and maintain teamwork and cooperation across teams. 

• Experience with tracking data and
  identifying and summarizing key findings that supports
  program improvement. 

• Must have the ability to work occasional on evenings and weekends.  

Physical Requirements 

• Must be able to remain stationary for extended periods of time.  

• Must be able to move throughout the office, access files, meet with clients and community stakeholders.  

• Requires the mental acuity to perform the essential functions as outlined in an accurate and timely fashion. 

BACKGROUND CHECK

All offers of employment are contingent upon successfully completing this process.

Hybrid Work   

We have adopted a hybrid working model and currently require employees to be present in the office at least 3 days per week, with the option to work 2 days per week remotely. Applicants should be comfortable with both the remote and in office scenarios.    

COVID Policies 

All staff are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 (barring application for medical or religious exemptions). Wearing masks in the office is optional for our staff. 

Benefits, and Employee Perks 

We offer a family-friendly workplace, plus competitive pay, and industry leading benefits package that includes: 

• Generous Medical coverage for staff, including paid medical plan deductibles, copays and out-of-pocket maximums. 

• Dental, Vision, Chiropractic & Acupuncture, Life, LTD and AD&D coverage. 

• Voluntary benefits that include Supplement Life, Accident, Critical Illness, and Pet Insurance. 

• 401(k) retirement plan with a generous employer match. 

• Pre-tax Flexible Spending Accounts, Health Savings Account and Commuter Benefit programs. 

• Generous paid time off  package, including 14 paid holidays + a floating holiday for your Birthday. 

• Ongoing training and professional development for all staff. 

• Tuition Reimbursement. 

Children's Council of SF is committed to building a staff that is rich with cultural, social and experiential diversity. Candidates who want to join us on this journey and who can uniquely contribute to that goal are encouraged to apply. 

Equal Opportunity & Equity Statement  

Children’s Council is an equal opportunity employer that values diversity as central to our work serving the San Francisco community. We comply with all applicable state and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment. Our practices are in alignment with our commitment to workplace equity, diversity, and inclusion. We foster a work environment where our current and future staff feel welcomed without regard to race, color, religion, gender identity, national origin, sex, age, disability or sexual orientation.