Family Advocate (Bilingual Required)

Position Title : Family Advocate (Bilingual Required)

Classification : Full-time, Exempt

Reports to : Program Manager

Location : Houston, TX

Benefits : Robust benefits package, generous PTO, matching retirement

Position Description :

The Family Advocate will provide a range of knowledge, skills and abilities that enable them to communicate in a cross-cultural context to advocate and help improve care for children and families.

The goal is to increase the overall well-being for children and families by providing culturally sensitive support that will assist families with navigation through systems of care.

Primary responsibilities include :

• Provide brokering, advocacy, and support to families that are involved in child and family serving programs.
• Build trusting relationships with clients to improve communication and clients’ understanding of services they are receiving.
• Serve as intermediary, bridging the cultural gap by communicating differences and similarities between cultures.
• Mentor mental health staff regarding world views and cultural values, beliefs, and practices of cultural groups / communities.
• Enrich the knowledge and understanding of mental health staff about what strategies and approaches work best with a particular community and what barriers exist.

Required Qualifications :

• High School Diploma or equivalent.
• Fluent in Spanish. English required.
• Three (3) years’ experience serving as a community representative.
• Experience navigating social services, health care delivery and supportive systems within communities.
• Candidate must successfully complete required curriculum training within 60 days of hire.

Preferred Qualifications :

• Bachelor degree.
• History of experience with cultural groups for which served as broker.

Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities :

• Knowledge and understanding of the values, beliefs and practices of cultural groups within diverse communities or cultural groups.
• Innate knowledge of medical, health care, and mental health care systems and protocols within diverse communities.
• Ability to question traditional ways of knowing and methods of practice to insure culturally informed assessments, services, programs, and policies are achieved.
• Ability to serve as a catalyst for change by modeling and mentoring behavioral change.
• Ability to communicate in a cross-cultural context.
• Ability to mediate and manage conflict.
• Knowledge of factors influencing diversity among individuals and groups (i.e., Race and ethnicity, language, nationality, age, gender, sexual orientation, educational literacy, social economic status, religious beliefs)

Work Conditions :

• Environment : Hybrid Office, Community settings
• Range of Schedule : Mon Fri, 7 : 00 am to 8 : 00 pm, Occasional nights or weekends
• Travel : Frequent (Must have reliable transportation and valid Texas Driver License.

DePelchin is Proud to be an Equal Opportunity Workplace.

DePelchin is committed to selecting and employing the best and most qualified person available for each job opening without unlawful discrimination of any kind.

Additionally, DePelchin is committed to providing a work environment free of discrimination and harassment on the basis of race, color, sex (including pregnancy, sexual orientation and gender identity), marital or parental status, veteran status, religion, national origin, age, disability, family medical history, genetic information, or political affiliation.

DePelchin Children’s Center supports and sustains children and the families who care for them. We provide comprehensive services focused on ensuring all children are part of safe, caring homes.

We deploy evidence-based practices and strategies to prevent maltreatment, preserve healthy families, and bring healing to children who have experienced trauma by enhancing their physical health and mental well-being.