Family Advocate

Community Access Inc; New York (NY); On-site; USD 48,000 - 62,000; Full time

Job summary

Community Access Inc. in New York City seeks a Family Advocate to provide engagement and comprehensive support to families in our supported housing programs.

The role centers on helping the head of the household and family maintain housing, pursue recovery, access services, and build social connections. You'll lead individual support, host family-focused groups, and offer parenting workshops, while documenting assessments, service plans, and notes in a timely manner.

Qualifications

• Have an understanding, appreciation, and commitment to the philosophy and mission of Community Access.
• Minimum of a high school diploma or equivalent (GED) required; bachelor’s degree in related field preferred – work experience within field may be substituted for degree.
• Be a certified Family Peer Advocate or able to get this certification with 18 months of hire.
• Qualified candidates must be a parent with experience navigating human service systems for families and children, including behavioral health, education, child welfare and homeless service systems.
• Ability to prioritize and meet deadlines.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills.
• Be creative and flexible.
• Ability to utilize various computer programs, including Microsoft Word and Excel.
• Show initiative and be responsible for follow through.
• Ability to maintain confidential information, as related to position.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
• Be skilled in conflict mediation/negotiation and have an assertive approach to problem solving.
• Must be fingerprinted and cleared through a background clearance process.
• Bilingual Spanish-speaking, preferred. Ability to speak other relevant languages, dependent on specific needs of program participants.

Responsibilities

• Provide engagement and comprehensive support to families in Community Access’ housing programs.
• Deliver individual support as well as community-building group activities and parenting workshops.
• Coordinate with housing staff to help families maintain housing and pursue personal goals.
• Maintain timely documentation of assessments, service plans, and notes.

Skills

Communication skills

Conflict mediation

Teamwork / collaboration

Spanish bilingual (preferred)

Computer literacy (MS Word/Excel)

Education

High school diploma or GED

Bachelor’s degree preferred

Tools

MS Word

MS Excel

Job description

Community Access was founded in 1974 to provide housing and support for people being discharged from psychiatric institutions. Today, we are one of the leading providers of supportive and affordable housing in New York City, and the originators of an integrated housing model which has become a best practice nationally: affordable housing where families live alongside people living with mental health concerns. Our staff work daily to support thousands of New Yorkers through supportive and affordable housing, peer-driven residential crisis support programs, training, advocacy, supported education, mobile treatment and other healing-focused services.

Program/Department Description

The Housing department provides permanent and affordable supportive housing for individuals living with mental health concerns and low-income community residents and families, as well as licensed transitional residential programs for individuals moving from institutions into the community. Services are geared towardsassistingpeople inmaintainingtheir housing andmoving forward with their lives in stable community-based environments.

Position Overview

The Family Advocate provides engagement and comprehensive support services to families who are living in Community Access’ supported housing programs. The Family Advocate supports the head of the household and the entire family, using a person/family-centered model that supports them in maintaining their housing and developing and reaching personal and familial goals that could include but are not limited to furthering their recovery, accessing community-based treatment and support services, connecting to community, family and social support networks, and reaching educational or vocational opportunities. Family Advocates are responsible for providing individual support as well as community building group activities and parenting support related workshops.

Key Performance Indicators

All key performance indicators below are expected to be met fully.

• Facilitate a minimum of four groups per month focusing on family support, parenting skills development and/or community building. This could be either four different groups or two different recurring groups.
• Ensure that allservices, follow- up anddocumentationarecompleted on time including:
  • Allassessments and service plans are completed on time.
  • Completeatleasttwo service plan linked notes for allfamilieson assigned caseload, entered within48 hoursof the meetings.
• Ensure monthly in-apartment visits for all families on assigned caseload.
• Consistentlydocument40 hoursof direct service work each month.

Job Qualifications

• Have an understanding, appreciation, and commitment to the philosophy and mission of Community Access.
• Minimum of a high school diploma or equivalent (GED)required;bachelor’s degreein related field preferred – work experience within field may be substituted for degree.
• Be a certified Family Peer Advocate or able to get this certification with 18 months of hire.
• Qualified candidates must be a parent with experience navigating human service systems for families and children, including behavioral health, education, child welfare and homeless service systems.
• Ability to prioritize and meet deadlines.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills.
• Be creative and flexible.
• Ability toutilizevarious computer programs,includingMicrosoft Word and Excel.
• Show initiative andbe responsible for follow through.
• Ability tomaintainconfidential information, as related to position.
• Ability to work independentlyandas part of a team.
• Be skilled in conflict mediation/negotiation and have an assertive approach to problem solving.
• Mustbe fingerprinted and cleared through a background clearance process.
• Bilingual Spanish-speaking, preferred. Ability to speak other relevant languages, dependent on specific needs of program participants.

Bilingual candidates are encouraged to apply.

Community Access is an Equal Opportunity Employer. M/F/D/V.

Women, People of Color and Members of the LGBT community are strongly encouraged to apply.

We are dedicated to a workforce where at least 51% of our employees identify as