Children's Program Advocate

Job Title: Childrens Advocate
Reports to: Childrens Program Manager
Department: Childrens Program
Job Classification: Advocate
FLSA Status: Regular Full-Time Exempt
Wage: $25.00 - $28.58 per hour
Benefits Included: Group Health Dental and Vision Insurance HRA Paid Time Off Paid Sick Leave Paid Holidays 401k

Application Instructions:

• To be considered applicants must email a resume and cover letter to .
• Please include Childrens Program Advocate in the subject of your message.
• Applications submitted by any other method will not be considered.

Organizational Overview
Established in Tacoma in 1906 YWCA Pierce County has devoted over a century to creating opportunities and ensuring safety for adults and children in the greater Tacoma community. As a pioneer in the domestic violence service field YWCA Pierce County opened Washington States first emergency shelter for domestic violence survivors in 1976. This milestone established YWCA Pierce County as a leader in providing comprehensive support services for domestic violence survivors.
As an inclusive non-profit organization YWCA Pierce County offers crucial assistance to domestic violence survivors and their children. Our services are accessible to all survivors regardless of race ethnicity gender gender identity or expression religion or sexual orientation. To overcome language barriers our bilingual staff and interpretation services ensure smooth transitions for all clients. Annually YWCA Pierce County supports over 5000 adults and children affected by domestic violence providing them with essential resources and support.
YWCA Pierce County is committed to transforming lives through safety healing and empowerment. Our comprehensive domestic violence support services include emergency shelter legal assistance support groups and community education programs. Join us in our mission to end domestic violence and empower survivors in the Tacoma community.

Job Summary
The Childrens Advocate plays a vital role in providing therapeutic care and curriculum-based activities to children KS1 whose parent or guardian is engaged in YWCA advocacy services. This position works as part of the Childrens Program team to provide comprehensive support to children and families which includes planning and facilitation of curricula assisting in the coordination and implementation of special activities and events and providing family advocacy for families living in shelter and in the community. Additionally this position is subject to working with children and youth of all ages depending on program needs. This flexibility ensures that our services can cater to a wide range of age groups meeting the diverse needs of the families we serve.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Supports the holistic healing resilience and developmental growth of children impacted by domestic violence and other trauma.

• Develops plans and implements curriculum for children in collaboration with Childrens Program Manager and other program staff.
• Generates the Childrens Program Calendar of Events monthly in collaboration with other Childrens Advocates.
• Maintains a predictable and consistent rhythm in the program as well as expectations boundaries and guidelines.
• Plans prepares and serves nutritionally sound snacks and meals to children
• Keeps kitchen and program areas clean and orderly
• Supervises groups of children of varying sizes.
• Guides children in learning practicing and mastering developmental skills by way of curriculum-based art and recreation activities peer interaction and guided free play.
• Coordinates and leads field trips and special events in collaboration with the Childrens Program team.
• Helps children develop their own safety plan and build safety skills.
• Develops and maintains a clean orderly developmentally rich and safe program space.
• Assists children with hygiene including but not limited to washing hands toileting and changing diapers as needed.
• Helps to maintain program supplies and storage areas.
• Models explains and upholds Childrens Program rules policies and procedures to children and their parents or guardians.
• Adapts to changing program needs and is available to work a flexible schedule including some evenings as needed.
• Works closely with program volunteers including interns and supports their service.
• Partners with parents in supporting the overall social emotional cognitive and developmental health of their children.
• Provides family advocacy to meet the assessed needs of the children served (intakes maintains client files distribution of tangible goods provides resources and referrals coordination of services with school liaisons advocates for children in educational and childcare systems)
• Works with community partner(s) to organize delivery of birthday celebrations for children.
• Ensures documentation of all activities is completed in a thorough manner and turned in to the program manager in a timely fashion. Logs pertinent information for shift.
• Collects tracks records and reports output and outcome data; works with the Childrens Program team to complete observations and assessments of children as part of an outcome-based evaluation system
• Participates in agency or community work teams upon request including committees task forces or event planning.
• Actively participates in weekly Childrens Program meetings All YWCA staff meetings and scheduled internal trainings.
• Work collaboratively with the Childrens Program team and other YWCA departments to meet program goals and provide support beyond assigned duties as needed.
• Provides hotline coverage working to assist clients through resource sharing safety planning and general support.

This is a general description of the responsibilities of the position and it is not inclusive of all job duties; other associated duties may be assigned. Work situations are varied and require organization and prioritization. Position requires the ability to work independently. Internal contacts include all levels of staff and management. External contacts may include state and local public agencies and community organizations.

Knowledge Skills & Abilities

• Knowledge of the impacts of trauma on human development

• Ability to work from an open-minded positive non-judgmental and empowering foundation
• Ability to work communicate and build relationships with diverse groups of people
• Ability to work collaboratively to meet program goals and provide support beyond assigned duties including support of children and youth of varying ages.
• Ability to form trusting relationships with children and their parent or guardian
• Ability to model explain and uphold the rules policies and procedures of the YWCA Pierce County
• Ability to role model positive skills and attitudes to children and parents or guardians
• Ability to facilitate and safely supervise groups of children and youth
• Ability to maintain predictable and consistent expectations boundaries and guidelines along with confidentiality as appropriate when providing direct services to children
• Ability to manage multiple tasks under pressure
• Ability to work collaboratively and as part of a team effectively with a diverse group of people
• Ability to easily adapt to different situations
• Ability to work a flexible and varied schedule including evenings and weekends when needed
• Ability to read and interpret documents such as safety rules operating and maintenance instructions and procedure manuals
• Ability to write routine reports and correspondence
• Ability to apply common sense understanding to carry out instructions furnished in written oral or diagram form
• Ability to apply broad concepts appropriately and consistently to varied situations
• Commitment to YWCA vision mission and values
• Proficient in Microsoft Office applications

Supervisory Responsibilities

This job has no supervisory responsibilities for staff but may support the roles of volunteers in the program.

Education and/or Experience

• Demonstrated understanding of child development and impact of trauma on children.

• Associate degree with relevant coursework in childcare child development or services and/or social work; OR
• Two years of relevant experience working with children in a related field; OR
• Equivalent combination of education and experience.

Other Qualifications

• Must have the ability to transport self in and around Pierce County. If that includes driving your own vehicle then must possess a current and valid Washington State Drivers license and insurance per Washington State Law

• Acceptable criminal history record
• CPR & First Aid Certification or obtained within the first 90 days of employment.
• Food Worker Card or obtained within the first 90 days of employment.
• Completion of required new employee training and onboarding within the first 90 days of employment

Work Environment

While performing the duties of this job the employee is occasionally required to stand; walk; sit; use hands to finger handle or feel; reach with hands and arms; climb or balance; stoop kneel crouch or crawl; talk or hear; and taste or smell. The employee must regularly lift and/or move up to 50 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision depth perception and ability to adjust focus.
The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate but can often be loud (multiple children playing yelling).

Application Instructions:

• To be considered applicants must email a resume and cover letter to .
• Please include Childrens Program Advocate in the subject of your message.
• Applications submitted by any other method will not be considered.