Parental Advocate

Minnesota Council of Nonprofits; Minneapolis (MN); On-site; USD 40,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

Native American Community Clinic (NACC) in Minneapolis seeks a Parental Advocate to support parents and caregivers, promote parenting skills, lead groups, and coordinate resources, including interactions with CPS.

The role focuses on removing barriers to completing treatment plans across medical, dental, and behavioral health services; involves outreach, community events, and connecting families to housing, transportation, and social services; no supervisory responsibility.

Qualifications

• Two or more years of experience supporting parents/caregivers in case management, social services, or clinical settings.
• Associates degree (A.A.) or equivalent education.
• Proficient computer skills with internet, Excel, Word, and Outlook.
• Knowledge of maternal and child health, pregnancy, postpartum care, and infant/early childhood development.
• Understanding of CPS, ICWA, Minnesota Indian Family Preservation Act, and culturally responsive approaches.

Responsibilities

• Care coordination tasks to identify and resolve barriers to completing medical, dental, and behavioral health plans; address parenting challenges.
• Support parents in accessing parenting resources, skills development, and support services.
• Participate in outreach to promote NACC at community events; share information and resources.
• Maintain current community and parenting resources information, including insurance, housing, transportation, and child development.
• Meet with parents in clinic and provide social and parenting support; connect to services.
• Advocate for patients and families; promote community health needs and parental well-being.
• Lead parental skills groups; coordinate with CPS and other agencies to access resources.
• Coordinate maternal child health meetings; assist with grant supply ordering and reporting.
• Other duties as assigned.

Skills

Case management

Strong communication

Interpersonal skills

Cultural competence

Education

Associates degree (A.A.) or equivalent

Tools

Internet Software

Excel

Word

Outlook

Job description

Title Parental Advocate

Department: Medical/Clinical Support

Reports to: Maternal Child Health Program Manager

Effective Date: 8/13/2024

The Native American Community Clinic (NACC) is committed to enhancing the health and wellness of mind, body, and spirit for Native American families through a comprehensive range of healthcare services, including Medical, Behavioral Health, Dental, and Substance Abuse treatment. We are seeking a dedicated Parent Advocate to join our team. This role will support parents and care givers by promoting parenting skills, leading parent skills groups, coordinating parenting resources, and providing support in dealings with Child Protective Services (CPS). The ideal candidate for this position will possess strong communication and interpersonal skills, embrace challenging cases, and utilize problem-solving skills to help patients and their families overcome barriers, connect to essential services, and improve their overall quality of life.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Responsible for care coordination tasks, including identifying and resolving barriers that prevent patients from completing medical, dental, and behavioral health treatment plans, as well as addressing specific parenting challenges.
• Supports parents in accessing parenting resources, skills development, and support services.
• Serves as part of the outreach team to promote NACC in the community; attends community health fairs, events, and expos to share information, promotes NACC services, improve community health, and provide support to parents through educational and resource-sharing opportunities.
• Helps to maintain current community and parenting resource information in an organized and accessible format, including insurance, pharmacy, traditional healing, counseling, housing, tribal registration, transportation, food assistance, parenting classes, and child development resources.
• Meets with parents and care givers in the clinic to assess and assist with their social and parenting needs—performs both in reach and outreach to connect them to social services and parenting support.
• Acts as an advocate for patients and their families, working to promote community health needs and parental well-being.
• Leads parental skills groups, coordinates with external agencies such as CPS when necessary, and facilitates access to community resources aimed at strengthening family dynamics.
• Coordinates maternal child health meetings
• Provides support in grant supply ordering and reporting.
• Other duties as assigned.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES:

This job has no supervisory responsibilities.

QUALIFICATIONS AND EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS:

• Two + years of experience working to support parents/caregivers in a case management, social service or clinical capacity
• Associates degree (A.A.) or equivalent from a two-year College or technical school; or two + years related experience and/or training; or an equivalent combination of education and experience
• Computer skills required: Internet Software; Spreadsheet Software (Excel); Word Processing Software (Word); Electronic Mail Software (Outlook);
• Knowledge of maternal and child health, pregnancy, postpartum care, infant and early childhood development.
• Understands the needs of families involved with CPS, ICWA, Minnesota Indian Family Preservation Act, and culturally responsive approaches to supporting Native families.

COMPETENCIES:

ProjectManagement-Developsprojectplans;Coordinatesprojects;Communicateschangesand progress; Completes projects on time and budget; Manages project teamactivities.

Diversity - Demonstrates knowledge of EEO policy; Shows respect and sensitivity for cultural differences;Educatesothersonthevalueofdiversity;Promotesaharassment-freeenvironment; Builds a diverseworkforce.

Organizational Support - Follows policies and procedures; Completes administrative tasks correctly and on time; Supports organization's goals and values; Benefits organization through outside activities; Supports affirmative action and respectsdiversity.

Safety and Security - Observes safety and security procedures; Determines appropriate action beyondguidelines;Reportspotentiallyunsafeconditions;Usesequipmentandmaterialsproperly

Adaptability - Adapts to changes in the work environment; Manages competing demands; Changes approach or method to best fit the situation; Able to deal with frequent change, delays, or unexpectedevents.

Attendance/Punctuality - Is consistently at work and on time; Ensures work responsibilities are covered when absent; Arrives at meetings and appointments ontime.

Dependability-Followsinstructions,respondstomanagementdirection;Takesresponsibilityfor ownactions;Keepscommitments;Commitstolonghoursofworkwhennecessarytoreachgoals; Completes tasks on time or notifies appropriate person with an alternateplan.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS AND WORK ENVIRONMENT:

• Frequently required to stand, sit, bend, stoop, kneel or crawl
• Continually required towalk, climb, balance, talk or hear
• Frequently required to utilize hand and fingerdexterity
• Occasionally exposure to wet and/or humid conditions(non-weather)
• Occasionally work near moving mechanicalpart
• Occasionally work in high, precariousplaces
• Occasionally work around fumes, airborne particles, or toxicchemicals
• Occasional exposure to outside weatherconditions
• Frequently exposure to bloodborne and airborne pathogens or infectiousmaterials
• While performing the duties of this job, the noise level in the work environment is usually moderate toloud
• The employee must occasionally lift and /or move more than 50 pounds / frequently lift and/or move up to 25 pounds / continually lift and/or move upto 15 pounds
• SpecificvisionabilitiesrequiredbythisjobincludeClosevision;Distancevision;Peripheralvision; Depth perception and ability to adjustfocus