Family Advocate

Description

Position Summary:

Willamette Family is hiring for a Family Advocate to join our team! This is a temporary, grant-funded position with funding currently secured for five (5) years. Employment is expected to continue through 2031, contingent upon continued grant funding and program needs.  

Position provides services to both residential and outpatient parenting clients.   

This position exists within the WF array of family services that support successful treatment and recovery for parents who are in services with Willamette Family and who are actively participating in an individualized case plan to strengthen and preserve families while keeping children safe. 

The WF Family Service Program utilizes a Strength-Needs based approach that fully engages each client in the determination of their needs, development of specific case plans and services, and in their implementation to achieve successful outcomes. 

About Willamette Family:  

Dedicated to Families. Committed to our Community. Celebrating Recovery. 

Since 1964, Willamette Family (WF) has provided compassionate substance use disorder and mental health treatment services to individuals and families in Lane County. As a nonprofit organization, we believe recovery is possible for everyone and are committed to creating a supportive environment where clients and employees can thrive. 

Join our team and make a meaningful difference in our community. 

Learn more about us at www.wfts.org. 

Job Title: Family Advocate

Employment Type: Full Time Hourly Non Exempt

Compensation:  $23.10 Hour  

Schedule: Tuesday- Saturday 12:00 p.m.-9:00 p.m.

Essential Duties

• Travel throughout Lane County + to meet with families in their homes, community settings, and partner agency locations. 
• Conduct regular home visits with pregnant and parenting individuals to provide support, resources, education, and case management services. 
• Assist families with scheduling, attending, and navigating appointments, including medical, behavioral health, treatment, educational, and social service appointments. 
• Assess family needs and connect participants to community resources that support parenting, child development, housing stability, employment, healthcare, and recovery goals. 
• Provide parenting education, coaching, and support tailored to each family's strengths, needs, and goals. 
• Build trusting relationships with families while maintaining professional boundaries and confidentiality. 
• Collaborate with community partners and service providers to coordinate care and ensure families receive comprehensive support. 
• Maintain accurate documentation of services, contacts, referrals, and participant progress. 

1. Assess the strengths, needs and risk factors of families and children engaged in the PPW grant services  
2. Willingness and ability to provide services to client and their family  
3. Administer required assessments in accordance with the OHA Federal Grant  
4. GIPPRA, NCFAS, Family Factors  
5. Meet with clients to complete intake/ orientation for Family Services  
6. Provide individual and group skill building in accordance with client’s treatment plan  
7. Meet 1:1 with each individual as needed to review, update goals and to discuss progress, concerns and case plan 
8. Provide parenting education curriculum in a group setting using approved curriculum  
9. Complete case record documentation per policy and within designated timelines 
10. Meet, review, and chart progress with each client on a regular and ongoing basis 
11. Work with Willamette Family’s child development center, mental health, and treatment staff to coordinate care and to integrate services to support and to achieve service plan goals 
12. Communicate with DHS per WF policy and guidelines 
13. Coordinate activities for home visits that support parent child interaction to strengthen attachment 
14. Make home visits as indicated to help clients achieve case plan goals 
15. Attend Court hearings as indicated and directed by Program Manager 
16. Participate in integrated case staffing's for appropriate clients  
17. Participate in the weekly staff meetings and clinical supervision as required  
18. Post a written schedule of hours on the office door. Changes to the schedule require Manager approval and must be reflected on the door schedule. 
19. Attend community meetings as necessary 
20. Transport families as necessary to support case plan  
21. Work as a collaborative member of the integrated care team including the Child Development Center  
22. Other assignments as identified

 Position Expectations:  WF Family Advocates provide services to children and families enrolled in the WF Family Services Program. They work collaboratively with other WF staff who are also providing an array of services for individuals and family members. Key expectations of this position include: 

1.  The ability to assess the needs of the client and h/her family in partnership with the client, other WF staff, and community providers as appropriate 
2. The ability to develop and implement individualized case plans and related services that address the identified needs. This process may include, but is not limited to: providing, arranging, coordinating, monitoring, evaluating, and advocating for an array of services to meet specific client’s and h/her child(ren)’s complex needs.  

Employee Benefits include:

• Health, Dental, Vision, life, and Supplemental insurance options
• Healthcare Flexible Spending (FSA)
• 403b Retirement Savings with company match
• Robust time off package including paid sick leave, vacation time, and holidays for all full-time and regular part-time employees
• Training and education benefits for employees who are employed for 24 months or longer as well as continued education training support
•  and more!  

Requirements

 Minimum Qualifications: 

1. Minimum of a Bachelor’s Degree or equivalent in related field: Equivalent is based on the following: CADC I, QMHA qualified with 3 years' experience, Associates degree, with 3 years experience.   
2. Currently qualified or ability to become qualified as a QMHA with MHACBO 
3. Knowledge and experience in working with families using a strength-based approach 
4. Strong interpersonal and problem-solving skills 
5. Good verbal and written skills 
6. Strong group skills 
7. Familiarity of, and ability to work with local community resources 
8. Must be able to maintain client confidentiality in accordance with WF policy, HIPPA, and 42 CFRR Part 2 
9. Ability to function as a member of a team to assist clients in successfully achieving their goals 
10. Knowledge of and training in Trauma informed care practices 
11. Dependability and reliability, including attendance 
12. Ability to type 20 words a minute  
13. Willamette Family has a required 12 month waiting period before former clients can apply for employment in this position. This policy is in place to ensure professional boundaries and avoid potential conflicts of interest. Your response will not impact your eligibility beyond this requirement, and all information will remain confidential.  

Willamette Family Employment Requirements

• All employees must complete and pass a Pre-employment Drug Screening (including Cannabis/THC) 
• Required Background Check Clearance 

As a substance use disorder and mental health treatment provider, Willamette Family requires all employees, regardless of position, to obtain background check clearance through the Oregon Department of Human Services/Oregon Health Authority Background Check Unit (BCU) using ORCHARDS. All offers of employment are contingent upon obtaining the required clearance. 

Important information for applicants: 

• Background checks may consider felony and misdemeanor convictions, including older convictions, certain pending criminal matters, and substantiated abuse findings. 
• Some criminal histories result in mandatory disqualification, while others may be evaluated individually. 
• Having a criminal history does not automatically disqualify you from employment. 
• Successfully passing a background check for a previous employer does not guarantee ORCHARDS clearance. 

Before applying, please review the Oregon BCU background check requirements, including potentially disqualifying convictions and conditions, to help determine whether you can meet this mandatory employment requirement.  

Oregon BCU Applicant Information: Background Check FAQs and Eligibility Information 

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER Willamette Family Inc. prohibits discrimination on the basis of any characteristics protected by applicable local, state, federal laws and any agency policy including, but not limited to, discrimination based on race, color, religion, national origin, sex, or sexual orientation.