Juvenile Justice Family Advocate

Description

The Juvenile Justice Family Advocate role works with families to reduce conflict at home, strengthen family relationships, and prevent youth homelessness and systems involvement. This position supports families whose youth may be involved in the juvenile justice system and provides guidance and advocacy to help youth and caregivers navigate services, court involvement, and community-based resources. The Juvenile Justice Family Advocate engages families in their homes and in the community to assess strengths and needs, create goal plans, and provide family-centered case management. They maintain a caseload of 16-18 families. This role responds to community calls, collaborates with community partners, and works collaboratively across Cocoon House programs to ensure consistency of care and coordinated support for youth and families.

Cocoon House is committed to continually growing in our equity, diversity, and inclusion journey, and candidates with lived experience or who identify as BIPOC and/or LGBTQ+ are strongly encouraged to apply! We will also provide reasonable accommodation to qualified persons with disabilities upon request.  

Juvenile Justice Family Advocate Duties & Responsibilities

Full-Time 40 hrs/week | On-site

Wages: $28-$31/hr DOE 

This position has a varying work daily work schedule with at least two to three days each week until 7pm in order to meet with families. 

• Provide wrap around support to families working on goals to reduce conflict and increase stability in the family, prioritizing families where the youth is juvenile justice involved.
• Establish and maintain a professional, supportive relationship with youth and their families, many of whom are involved with the juvenile justice system.
• Develop a service plan in partnership with the youth and/or parent(s) that addresses the needs indicated in the family assessment.  
• Consult with a multidisciplinary team at the request of the youth or their parents, which includes, but is not limited to, educators, family therapist, licensed healthcare providers, social service providers, housing providers, juvenile justice staff, and other natural supports. Guided by the youth and family. 
• Refer youth and/or parents with complex behavioral health needs and/or substance use needs to appropriate resources 
• Provide opportunities for youth and families to engage in their cultural traditions and practices to build resilience through cultural connections and relationships
• Collaborate effectively with Cocoon House’s Youth Engagement Team to ensure seamless services to youth and families being served by both teams.
• Professionally represent Cocoon House when attending court at the juvenile justice center, as needed.
• Build relationships with community partners to foster collaborative efforts to support families in Snohomish County.  
• Provide referrals to other resources as needed, including legal advocacy supports, diversion resources, youth behavioral health supports, and juvenile justice-related community services.
• Collect needed demographics and other information from youth and their families and complete all data entry associated with family case management in a timely manner.
• A commitment to being a part of Cocoon House’s equity, diversity and inclusion work.

Benefits:

• Medical, Dental, and Vision health options with employer contribution
• Multilingual pay stipend
• 403(b) retirement plan
• 21 days of PTO accrued in first year
• 10 agency-recognized holidays
• Paid training & testing: CPR/first aid, food handler's permit, blood borne pathogens, abuse awareness, TB testing, and additional in-depth practical trainings

Requirements

Skills needed to be successful in this role:

• Bachelor's or Master’s degree in the field of social services, human services, behavioral sciences, or related field with three-years of related experience working with families with complex needs is required; or 5+ years of working with families with complex needs and system involvement.  
• Ability to demonstrate in-depth knowledge of adolescent development, family conflict and strength-based, solution focused approaches to family stability
• In-depth knowledge of child welfare, juvenile justice and the disproportionate impact of those systems on Black, Indigenous, People of Color, and LGBTQ+ youth and families 
• Previous experience working with diverse and historically underserved communities
• Strong and effective communication skills; proficiency in crisis intervention/de-escalation.
• Knowledge of street culture, deescalation, and motivational interviewing
• Bilingual English/Spanish preferred.

General:

• High school diploma/GED or high school equivalency
•  Must be 21 years of age or older
•  DCYF background clearance
•  Acceptable driver's abstract with no more than 2 violations within last 3 years
•  Possess a valid driver's license, auto insurance, and reliable transportation

Physical:

•  Ability to effectively communicate with all internal and external clients
•  Be able to hear voices and alarms.
•  Ability to read and comprehend a variety of materials
•  Ability to operate phone, computer, and record information for files and logs
•  Must be able to lift up to 50 Ibs
•  Must have ability to run up and down indoor and outdoor stairwells in case of youth emergency.
• Go up and down stairs