Navigator Family Advocate

For more than 126 years, Epworth has grown and adapted to the individual needs of children and families by providing a safe and nurturing environment, evidence-based practices, and programs across the continuum of care and across the state of South Carolina.

Summary

Responsible for walking alongside families who have been identified as needing assistance with more intense community referrals or basic needs, legal capacity, financial stability, or caregiver support

Primary Performance Objectives

• Partner with kinship families to assess their needs and make appropriate referrals
• Develop case plans, providing the necessary level of coaching and support to help families achieve their goals
• Responsible for quality case records on each client, tracking families served
• Ensure integrity of case files and fidelity to model
• Help caregivers to obtain and complete/submit forms and applications in office
• Assist kinship caregivers in utilizing community resources and social support systems
• Maintain regular and consistent contact with kinship families in the office, in the community or remotely as needed.
• Facilitate regular information sessions, groups and trainings designed to educate kinship families and foster connections among caregivers
• Collaborate with community partners, attend outreach events as scheduled
• Advocate alongside kinship families for access to services to achieve their goals
• Participate in Epworth's 24-hour emergency on-call assistance

Duties and Responsibilities

• Per the Navigator Model, provide case management level services to kinship families.
• Meet with families and work together to create a case plan while maintaining all case documents.
• Conduct meetings at times that accommodate families' schedules.
• Follow up with families and agencies, identify barriers and provide solutions.
• Maintain strong understanding of all resources available to kinship families, develop an understanding of the differences between kinship family types
• Maintain accurate case documentation recording all interactions with the family until case closure.
• Upon case closure, ensure the family is connected to ongoing support via support groups online and/or in person, as well as family events.
• Identify systemic issues for kinship families and bring those issues to the Program Director.
• Maintain positive and professional relationships with community partners
• Ability to assess families using the Kinship assessment tools.
• Assist with planning and attending family events for kinship families.
• Facilitate support groups, info sessions and training classes as necessary.
• Work with all families in an equitable, culturally responsive and empowering manner.
• To cooperate with all Epworth staff to enhance the mission and ministry as a whole.
• Attend individual and group supervision meetings and trainings as scheduled.
• Agrees with and adheres to the general principles, ethics and qualifications for employment as outlined in the staff manual.
• Follow direction and guidance of immediate supervisor. Additional duties may be assigned as needed.
• Participate as appropriate in the PQI process as assigned.
• Driving may be required with Epworth reimbursing employee for mileage.
• Understands and follows personnel policies and practices as outlined in the ECH Staff Manual and/or department manuals and in compliance with the SCDSS Foster Kinship Model, as well as those outlined in the Contract with the South Carolina Department of Social Services, and the Caring for our Own model

Qualifications

• BSW or BA/BS in related human services field is preferred but candidates with an Associate's degree plus an extra two (2) years' experience in a related field or candidates with a High School diploma with a minimum of four (4) years' extra experience in related field.
• At least two (2) years' experience with families and knowledge about community resources and services. Experience in advocacy work on behalf of children and families preferred.
• Has a belief system and engages in faith practices that are compatible with those of the United Methodist Church.

What Epworth Children's Home offers full time employees:

• Rewarding Client Focused work environment
• Excellent Medical, Dental, Vision and Prescription Drug Plans
• Company paid life insurance
• Voluntary benefits such as STD, LTD, Group life
• 403(b) with company match
• Ample vacation and sick leave
• Mission/Volunteer leave
• Credit Union
• Employee Assistance Program
• Eligible employer for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program
• Career opportunities throughout the state of SC!

The mission of Epworth is to serve children, youth and families through caring, safe, Christian communities, where hurts are healed, hope is nurtured, and faith in God, self, and others is developed.