Children Services Advocate - PT

Description

The Children Services Advocate is responsible for working with the Children Services Team to provide advocacy and facilitate deliverable [program] services. They serve as models for guests in the program while sharing hope and guidance throughout the program experience. The Children Services Advocate is directly involved with providing quality services to our guests in an environment of love, grace, dignity, and respect. A Children Services Advocate is someone who has agreed to assist the children and their parent(s) in their program journey.

Under the leadership of the Children Services Manager and Director of Shelter Program maintain the Children Services Standard of Excellence

Establish and build healthy Christ-honoring relationships with guests, while maintaining professional boundaries including guest confidentiality

Pray with, advise, and direct the efforts of children relating to spiritual, personal, and program needs

Provide a developmental environment, provide appropriate support for mental, emotional, academic or physically challenged children, and provide tools to support the child's emotional and social development, encouraging understanding of others and positive self-concepts, provide services/activities

In collaboration with the Children Services Manager, create multi-age lessons and activities that spiritual, mental, emotional, educational and physical growth of children

In collaboration with the Children Services Manager plan recreational activities and social activities including outdoor programs, physical exercise, field trips and off-site activities (VBS, Zoo trips, etc.)

Transport and/or accompany individual and groups of children in assigned GRM vehicle only

Monitor lessons of chapel speakers, assuring material is consistent with biblical principles detailed in Gospel Rescue Mission policies

Read and teach them simple painting, drawing, crafts and songs

Provide age-appropriate meals and snacks for children as needed

Instruct children in health and personal habits such as eating, resting and toilet habits

Dress children and change diapers

Conduct regular dining room or playground monitoring

De-escalate adverse situations, both physically and emotionally and appropriate redirect or initiate other measures to control behavior by provide age-appropriate crisis intervention and conflict resolution as needed

Participate in caring for the safety and various needs of children

Orient parents to Children Services Mission 101 new guest intake structure, values and standards

Provide support to volunteers assigned to Children Services

Maintain thorough and timely guest records in MissionTracker, documenting services provided to children and/or parents, children incidents, mandated reporting, advocacy services, DSC requirements, observations about activities, meals served, and medications administered, 1:1 ministry, etc.

Attend meetings, professional training as directed

Perform other duties as assigned

Requirements

Qualifications:

Required minimum high school diploma or GED.

3-plus years of experience in childcare services, nursery and youth ministry, child welfare advocacy, and behavioral health.

Personal traits of patience, gentleness, kindness, empathy, and joy.

Ability to explain the Gospel and salvation to children.

Maintain a valid Arizona Driver's License and must have a clean driving record.

Bilingual English/Spanish a plus.

Must be an evangelical Christian, living a life dedicated to Christ, and be an instrument of God's love, grace, hope, and forgiveness to all.

Physical Demands:

Draws energy from working smallest and most precious guests.

This individual will be lifting and carrying children and will spend time sting on the floor or child-sized furniture. This individual will be expected to maintain the cleanness of the children services room and equipment.

Caring for guests can be physically demanding. This individual will come in contact with individuals who are ill and/or contagious and must take precautions to ensure the health and safety of everyone.

Requires frequent sitting, standing, and walking; and lifting, carrying, pushing, and/or pulling objects weighing up to 50 pounds.

Mental Demands:

The population we serve is typically in crisis. This can cause emotional stress and compassion fatigue. GRM highly promotes employee self-care

Employment Status:

Part Time- 28 hours per week nonexempt; eligible for paid time off; eligible for dental, vision and Simple IRA 3% matching