Family Advocate/Social Worker - Family Resource Center

Family Service Rochester is seeking a compassionate, community-focused Family Advocate to join our Family Resource Center (FRC) team in a full-time role. This position is ideal for someone passionate about strengthening families, supporting caregivers, and helping children thrive in safe, stable, and nurturing environments — including children being raised in kinship care arrangements.
As a Family Advocate, you will help plan, coordinate, and deliver programs and services that empower families and promote child and family well-being. You will collaborate closely with families, kinship caregivers, community partners, stakeholders, and service providers to ensure families receive meaningful, accessible, and coordinated support.
This role includes supporting grandparents, relatives, and other caregivers who are raising children through kinship care arrangements by helping them navigate systems, access resources, build support networks, and strengthen family stability.
Your work will focus on:

• Connecting families and kinship caregivers with concrete resources and supportive services
• Strengthening parental and caregiver resilience and healthy social connections
• Supporting caregivers in developing parenting skills and child development knowledge
• Promoting the social and emotional well-being of children
• Helping kinship families navigate community systems and reduce barriers to support

Key Responsibilities

• Provide direct support services, including person- and family-centered needs assessments, active listening, referrals, advocacy, and warm handoffs to community resources
• Support kinship caregivers by helping them identify and access financial, educational, social, and emotional supports available within the community
• Collaborate with community agencies and stakeholders to coordinate services for children and families, including families caring for children in kinship care arrangements
• Maintain working knowledge of county and community service systems, policies, procedures, and applicable statutes related to child and family services
• Partner with community organizations and the Family Advisory Board (FAB) to support Family Resource Center operations, service delivery, logistics, and outreach efforts
• Facilitate meetings and community conversations to identify local needs, gather feedback, and support the development of programs and services that reflect community priorities
• Help create welcoming, strengths-based spaces where caregivers and families feel supported, respected, and connected

Qualifications
Qualified candidates will possess:

• A bachelor’s degree in a human services-related field
• 1–3 years of experience working with children and families in child welfare, human services, kinship care, family support, or a related setting preferred
• Minnesota Social Work licensure (or eligibility for licensure) preferred

What We’re Looking For
Our ideal candidate:

• Works effectively with diverse individuals, caregivers, and families
• Understands the unique strengths and challenges experienced by kinship families
• Demonstrates excellent communication, advocacy, and relationship-building skills
• Is comfortable working independently and collaboratively within a multidisciplinary team
• Has experience with crisis intervention and trauma-informed care
• Understands how mental health and chemical health challenges can impact family stability and access to resources
• Values collaboration, equity, and community partnership
• Possesses strong computer skills
• Bilingual abilities are a plus

Why Join FSR?
At Family Service Rochester, we are committed to creating a collaborative, inclusive, and supportive workplace where all identities are welcomed and valued. We believe meaningful partnerships begin with listening, respect, shared power, and recognizing the strengths in every person and family we serve.
We offer:

• Competitive compensation
• Comprehensive health insurance
• Company-paid life and disability insurance
• 5% retirement contribution match
• Continuing education and professional development opportunities
• Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) eligibility
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP) resources
• Flexible scheduling
• 4½ weeks of PTO starting accrual
• 11½ paid holidays annually

Our culture emphasizes learning, growth, and employee voice. Staff regularly engage with senior leadership to share ideas, feedback, and innovation. We believe our employees are our greatest asset, and we are proud to foster an environment where people can grow professionally while making a meaningful difference in the community.
If you are passionate about supporting families, advocating alongside caregivers, and strengthening the well-being of children and kinship families in our community, we encourage you to apply.