Job Description

Hours Per Week: 40

Job Type: Full-time, Non-exempt

Summary/Objectives of Position

The function of the Family Advocate is to partner with the children, parents, and caregivers to provide understanding of relevant healthcare, determine eligibility, and assist in child welfare system navigation and rights. The Family Advocate informs clients of their rights, assists clients in self-determination, and provides ongoing support and assistance to native families and youth. The Family Advocate ensures services are available to clients and that clients and partners are treated with dignity, respect, fairness, and equity. The highest level of discretion and integrity is required to respond to family needs, issues, and concerns while maintaining a supportive role as part of the multi-disciplinary team. This position participates in all Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA), child welfare, family & social services matters, and collaborates with states, counties, tribal, and non-tribal, and government agencies, focused on support and advocacy for native populations, navigating eligibility programs within the child welfare system.

Duties and tasks of a Family Advocate also include, but are not limited to, conducting telephone and personal interviews to determine the needs and support of the children, caregivers, and parents. Such needs can require coordination with other members of the BAIHP team and outside agencies. The Family Advocate develops and provides appropriate information, materials, and referral information to all contacts who may or may not be eligible for case-level services. This position is responsible for determining eligibility for case-level services within BAIHP policies and priorities.

Essential Duties, Functions & Responsibilities

• Advocates for children & their families to help attain support and services within legal, social services, and healthcare systems to promote family well-being and advocate for the rights and interests of family members and children in the foster care system.
• Manages an assigned case load of clients, maintaining appropriate contact (weekly or monthly) or more frequently when circumstances warrant.
• Assesses the client's needs through the gathering of personal information about their current economic, environmental, medical, or psychosocial circumstances.
• Provides relevant outreach by participating in BAIHP community events, providing information on foster parenting as part of the “Protectors of Our Young Feathers” initiative.
• Attends Child and Family Team Meetings as needed within the child welfare system to support and advocate for native youth and families.
• Supports traditional Native culture by ensuring that native foster youth can be active in tribal activities and are provided educational opportunities on their native history.
• Provides caregivers and patients with information and referrals to other services available from government agencies and community-based organizations; explains the requirements and procedures for public assistance.
• Ensure quality competence for clients by engaging subject-matter experts to work with the child(ren), parent, or caregiver by engaging providers, including court or other judicial matters affecting the client.
• Participates as case manager regarding treatment direction or discussions and court-appointed advocate cases for children, youth, and their families.
• Clearly and concisely communicate with the caregivers, child, and parent regarding post-care steps as needed.
• Supports the outcome of the work by properly documenting all appropriate client information and notes in EHR within the standard 48-hour period.
• Facilitate the development of wellness-focused skills among assigned clients as a member of the multidisciplinary BAIHP treatment team; documents all progress from a data-driven perspective.
• Supports the needs of the client by recommending and making referrals to programs for instruction of life skills, livelihood skills, and workplace readiness skills necessary for successful reintegration into family life, the workforce, and the community as assigned by providers, foster care partners, social services; or court-ordered services.
• Functions as a case manager for clients in group settings, individually, or in their homes as appropriate.
• Monitors client records and keep case records on clients and regularly reports progress to supervisors.
• Supports clients by providing information about community resources and keeping them current on referral resources.
• Ensures the comfort of the patient by being attentive. Check’s modesty and only engages in appropriate conversation involving patients.
• Supports the integrity of the program by complying with regulatory agency standards, including federal, state, and Accreditation Association of Ambulatory Health Care, and Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities.
• Adheres to facility confidentiality and patients’ rights policy as outlined in Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), and BAIHP privacy and confidentiality policies and procedures.
• Promotes vaccine awareness and schedules administration of vaccines for children, youth, and their families.
• Performs community outreach via face-to-face, phone calls, and virtual platforms for education and assistance.
• Responsible for monitoring and ensuring the complete implementation of client case plans.
• Conducts training presentations in specialized areas of expertise for staff, other organizations, or the community.
• Triages walk-ins, phone calls by potential clients, and then assesses whether they have urgent social service needs; if so, links potential clients to appropriate emergency services.
• Coordinates potential client intakes with Community Healthcare Worker (CHW) to ensure the intake of paperwork with clients is met and eligibility is obtained.

Minimum Mandatory Qualifications:

Education:

• Graduate of an accredited four-year college or university with a Bachelor’s Degree in Social Welfare/Social Work, Human Services Psychology, Business Administration, Public Administration, or a closely related field is required.

Experience:

• Five (5) years of previous experience as a case manager or social worker in a healthcare setting is required.

License/Certification:

• Valid CA driver's license.

Communication Skills:

• Demonstrates proficiency in communication and writing skills.
• Language skills: Ability to read, analyze, and interpret general and professional documents. 
• Ability to write routine and correspondence.

Interpersonal Skills:

• Ability to foster teamwork; train and direct the work of team members and colleagues
• Excellent organizational skills, including the ability to work productively and make independent decisions.

Technology:

• Familiar with electronic healthcare records systems.
• Proficiency with using computer-based applications (e.g. Microsoft Office) and clinical information management systems.

Benefits Offered at BAIHP:

At BAIHP, we value our employees and strive to provide comprehensive benefits to support their well-being, financial security, and work-life balance. Here's what we offer:

• 401(k) matching
• Dental, Health, & Vision insurance
• Health savings account
• Life insurance
• Paid time off (Vacation, Sick, Vacation Reward)
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)

Indian Preference

Bakersfield American Indian Health Project (BAIHP) complies with the Indian Preference Act. Preference in hiring is given to qualified Native Americans under the Indian Preference Act (Title 25, US Code, Sections 472 and 473). Subject to, but not in derivation of the Act, we are an equal opportunity employer.

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