Job Description: Center: Reports To:

Advocate Worker Aurora Family Advocacy Center Manager

Family Focus mission is to promote the well-being of children from birth by supporting and strengthening their families as individual units and within their communities. We are committed to ensuring our centers provide exemplary services with innovative programs and that family support principles are integrated into every aspect of the work. This position plays a central role in fulfilling those two commitments. The Family Advocacy Center Manager provides oversight through monitoring center standards, initiating staff training, facilitating team meetings and insuring high quality program content. The Family Focus Advocacy Centers are community based comprehensive programs funded by the Department of Children and Family Services to provide holistic services for vulnerable children and their families. The programs operate by working with and supporting families in the community who are having difficulty parenting and may be at risk of having their children removed; foster families with a goal of reunification; and community members in need of other forms of assistance. ESSENTIAL RESPONSIBILITIES: Assist in planning and implementation of all program components related to Family Advocacy Center Support. Establish a trusting relationship with all family members. Provide home and/or site visits to participants. Intake and assessment of families Develop Individual Family Support Plans with all families. Accompany participants to identified service providers. Conduct and co-facilitate group services, parent education classes Develop and maintain close working relationships with case managers and other professionals. Advocate and refer families to internal and external community- based organizations for services. Conduct a variety of outreach activities to engage and recruit families into program services. Present Center services, outcomes and projections at local agencies and in community committee meetings to build and enhance collaborating partnerships

Family Focus is an equal opportunity employer.

Posted: 7/3/2013

Assist in developing collaborative relationships with community-based agencies and develop formal agreements with other community-based agencies to offer beneficial services to FAC families. Attend monthly meetings with other FAC Staff to share pertinent program information. Maintain confidentiality and ethical standards of practice with families and coworkers. Function as one of many team members working to support identified families.

REQUIREMENTS: Bachelor degree in human service field and 2 years of experience working in a strengthsbased capacity with family, children or youth. Knowledge and skill in working with families in crisis or in sensitive situations Ability to communicate clearly and concisely both Spanish and English. Sensitive to diverse cultures and populations Must have access to transportation Work related travel required. Some evenings and occasional weekends required. Qualified Applicant Should Submit Cover Letter & Resume To: Kelly Vatianou Family Advocacy Center Manager 550 Second Avenue, Aurora, IL 60505 kelly.vatianou@family-focus.org No phone inquiries. Fax: 630-844-2569 Family Focus is an equal opportunity employer.

Family Focus is an equal opportunity employer.

Posted: 7/3/2013