Family Advocate

YMCA of San Diego County; San Diego (CA); Hybrid; USD 37,000 - 43,000; Full time

Job summary

YMCA of San Diego County is seeking a Family Advocate to oversee the certification process for families seeking subsidized childcare services. You will manage a caseload of 120-195 families, conduct eligibility interviews, and guide families to access quality care and supportive resources within the YMCA.

You will work in a hybrid role within San Diego County, with in-person training at Chula Vista and periodic in-person meetings after training.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in child development, human services, or related field, or four years’ equivalent related experience.
• At least one year of experience in high-volume environments or community-based organizations.
• Experience performing data entry and/or data validation tasks.
• Strong Microsoft Office and spreadsheet skills required.

Responsibilities

• Conduct initial screenings and schedule certification interviews for participants.
• Maintain program files and ensure documentation accuracy.
• Assist families in accessing childcare subsidies and related resources.
• Build relationships with participants to assess goals and needs.
• Collaborate with regional partners and YMCA to expand services.

Skills

Microsoft Office

Data entry

Client management

Communication

Active listening

Conflict de-escalation

Organizational skills

Caseload management

Public interaction

Hybrid work

Education

Bachelor’s degree in child development or related field

4 years’ equivalent experience

Tools

Client management software

Job description

Overview

The Family Advocate oversees the certification process for families seeking subsidized childcare services. This role involves managing a caseload of 120 - 195 families, conducting initial interviews to determine eligibility, assessing parents' work or training goals to determine appropriate level of childcare, and assisting families in accessing quality care options and additional supportive resources both within and outside the YMCA. Achieving and maintaining a 90% accuracy rate is essential. This position follows and maintains compliance with California Department of Social Services, Title 5, or County childcare regulations and CRS policies and procedures.

*Staff in this role will start on 1/4/2027*

SCHEDULE:

• Monday – Friday, 8:00AM – 4:30PM

WORK DESIGNATION:

• Hybrid (must work within San Diego County Region)
  • The position will require in-person training at our Chula Vista office during the first eight (8) to ten (10) weeks of employment.
  • Upon completion of training, staff in this role will work in-person at our Chula Vista/North Park/Escondido office for a minimum of six (6) months and will move to a hybrid schedule reporting a minimum of three (3) days per week to either our Chula Vista, North Park or Escondido office with additional in-person meetings as needed.
  • Please note that the work designation may change based on business needs.

Responsibilities

• Monitor and maintain program resources essential for family enrollment in subsidized childcare, ensuring accurate documentation in program files; Provide direct assistance to program parents and providers, facilitating access to childcare subsidies
• Maintain quality assurance of program files, ensuring compliance with Funding Terms and Conditions and Title 5 or county childcare guidelines
• Maintain database and tracking information for program statistics and prepare program reports
• Conduct initial screenings and schedule certification interviews for new and returning participants, meeting all program deadlines for documentation and case actions
• Interpret and communicate rules, regulations, and timelines of childcare programs to participants, both verbally and in writing
• Gather necessary documentation such as work, training, or other need verification from relevant entities, using CDSS regulations to determine eligibility and shared costs where applicable
• Build trusting relationships and partner with participants to assess goals and needs for various resources, including medical and dental care, affordable housing, education and career advancement, finances and budgeting, counseling, substance abuse, parenting resources, child behavior support, special needs and more
• Provide trauma-informed and culturally responsive support and services to families, connecting them with childcare services and other relevant programs
• Participate in meetings and collaborative opportunities with Community Support Services region, the YMCA, and community partners to expand the agency's supportive services network

TRAVEL REQUIREMENTS:

• Must have access to reliable transportation to travel regularly throughout San Diego County

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in child development, human services, or related field, or four (4) years’ equivalent related experience required AND,
• A minimum of one (1) year of experience in any of the following or a combination thereof:
  • Working in an administrative setting
  • Performing data entry and/or data validation tasks
  • Working in a community-based organization serving children, youth, families and/or adults
  • Experience working in a high-volume environment

JOB COMPETENCIES:

• Must have intermediate computer skills in Microsoft Office (Word and Excel), experience with data entry, and a comparable client management software program
• Proficient in basic mathematical skills, including arithmetic operations, such as addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division, as well as the ability to interpret and analyze numerical data accurately
• Proficiency in managing an assigned caseload effectively with appropriate guidance and supervision
• Ability to follow, interpret, and apply policies, procedures, and state regulations accurately when determining need and eligibility
• Possess strong customer service, conflict de-escalation, active listening, and communication skills to effectively interact with work partners
• Demonstrated experience, sensitivity, and competency in working with diverse groups and individuals, encompassing various social, ethnic, religious, socioeconomic, and cultural backgrounds
• Display strong organizational and prioritization skills to efficiently manage tasks and responsibilities
• Ability to effectively communicate via telephone and direct interaction with parents, providers, partners, and the general public, utilizing auditory skills
• Comfortable with a hybrid work model, capable of efficiently managing both office and remote work responsibilities on specified days
• Flexibility to transition between different work environments as needed, including the potential for full-time office-based work at any time

PRE-HIRE CONTINGENCIES:

• Licensing, state law and our funders require that applicants be fingerprinted, prior to reporting to work, and include subsequent arrest notifications
• CPR/AED, and First Aid Certification, must include Adult and Child/Infant, within 30 days of hire, and must be from one of the following certifying organizations: American Red Cross, American Heart Association, or American Safety and Health Institute
• Exclusion and Debarment checks prior to first day and monthly thereafter

YMCA will consider qualified applicants with a criminal history pursuant to the San Diego County Fair Chance Ordinance and the California Fair Chance Act. You do not need to disclose your criminal history or participate in a background check until a conditional job offer is made to you. After making a conditional offer and running a background check, if the YMCA is concerned about conviction that is directly related to the job, you will be given the opportunity to explain the circumstances surrounding the conviction, provide mitigating evidence, or challenge the accuracy of the background report. Find out more about the Fair Chance Ordinance by visiting the San Diego CountyOffice of Labor Standards and Enforcement.

Pay Range

USD $27.00 - USD $31.24 /Hr.