Child Advocate

Description

The Child Advocate (CA) is responsible for advocacy and case management for the children living at Our Lady’s Inn. This position addresses children’s issues by establishing therapeutic relationships with parents and children alike and making referrals for services to external agencies and resources. The Child Advocate coordinates school enrollment, develops, and models healthy activities, which encourage positive experiences, and enable a healthy interaction between each mother and her children, thus facilitating parental bonding. The CA is responsible for entering case notes and demographic data into the agency’s client management database and will utilize that data to detail reporting for grants related to children. 

The Child Advocate has responsibility to:

Child Advocacy & Development

• Assess children’s behavioral, social, and developmental needs in collaboration with mothers.
• Support children in reaching developmental milestones through structured activities and engagement.
• Coordinate developmentally appropriate activities for children during program classes and meetings.
• Plan and facilitate family-centered enrichment activities and field trips that model healthy parent–child interaction.
• Encourage literacy and early learning by providing reading opportunities and maintaining age-appropriate books and materials.

Parenting Support & Family Engagement

• Establish and maintain supportive, therapeutic relationships with mothers and their children.
• Model and reinforce positive parenting strategies through education, coaching, and daily interaction.
• Teach a weekly parenting class utilizing the Family Wellness Program curriculum.
• Support mothers in strengthening bonding and healthy communication with their children.
• Support mothers navigating legal matters related to their children by coordinating resources, assisting with child-related documentation, and connecting families to appropriate community or legal supports.

Case Management & Documentation

• Maintain accurate case documentation for each child, including milestones, challenges, and progress.
• Enter case notes and demographic data into the agency’s client management system.
• Utilize program data to assist with grant reporting related to children’s services.

Education & Community Resource Coordination

• Ensure children are enrolled in appropriate educational or developmental programs, including schools and early childhood services.
• Connect families with community resources such as Parents as Teachers, Nurses for Newborns, Head Start, and other supportive services.
• Assist families in addressing children’s medical, developmental, or educational needs through referrals when appropriate.

Program Collaboration & Communication

• Work collaboratively with the Program Director, Client Advocates, and program staff to support coordinated care for families.
• Participate in team meetings and program planning discussions, including:
• Weekly staff meetings
• Client house meetings as requested
• Community meetings related to children’s services
• Assist with front office responsibilities when needed, including greeting guests, answering phones, and supporting general operations.
• Always represent Our Lady’s Inn professionally.
• Other duties as assigned.
• Assist with front office responsibilities when needed, including greeting guests, answering phones, and supporting general operations.

Volunteer Coordination

• Train and supervise childcare volunteers to support program activities.
• Provide guidance to volunteers to ensure safe, developmentally appropriate engagement with children.

Requirements

Education: Bachelor’s Degree in Education, Social Work, or related field. Master’s Degree preferred.

Experience: Experience working with children in the social service or educational field. Knowledge of child development, homelessness, and community resources for children and parents is preferred. Knowledge of positive discipline and behavior modification techniques.

Skills and Abilities: Must be flexible, patient, organized, and be detail-oriented. Must have strong time management and communication skills; establish and maintain professional boundaries and interact with people of diverse backgrounds. Knowledge of trauma-informed care is a plus.

Other: Ability to climb and descend stairs; ability to lift and carry up to 25 pounds. Must have a valid driver’s license in good standing and proof of vehicle insurance.