Family & Community Services: TEAR Trauma Advocate, Highlands Family Center

Position Summary:

Trauma, Education, and Response (TEAR), will serve children and families in the following school districts: Highlands School District, West Mifflin School District, Steel Valley School District, Woodland Hills School District and Clairton School District. This project will take a community approach to serving and supporting children and families experiencing trauma from the time that they are identified by law enforcement and first responders at a trauma scene as well as by the Family Center, its various existing programs and staff, and the school district or other partners.

Duties and Responsibilities:

1. Assist Outreach Coordinator with a system to identify children/families facing trauma and provide or give a warm hand off to community services addressing educational, cognitive development, health, and social/behavioral needs and promote family wellness and stability.
2. Assist Outreach Coordinator to establish professional learning communities (PLCs) of community agencies, law enforcement, first responders, and schools to convene quarterly where professional learning topics include, but are not limited to: understanding trauma and its impact, adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), and supports to address the toxicity of trauma. PLCs will increase capacity of the professionals to effectively respond and help traumatized children/families heal and thrive through service referrals, direct services, and simply being a trusted resource. PLCs will stabilize families so they can live healthier lifestyles and engage in opportunities that support their self-sufficiency.
3. Establish protocols with PLC partners to identify and best support children and families experiencing trauma. These include initial identification by the first responder and/or agency partner, process to report to the family center trauma outreach specialist and advocate, follow up by the family center trauma staff with the children and family, connections to appropriate resources and related services, and continued monitoring for support purposes.
4. Raise community awareness of the impact of trauma, the supports to address its toxicity and long-term effects that foster resiliency, positive strong relationships, better physical, emotional, and social wellbeing and positive self-image. This will be accomplished through community outreach a" sharing at partner meetings - as well as established internal programming structures (monthly Parent Cafes, wellness groups), and offering of new learning opportunities to staff and partners on trauma topics. Other trainings will be selected based on staff and family needs.
5. Advocate with families to providers, school districts, Department of Public Welfare, Children Youth and Families and other systems.
6. Actively carry out resource and referral work for families and community members.
7. Provide practical, emotional, and social support to families.
8. Nurture and support families and peers.
9. Welcome and interact with all families. Provide positive family communications.
10. Participate in reciprocal relationships based on respect.
11. Develop and maintain relationships with service providers.
12. Pursue training and information which would serve families and team.
13. Serve as an equal member of the family center team.

Qualifications:

1. Bachelor's degree in education, child development, family relations, social work, guidance counseling and one (1) year experience working with infants/toddlers and families or Associate's degree in education, child development, family relations, social work, guidance and counseling and two (2) years' experience working with infants/toddlers and families or High school diploma/GED and three (3) years' experience working with infants/toddlers and families.
2. The ability to work with parents and children in a home environment. Community services experience preferred.
3. Skilled in the use of Microsoft Office products and willingness to experiment and work with new technologies.
4. Strong communication, writing, interpersonal, and recordkeeping skills required.
5. Strong organizational skills and attention to detail required, initiative, and ability to work with limited supervision.
6. Ability to prioritize tasks, meet deadlines, and work under pressure.
7. Ability to track, evaluate, and interpret program data to ensure high-quality programs and services.
8. Ability to travel.
9. Ability to comply with the AIU Policies and Procedures.

Working Conditions:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

1. Sitting for extended period of time

2. Lifting, carrying, pushing, pulling 35 pounds

3. Ability to kneel, crouch, bend and reach to retrieve and handle teaching materials and supplies

4. Moving fingers and hands in a repetitive manner

5. Ability to speak clearly and distinctly when communicating with limited English-speaking customers

6. Hearing clearly

7. Adequate vision to perform duties

The information contained in this job description is for compliance with Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and is not an exhaustive list of the duties performed for this position. Additional duties are performed by the individuals currently holding this position and additional duties may be assigned.

Disclaimer: The preceding description is not designed to be a complete list of all duties and responsibilities required of this position.

Reports To: Site Director, Family Center

Department: ECFCS/FACES

Position Schedule: Monday - Friday with an occasional evening or Saturday

Salary: $34,000 - Grant Funded 12 months

Benefits: 260 day FACES

To Apply: Create an on-line application and upload a cover letter, resume, PA Certificate (if applicable) and transcripts at the AIU Career Site.

Please send any questions to: recruitment@aiu3.net

The Allegheny Intermediate Unit is an equal opportunity education institution and will not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, ancestry, religion, sex, sexual orientation, age, handicap, or limited English proficiency in its educational programs, services, facilities, activities or employment practices as required by Title IX of the 1972 Educational Amendments, Title VI and Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended, Section 504 Regulations of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1975, Section 204 Regulations of the 1984 Carl D. Perkins Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act, or any other applicable federal or state statute.