Family Advocate

SUMMARY: The Family Advocate position will have primary responsibility for serving needy Native American Families in Lake, Mendocino and Sonoma Counties with temporary cash assistance and supportive services. The Family Advocate will assist families with job preparation, work related assistance, education, identifying barriers and encouraging cultural awareness.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES include the following:

Client intake, evaluation, planning, monitoring and follow-up.

Coordinate, oversee and evaluate daily direct services, operations, and supportive services activities.

Elicit factual information from the prospective of current clients who may be suffering from various serious life barriers.

Read, understand and follow complex rules, regulations, policies and memos.

Identify and evaluate needs and barriers to employment.

Evaluate and when necessary develop a Family Success Plan or recommend changes to the client’s current plan.

Demonstrate accuracy and thoroughness, pay attention to detail and follow all established policies and procedure.

Prioritize and plan effective work activities and include the appropriate people in the decision making process.

Communicate effectively, both verbally and in writing.

Establish and maintain cooperative working relationship with employers, outside service providers, Scotts Valley Tribal TANF (SVTT) staff, Tribal community and SVTT clientele.

Effectively represent the Tribe's programs in contacts with the public, community organizations, and other government agencies.

Maintain and secure confidential information and documentation.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES: None

OTHER RESPONSIBILITIES: Other duties that may be delegated from time to time.

QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS: The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Knowledge of tribal, federal and state regulations that apply to the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program operations.

Awareness of current Native American issues with regard to employment, training, welfare referral and social services.

Knowledge of Native American values and culture in relation to self-sufficiency and welfare dependence.

Knowledge of modern office practices, methods, procedures and use of Microsoft Office Software.

Must be able to prioritize and handle multiple tasks.

Competence with Microsoft Windows and MS Office Suite preferred word processing and spreadsheet software is essential.

Adapts easily to changes in the work place and unexpected events that may require immediate action or delay.

Knowledgeable and Proficient in industry standard Handel software system.

EDUCATION AND/OR EXPERIENCE: Any combination of training and experience which would likely provide the required knowledge and abilities is qualifying. A typical way to obtain the required knowledge and abilities would be:

Bachelor’s Degree from an accredited University in Education, Administration, Social Work or related field preferred with a minimum of one (1) year experience in project and activity coordination, counseling, education, or coordinating employment and job search activities. One (1) year experience working in a Native American community preferred.

OR

Associate degree in Education, Administration, Business, Psychology, Social Services, Human Services, or related field with three (3) years’ experience working in project and activity coordination, counseling, education, or coordinating employment and job search activities. One (1) year experience working in a Native American community preferred.

OR

High School Diploma and five (5) years of work experience in project and activity coordination, counseling, education, or coordinating employment and job search activities. One (1) year experience working in a Native American community preferred.

Requires availability to travel for meetings, conferences and training activities.