Special Needs Advocate

Position Summary

The Special Needs Advocate provides direct advocacy, guidance, and support to individuals with special needs and their families. This role is responsible for assessing individual needs, coordinating services, navigating educational, healthcare, and community systems, and ensuring that individuals’ rights, needs, and preferences are effectively represented. The Advocate also supports outreach efforts, maintains an up-to-date community resource database.

Key Responsibilities

• Identify, verify, and maintain accurate information on services and programs for individuals with special needs within the community resource database.


• Respond to Special Needs Helpline requests by guiding individuals and families through benefit and service access, resolving barriers, and advocating on their behalf by phone or in person as needed.


• Conduct follow-up calls to assess client status and provide additional referrals or advocacy support.


• Perform pre-screening for selected health and human service programs and determine eligibility based on provider criteria, including follow-up with community providers regarding service outcomes.


• Accurately document services, referrals, advocacy activities, outreach efforts, and presentations in agency systems to support funder reporting, audits, and performance monitoring.


• Establish and maintain collaborative relationships with community providers serving individuals with special needs.


• Conduct presentations, attend outreach events, health fairs, and community activities to increase awareness and utilization of the Special Needs Helpline.


• Provide training, consultation, and support to Resource Center Specialists related to Special Needs Helpline calls.


• Participate in community meetings, coalitions, and professional development opportunities as assigned.


• Ability to complete accurate and timely “help seeker” documentation in compliance with agency and funding requirements.


• Maintain compliance with all applicable federal, state, local, and funder requirements, including confidentiality, data security, public records obligations, and required cybersecurity training.


• Perform other duties as assigned.

This position is supported in whole or in part by external grant funding and is subject to applicable funder requirements and reporting obligations.

Minimum Qualifications

Education & Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in social work or a related field preferred; high school diploma or GED with a minimum of two (2) years of relevant experience required.


• Working knowledge of community resources serving children with special needs.


• Knowledge of applicable federal, state, and local laws, policies, and guidelines related to the special needs population preferred.


• Experience conducting group presentations and/or training preferred.


• Proficiency in basic computer applications, including word processing and electronic data entry.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• Strong problem-solving, advocacy, and decision-making skills with sound professional judgment.


• Ability to work independently with minimal supervision.


• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with families, community partners, school personnel, and disability-related organizations.


• Strong oral and written communication skills.


• Ability to collaborate effectively with staff, volunteers, and community stakeholders.


• Demonstrated ability to communicate in a culturally competent manner with diverse populations.


• Ability to represent the organization professionally in all interactions.


• Bilingual skills preferred (English/Spanish or English/Creole); fluency in English required.


• Ability to maintain confidentiality and safeguard sensitive client and agency information.


• Willingness and ability to obtain and maintain required certifications and complete agency or funder-required trainings.