Family Advocate

Family Focus, a leader in the field of family support, seeks qualified candidates for the full-time position of Family Advocate at its Lawndale Center. Family Focus provides comprehensive resources and support programs for families with young children, pregnant and parenting teens, and at-risk youth at diverse community-based centers in the Chicago and Chicagoland area. Its mission is to promote the well-being of children from birth by supporting and strengthening their families in and with their communities.

Job Summary:

• To provide advocacy and support for each at-risk youth with an increase in truancy supervision, tardies, and expulsion.
• To assist youth in identifying needs and securing resources.

Job Duties:

• To assist in designing a case management and tracking system for all families enrolled in the Refocus on Education Program.
• To maintain an efficient, unobtrusive record-keeping system to assist in tracking and follow-up of families through a community service network.
• To assist in the coordination of assessments case planning and follow-up activities performed for individual families.
• To work with outside agencies to ensure that families receive necessary services.
• To present case materials and request information from other staff during team meetings and staffings.
• To conduct home visits with families 
• To initiate referrals to other service agencies.
• To model effective advocacy techniques.
• To input data in the CTK database and DCFS database.
• To assist in the implementation of a quality assurance program, involving Family Focus and linkage agencies.
• To be knowledgeable about the families in the program to assure that programs, activities, and services reflect families’ needs and interests.
• To initiate and lead group discussion.
• To collaborate with community schools.
• To assist in the coordination of services to all families.
• To interpret the Family Focus Prevention Initiative Program to the community and enlist community support.
• To be knowledgeable about community resources and be able to serve as a liaison between parents and referral services.
• To perform other duties as assigned.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor of Arts or AA degree with emphasis on community work and social services. Considerable experience working with children and families.
• To be able to maintain records on children and families.
• To be able to assist family service advocates in planning special services for children.
• To be able to interpret the Family Focus program to the community and enlist community support.
• To be knowledgeable about community resources and be able to serve as a liaison between parents and referral services.

Qualified applicants should send resume and cover letter to:

Sherneron Hilliard, Center Director
Family Focus Lawndale
3517 West Arthington
Chicago, Illinois 60624
(773)722-5057
(773)722-5160 Fax 
lawndale@family-focus.org