Parent Advocate - PEP

About the role

The Parent Partner supports the Family Finding & Engagement Program by working alongside families, relatives, and natural supports identified in a child's life. Using lived experience and peer-based engagement, the Parent Partner helps families navigate the child welfare system, understand available services, and strengthen their ability to support the youth.

This role focuses on building relationships with relatives and supportive adults who may be part of a youth's long-term support network. Parent Partners provide coaching, education, and resources navigation to help caregivers participate in planning for the youth's well-being and permanency. Parent Partners serve as a bridge between families and the child welfare system, helping caregivers understand processes such as Child and Family Team (CFT) meetings, permanency planning, and the Resource Family Approval (RFA) process.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Maintain an active caseload of 20–30 participants
• Provide ongoing engagement and support through phone, virtual, and in-person contact
• Track services, family contacts, and outcomes in accordance with program requirements
• Maintain accurate and timely case documentation
• Build professional relationships with relatives, kin, and supportive adults identified through the Family Finding process
• Connect families with community resources that support caregiver stability and youth placement
• Assist families in addressing barriers that may limit their ability to support the youth
• Help families understand child welfare processes, including case planning, court processes, and permanency planning
• Clarify and demystify Child Welfare and Juvenile Court systems and jargon for families
• Provide guidance to caregivers who may pursue Resource Family Approval (RFA)
• Attend Case Planning and Review Child and Family Team (CFTs) meetings to help ensure that families' concerns are heard and addressed
• Assist families with increasing their support network on behalf of the needs of the youth, address any barriers limiting families from providing long-lasting placement
• Provide one-to-one support to kinship caregivers and families, including role modeling advocacy for the caregiver, acting as a sounding board, motivator, and coach
• Demonstrate sensitivity and competence in dealing with ethnic, cultural, and socioeconomically diverse client populations spanning over a large geographic area
• Increase awareness about the importance of caregiver/professional partnerships
• Engage in personal and professional development to develop new skills and meet the challenges of the position
• Participate in required agency and county in-service training programs
• Communicate daily schedules and plans clearly to supervisor and other relevant parties
• Relate effectively and professionally with parents, supervisors, co-workers, and staff in support of families
• Meet and maintain all contract deliverables by deadlines
• Perform additional duties that support program goals and agency operations

Qualifications

• Lived experience navigating systems such as child welfare, education, healthcare, or related family-serving systems OR Certified Peer Support Specialist (or equivalent) with two years of experience providing peer-based support to families
• Ability to build trust and connect with families who may be hesitant or unfamiliar with system processes
• Experience working with families involved in child welfare, kinship care, or foster care systems
• Knowledge of community resources within Alameda County
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills
• Ability to work effectively with diverse communities and cultural backgrounds
• Basic computer skills and willingness to learn agency documentation systems
• Valid California driver's license, reliable transportation, and current auto insurance

Schedule

This is a full-time non-exempt position. Days and hours of work are Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Some evenings and weekends required. Local travel to various work sites is required.

Work Environment

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is required to regularly work off site and within the community as well as working in an office setting.

Physical Demands

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to use hands and fingers to handle, feel, or operate objects, tools or controls, and reach with hands and arms. The employee is frequently required to stand, talk, and hear.