NBCCC/Patch Family Advocate
United Way of Greater New Bedford
Job Description
Job Title: NBCCC/Patch Family Advocate
Program/Grant Category: NBCCC/PATCH
Reports to: Director of New Bedford Community Connections Coalition
Salary & Hours: $25-$28/hour; 20 hours per week. Occasional evening and weekend hours may be required.
United Way of Greater New Bedford (UWGNB) fights for the health, education, financial stability, and basic needs of every person in the nine communities it serves. We are actively involved in our communities, supporting organizations and strategically creating initiatives and offering services where gaps exist. Every United Way of Greater New Bedford staff member serves as an ambassador for the organization, demonstrating a culture of fundraising, service and volunteer engagement.
Position Summary:
The Family Advocate is a part-time position whose function is to help identify and coordinate strategies and supports that integrate the principles of family support into both Patch case practice and New Bedford Community Connections Coalition (NBCCC) initiatives. The position will work to ensure all families involved with the New Bedford Patch units as well as other vulnerable families in the Greater New Bedford Area have access to the supports they need to build and strengthen their parental and family capacity.
Patch: The Patch approach to working with families was originated in Great Britain where “Patch” means “neighborhood.” Patch programs are joint ventures that partner state agency direct service staff and community resources (in this instance DCF Social Workers, the New Bedford Community Connections Coalition and the Family Resource & Development Center) and co-locates them in a community location that serves a defined population to jointly focus on the needs of the families in the “Patch” sites. In New Bedford, there are two (2) DCF Patch units focused on different neighborhoods.
NBCCC: The primary mission of NBCCC is to take a leadership role within the City of New Bedford in facilitating collaborative strategies to build neighborhood-based networks of family support to prevent child abuse and neglect, strengthen families and build healthier communities.
Duties and Responsibilities:
• Work with the NBCCC Director, the Patch team, and the community to identify family support resources and community based prevention and intervention resources for Patch families
• Participate in and/or conduct home visiting to ensure that Patch families are provided with a linkage to the Family Resource & Development Center (FRDC) and other community resources, parent education, and advocacy support
• Ensure that families are knowledgeable of advocacy supports available to them
• Be available to Patch staff and families for individual consultation as needed
• Work with the NBCCC Director, NBCCC Advisory Board and NBCCC subcommittees to create opportunities for parent and family leadership and engagement that can help support the strengthening of family support and family involvement in coalition activities
• Support the Patch DCF staff and NBCCC on special projects that enhance the protective factors and build the self-sufficiency of families
• Work closely with the NBCCC director and Patch Team to develop data collection tools that will help identify gaps in services and supports for Patch families and other at-risk families in the community
Desired Skills and Abilities
• Energetic self-starter
• Highly organized
• Excellent oral and written communications skills
• Ability to problem solve and access resources in a complex environment
• Adheres to principles and approaches that promote family support and parent engagement
• Parent leadership development
• Experience in needs assessments, program planning and outcomes measurements
• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively with diverse populations and a cross sector of the community
• Bilingual Spanish/English fluency strongly preferred
Requirements:
Associate’s Degree with at least 1-3 years of experience working with at-risk families and communities. Familiarity with community resources for families with children and state agencies for health and human service provisions for families and children, particularly DCF.
A valid driver’s license and personal vehicle is required, as well as the ability to pass a background check.
Interested candidates should email resume and thoughtful cover letter to sbrajer@unitedwayofgnb.org.
Please list subject as “Family Advocate”
UWGNB requires new hires to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19.
Program/Grant Category: NBCCC/PATCH
Reports to: Director of New Bedford Community Connections Coalition
Salary & Hours: $25-$28/hour; 20 hours per week. Occasional evening and weekend hours may be required.
United Way of Greater New Bedford (UWGNB) fights for the health, education, financial stability, and basic needs of every person in the nine communities it serves. We are actively involved in our communities, supporting organizations and strategically creating initiatives and offering services where gaps exist. Every United Way of Greater New Bedford staff member serves as an ambassador for the organization, demonstrating a culture of fundraising, service and volunteer engagement.
Position Summary:
The Family Advocate is a part-time position whose function is to help identify and coordinate strategies and supports that integrate the principles of family support into both Patch case practice and New Bedford Community Connections Coalition (NBCCC) initiatives. The position will work to ensure all families involved with the New Bedford Patch units as well as other vulnerable families in the Greater New Bedford Area have access to the supports they need to build and strengthen their parental and family capacity.
Patch: The Patch approach to working with families was originated in Great Britain where “Patch” means “neighborhood.” Patch programs are joint ventures that partner state agency direct service staff and community resources (in this instance DCF Social Workers, the New Bedford Community Connections Coalition and the Family Resource & Development Center) and co-locates them in a community location that serves a defined population to jointly focus on the needs of the families in the “Patch” sites. In New Bedford, there are two (2) DCF Patch units focused on different neighborhoods.
NBCCC: The primary mission of NBCCC is to take a leadership role within the City of New Bedford in facilitating collaborative strategies to build neighborhood-based networks of family support to prevent child abuse and neglect, strengthen families and build healthier communities.
Duties and Responsibilities:
• Work with the NBCCC Director, the Patch team, and the community to identify family support resources and community based prevention and intervention resources for Patch families
• Participate in and/or conduct home visiting to ensure that Patch families are provided with a linkage to the Family Resource & Development Center (FRDC) and other community resources, parent education, and advocacy support
• Ensure that families are knowledgeable of advocacy supports available to them
• Be available to Patch staff and families for individual consultation as needed
• Work with the NBCCC Director, NBCCC Advisory Board and NBCCC subcommittees to create opportunities for parent and family leadership and engagement that can help support the strengthening of family support and family involvement in coalition activities
• Support the Patch DCF staff and NBCCC on special projects that enhance the protective factors and build the self-sufficiency of families
• Work closely with the NBCCC director and Patch Team to develop data collection tools that will help identify gaps in services and supports for Patch families and other at-risk families in the community
Desired Skills and Abilities
• Energetic self-starter
• Highly organized
• Excellent oral and written communications skills
• Ability to problem solve and access resources in a complex environment
• Adheres to principles and approaches that promote family support and parent engagement
• Parent leadership development
• Experience in needs assessments, program planning and outcomes measurements
• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively with diverse populations and a cross sector of the community
• Bilingual Spanish/English fluency strongly preferred
Requirements:
Associate’s Degree with at least 1-3 years of experience working with at-risk families and communities. Familiarity with community resources for families with children and state agencies for health and human service provisions for families and children, particularly DCF.
A valid driver’s license and personal vehicle is required, as well as the ability to pass a background check.
Interested candidates should email resume and thoughtful cover letter to sbrajer@unitedwayofgnb.org.
Please list subject as “Family Advocate”
UWGNB requires new hires to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19.