POSITION SUMMARY

The Bilingual Family and Community Advocate is responsible for providing a variety of outreach, advocacy, and support services to Latino individuals and families; services include interpretation and translation, information and referral, advocacy, arranging for health care, access to public benefits, coordination of workshops and support and education to parents and adolescents. This position will be a part of the Puentes de Esperanza team.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS AND RESPONSIBILITIES

1. Connects with Spanish-speaking families for services; Receives and responds to requests for services and assistance made by Latino families, individuals and/or service providers on behalf of Latinos.
2. Assesses the request for service and determines if it is within the mission and capacity of Puentes; discusses alternatives with the family in order to enlist the family in developing and carrying out a plan of action
3. Remains knowledgeable about public benefits, community resources, and their respective eligibility; assists and advocates on behalf of clients to assure that they receive services and benefits that they are eligible for and need.
4. Assists families and individuals to access needed health care; provides interpretation and translation; assists families to develop resources for transportation.
5. Maintains records and statistics as required by the agency, and other funding sources. Maintains written records of each pre/post-session assessment and program session as directed by the program supervisor. Performs other administrative tasks as assigned
6. Meets goals as stated in the grant/ program plan.
7. Attends meetings, community events, trainings, and staffing as identified by the agency and/or funder; Participates and supports additional community events as an organization representative.
8. Works with the program supervisor to identify appropriate activities and resources to support Spanish-speaking families.
9. Conducts outreach to Spanish speaking families for community resources and support and upcoming events.
10. Works within programs focused on case management, education and outreach, and individual or group sessions as assigned.
11. Coordinates workshops through partners and/ or leads workshops on various topics as assigned.
12. 12.Respond to on-call case assistance for Spanish-speaking families involved with the Department of Children & Family Services as assigned.
13. Conducts responsibilities by the program delivery plan and consistent with CARE Principles.
14. Must become certified in Therapeutic Crisis Intervention and be capable of performing crisis prevention and de-escalation techniques with fidelity to the TCI model. Expected to conduct TCI methods as required.
15. Actively seeks to prevent behavioral crises, de-escalate crises as they occur, and respond to crises in accordance with TCI guidelines.
16. Other duties as assigned.

SKILLS and ABILITIES

1. Strong organizational and time management skills
2. Ability to recruit sites for program implementation and community leaders within the target area.
3. Ability to engage youth, parents, and community leaders around difficult issues and topics.
4. Understanding of community needs and ability to analyze data about the service site
5. Interpersonal and communication skills

EDUCATION AND/OR EXPERIENCE

1. A High School diploma or GED: Bachelor's Degree preferred.
2. Must be bilingual (Spanish & English) and have experience working with the Latino population.
3. Preference will be given to individuals who have worked directly with Latino families for 2+ years.
4. The personal characteristics and experiential background enable the Bilingual Family Support Specialist to provide appropriate care for children and adults, develop positive, therapeutic relationships with them, guide them in their development, and actively engage the Spanish-speaking community.
5. Ability to receive a DCFS/CANTS Clearance.

REQUIREMENTS

1. Must be at least 21 years of age
2. Must possess and maintain a valid driver's license
3. Must possess and maintain proof of vehicle insurance

CARE & TCI

One of the essential job functions of any position within the agency is to align your performance with our overarching philosophy of CARE. All decisions, actions, communication, and performance should align with the six CARE principles (Developmentally Focused, Family Involved, Relationship Based, Ecologically Oriented, Competence Centered, and Trauma Informed). Not only must the staff complete the CARE training with satisfactory participation, but the staff must then put that training into practice in the staff's everyday work.

Every employee must also pass TCI training with a satisfactory grade in written and/or physical testing. All employees must remain current on refresher training that is provided monthly at all locations. The staff will be tested every 6 months on the physical portion, if applicable to the position. The staff will be tested annually on the written portion regardless of the position. If the staff is not current on their TCI refresher training every six months, they will be required to retake the full course. If they do not pass either test, they may be required to retake the full course. Not only must the staff complete the TCI training with satisfactory participation, but they must then put that training into practice in their everyday work.

EQUIPMENT USED

Computer, Copy Machine, Scanner, Calculator, Smart Phone, Tablet, Fax Machine and Telephone