Advocate

10 BCFS Health and Human Services; Harlingen (TX); On-site; USD 42,000 - 56,000; Full time

Job summary

BCFS Health and Human Services is seeking an Advocate to provide trauma-informed advocacy and case management for survivors. The role requires responding to crises, safety planning, and coordinating ongoing services in alignment with program standards.

Flexibility for after-hours, weekends, and travel within the region is essential. Employees will use a personal vehicle for mobile work and must meet travel requirements, including overnight stays when needed.

Qualifications

• Maintain all required licenses and certifications (e.g., First Aid, CPR, Emergency Behavior Intervention, OAG Sexual Abuse Program, State Driver’s License) and provide verification upon request.
• Pass pre-employment and biennial background checks and drug screenings.
• Communicate effectively in writing and verbally in English; Spanish is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Maintain compliance with federal, state, and program standards.
• Assess changes affecting child safety using trauma-informed approaches.
• Deliver family preservation interventions including safety planning.
• Respond to referrals and crises for assigned caseload.
• Transport clients as needed and dispatch to response locations.
• Document progress and complete documentation within timelines.

Skills

Safety assessments

Communication in English

Cultural sensitivity

Emotional intelligence

Job description

Summary

The Advocate provides trauma-informed, relational advocacy and case management services to survivors, ensuring high-quality support in both crisis and long-term situations. Responsibilities include immediate crisis response, safety planning, case documentation, and coordination of ongoing services in alignment with program, state, and federal standards. This role requires flexibility for after-hours and weekend crisis coverage. The Advocate demonstrates Common Thread’s core values of compassion, integrity, resilience, and relational care. Employees must have a reliable personal vehicle and be able to consistently meet a 90-minute crisis response timeframe. Mileage is reimbursed in accordance with organizational policy. Travel is pr marily regional; however, occasional overnight travel, including air travel, may be required based on program needs. Participation in an on-call rotation is required. Candidates must be available to respond to emergencies at any time, including evenings, weekends, and holidays. This role is highly mobile and requires exercising sound independent judgment and manage responsibilities with minimal supervision. Employees will use their personal vehicle as a primary mobile workspace and must be prepared to travel directly to response locations as needed.

Critical Action Items & Measurable Deliverables

1. Maintain compliance with all federal, state, and program regulatory guidelines and standards applicable to this position.
2. Assess ongoing changes in behavior, circumstances, or conditions affecting child safety, using child-focused, trauma-informed, and quality-driven approaches.
3. Deliver family preservation interventions, including comprehensive safety planning and clinically informed stabilization planning.
4. Provide feedback and support to crisis response line to ensure effective responses, follow-ups, and appropriate family support.
5. Respond immediately to all referrals and crises for assigned caseload.
6. Engage children and their caregivers actively in the casework process.
7. Manage caseloads according to agency policies, licensing, and contract standards.
8. Document progress toward risk reduction, achievement of service goals, and positive case outcomes for children and families.
9. Complete all documentation within program-required timelines.
10. Follow immediate reporting and response requirements for safety-related cases in the field.
11. Transport clients when needed according to program protocols.
12. Dispatch within required timeframes to hospitals, police stations, DFPS offices, shelters, community-based settings, or incident locations.
13. Maintain a minimum number of daily or weekly contacts with children and families to ensure consistent support.
14. Continuously evaluate and strengthen rapport with assigned clients.
15. Act in the child’s best interest, supporting relationships with community members and stakeholders.
16. Participate in community meetings and engage stakeholders to ensure services are accessible.
17. Attend workshops, seminars, and educational programs to promote professional growth and development.
18. Prepare and maintain accurate records, files, forms, and statistics in accordance with agency, licensing, and contract requirements.
19. Participate in weekly case staffing with the regional team.
20. Work evenings, weekends, holidays, and on-call shifts as needed, including voluntary overnight crisis coverage.
21. Implement safety protocols, including emergency evacuations, in accordance with BCFS Health and Human Services and program guidelines.
22. Maintain strict confidentiality in all areas of service, population interactions and program operations.
23. Uphold BCFS Health and Human Services professional and ethical standards, demonstrating respect for staff, the service population, and community members, and comply with the required dress code.

Essential Functions

1. Provide comprehensive, trauma-informed services, including safety planning, immediate risk reduction, and short-term therapeutic interventions.
2. Independently coordinate referrals, service planning, and documentation for an assigned caseload.
3. Accept and respond to crisis calls, providing timely support to children and families in need.
4. Conduct thorough assessments, develop treatment plans, and make independent field decisions regarding the safety and well-being of assigned children and families.
5. Deliver in-home family preservation services as assigned.
6. Serve as a liaison with stakeholders—including legal providers, child protection, law enforcement, federal partners, and others—ensuring adherence to program and local protocols.
7. Actively participate in community meetings and advocate directly with stakeholders to enhance child services.
8. Engage in weekly supervision, either face-to-face or via phone, with the assigned supervisor.
9. Travel approximately 75% of the time within the region, including overnight stays, often requiring use of a personal vehicle.
10. Meet all deadlines established by program supervisors and federal partners.
11. Demonstrate thorough knowledge of BCFS Health and Human Services policies and procedures.

Requirements

1. Demonstrate mastery of safety, resiliency, and mental health assessments.
2. Maintain all required licenses and certifications (e.g., First Aid, CPR, Emergency Behavior Intervention, OAG Sexual Abuse Program, State Driver’s License) and provide verification upon request.
3. Possess current auto insurance and proof of work eligibility.
4. Pass pre-employment and biennial background checks, drug screenings, and consistently maintain professional composure.
5. Demonstrate the ability to: a. Respond sensitively and competently to the service population’s cultural and socio-economic characteristics. b. Communicate effectively in writing and verbally in English (Spanish is a plus). c. Continuously demonstrate the 26 essential characteristics of an effective advocate. d. Work in a fast-paced environment and always maintain emotional intelligence and professional boundaries and composure. e. Maintain technology and computer literacy necessary to manage caseloads, documentation, and communication effectively f. Work effectively and without intensive supervision both independently and as a member of a multidisciplinary team. g. Adapt immediately to changes in the field.

Nothing in this job description restricts management’s right to assign or reassign duties and responsibilities to this job at any time. English (United States)

If you like to work with people that believe they can make a difference in the world, this is the company for you!

EEO Statement In accordance with Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and other applicable federal and state laws (e.g., the Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA), and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), it is our policy to provide equal employment opportunity and treat all employees equally regardless of race, religion, national origin, color, sex, or any other classification made unlawful or prohibited by federal, state and/or local laws, such as age, citizenship status, veteran or military status, or disability. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including hiring, promotion, demotion, compensation, training, working conditions, transfer, job assignments, benefits, layoff, and termination. Applicants must be authorized to work for ANY employer in the U.S. We are unable to sponsor or take over sponsorship of an employment Visa at this time. #LI-Other #LI-Associate #LI-Full-time BCFS Health and Human Services established in 1944 is a non-profit organization with locations and nationally doing noble work across Texas and the United States, specializing in community-based care for at risk families and children (abused and/or neglected & domestic violence), prevention & early intervention services, housing for young adults aging out of the foster care system, mental health & life skill services, advocacy and case management coordination for survivors of human trafficking, medical programs for women who are pregnant or post-partum, and serving families who have a child with a disability or special needs by providing them with an opportunity to visit the world’s first theme park designed with individuals with special needs in mind. EEO Statement In accordance with Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and other applicable federal and state laws (e.g., the Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA), and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), it is our policy to provide equal employment opportunity and treat all employees equally regardless of race, religion, national origin, color, sex, or any other classification made unlawful or prohibited by federal, state and/or local laws, such as age, citizenship status, veteran or military status, or disability. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including hiring, promotion, demotion, compensation, training, working conditions, transfer, job assignments, benefits, layoff, and termination.