Parent Advocate - PEP

A Better Way, Inc.; Hayward (CA); On-site; USD 52,000 - 72,000; Full time

Job summary

A Better Way, Inc. is seeking a Parent Partner to support the Family Finding & Engagement Program, working with families, relatives, and natural supports identified in a youth's life.

You will provide coaching, education, and resources navigation to help caregivers participate in planning for well-being and permanency. Responsibilities include maintaining a caseload, engaging families via phone, virtual and in-person contact, and connecting them to community resources.

Qualifications

• Lived experience navigating systems such as child welfare, education, healthcare, or related family-serving systems or Certified Peer Support Specialist with two years of peer-based support.
• Ability to build trust and connect with families who may be hesitant or unfamiliar with system processes.
• Experience working with families involved in child welfare, kinship care, or foster care systems.
• Knowledge of community resources within Alameda County.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills.
• Ability to work effectively with diverse communities and cultural backgrounds.
• Basic computer skills and willingness to learn agency documentation systems.
• Valid California driver's license, reliable transportation, and current auto insurance.

Responsibilities

• Maintain an active caseload of 20-30 participants.
• Provide ongoing engagement and support through phone, virtual, and in-person contact.
• Track services, family contacts, and outcomes in accordance with program requirements.
• Maintain accurate and timely case documentation
• Build professional relationships with relatives, kin, and supportive adults identified through the Family Finding process.
• Connect families with community resources that support caregiver stability and youth placement.
• Assist families in addressing barriers that may limit their ability to support the youth.
• Help families understand child welfare processes, including case planning, court processes, and permanency planning.
• Clarify and demystify Child Welfare and Juvenile Court systems and jargon for families.
• Provide guidance to caregivers who may pursue Resource Family Approval (RFA).
• Attend any Case Planning and Review Child and Family Team (CFTs) meetings to help ensure that families' concerns are heard and addressed.
• Assist families with increasing their support network on behalf of the needs of the youth, address any barriers limiting families from providing long-lasting placement
• Provide one-to-one support to the kinship caregivers and families, i.e., role modeling advocacy for the caregiver: acting as a sounding board, motivator and a coach for the caregiver.
• Demonstrate sensitivity and competence in dealing with ethnic, cultural, and socioeconomically diverse client population spanning over a large geographic area.
• Increase awareness about the importance of caregiver /professional partnerships
• Engage in personal and professional development to develop new skills and meet the challenges of the position.
• Participate in required agency and county in-service training program
• Communicate daily schedules and plans clearly to supervisor and other relevant parties.
• The ability to relate effectively and professionally with parents, supervisors, co-workers and staff in support of families.
• Meet and maintain all contract deliverables by deadlines.
• Perform additional duties that support program goals and agency operations.

Skills

Lived experience navigating systems

Peer-support experience

Trust-building

Interpersonal skills

Cultural competence

Communication skills

Diversity awareness

Basic computer skills

Driver's license

Education

Certified Peer Support Specialist

Tools

Agency documentation systems

Job description

The Parent Partner supports the Family Finding & Engagement Program by working alongside families, relatives, and natural supports identified in a child's life. Using lived experience and peer-based engagement, the Parent Partner helps families navigate the child welfare system, understand available services, and strengthen their ability to support the youth.

Role:

This role focuses on building relationships with relatives and supportive adults who may be part of a youth's long-term support network. Parent Partners provide coaching, education, and resources navigation to help caregivers participate in planning for the youth's well-being and permanency.

Parent Partners serve as a bridge between families and the child welfare system, helping caregivers understand processes such as Child and Family Team (CFT) meetings, permanency planning, and the Resource Family Approval (RFA) process.

Qualifications:

• Lived experience navigating systems such as child welfare, education, healthcare, or related family-serving systems OR Certified Peer Support Specialist (or equivalent) with two years of experience providing peer-based support to families.
• Ability to build trust and connect with families who may be hesitant or unfamiliar with system processes.
• Experience working with families involved in child welfare, kinship care, or foster care systems.
• Knowledge of community resources within Alameda County.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills.
• Ability to work effectively with diverse communities and cultural backgrounds.
• Basic computer skills and willingness to learn agency documentation systems.
• Valid California driver's license, reliable transportation, and current auto insurance.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Maintain an active caseload of 20-30 participants.
• Provide ongoing engagement and support through phone, virtual, and in-person contact.
• Track services, family contacts, and outcomes in accordance with program requirements.
• Maintain accurate and timely case documentation
• Build professional relationships with relatives, kin, and supportive adults identified through the Family Finding process.
• Connect families with community resources that support caregiver stability and youth placement.
• Assist families in addressing barriers that may limit their ability to support the youth.
• Help families understand child welfare processes, including case planning, court processes, and permanency planning.
• Clarify and demystify Child Welfare and Juvenile Court systems and jargon for families.
• Provide guidance to caregivers who may pursue Resource Family Approval (RFA).
• Attend any Case Planning and Review Child and Family Team (CFTs) meetings to help ensure that families' concerns are heard and addressed.
• Assist families with increasing their support network on behalf of the needs of the youth, address any barriers limiting families from providing long-lasting placement
• Provide one-to-one support to the kinship caregivers and families, i.e., role modeling advocacy for the caregiver: acting as a sounding board, motivator and a coach for the caregiver.
• Demonstrate sensitivity and competence in dealing with ethnic, cultural, and socioeconomically diverse client population spanning over a large geographic area.
• Increase awareness about the importance of caregiver /professional partnerships
• Engage in personal and professional development to develop new skills and meet the challenges of the position.
• Participate in required agency and county in-service training program
• Communicate daily schedules and plans clearly to supervisor and other relevant parties.
• The ability to relate effectively and professionally with parents, supervisors, co-workers and staff in support of families.
• Meet and maintain all contract deliverables by deadlines.
• Perform additional duties that support program goals and agency operations.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is required to regularly work off site and within the community as well as working in an office setting.

Physical Demands

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to use hands and fingers to handle, feel, or operate objects, tools or controls, and reach with hands and arms. The employee is frequently required to stand, talk and hear.

Position Type/Expected Hours of Work

This is a full-time non-exempt position. Days and hours of work are Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Some evenings and weekends required.

Travel

Local travel to various work sites is required.

Work Authorization/Security Clearance

Employment is contingent upon passing a background check and obtaining TB and health clearances. When applicable, driving records are periodically reviewed in accordance with company policy. Employees must also comply with the organization's vaccination requirements.

A Better Way is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Inclusive environments for all employees and applicants are our priority. All qualified individuals will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, ancestry, age, neurodiversity, disability, protected veteran status, marital status, genetic information, or any other protected status in accordance with applicable federal, state, and local laws.

This job description is intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed. It is not intended to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills required. This document may be subject to periodic review and revision in compliance with California labor and employment regulations.