Foster Care Advocate

White's Residential and Family Services

Job Title: Foster Care Advocate

Department: Family Services

Employment Status: Part-time/Regular/Non-Exempt

Qualifications: A Christian with strong convictions who is also in agreement with White's mission statement, Statement of Faith, and Code of Conduct. A minimum of a Bachelor's degree is required. Strong interpersonal, communication, and organizational skills are required. The ability to communicate effectively both with individuals and groups, including public speaking, is essential. Marketing and/or sales experience is highly desirable. One to three years relevant experience. The person must be a self-initiator capable of planning and implementing client outreach strategies, with support.

Reports to: Director of Church Engagement

Job Summary: Must effectively work independently and be self-motivated, skilled at prioritizing and managing multiple tasks, be comfortable with public speaking and making cold calls in order to meet objectives. He or she will work with the Director of Church Engagement to create and implement an individualized strategic approach to meeting his/her annual goals, which will include any combination of community involvement, church relations, and other public relations activities. Beginning in the recruitment phase, the Foster Care Advocate will be able to be a support to the family throughout their fostering journey, aiding in retention. The Foster Care Advocate must, most importantly, be able to engage individuals and other potential foster parent recruitment sources in dialogue about White's, its mission, and work in ways that lead to increasing levels of awareness and support for White's Foster Care program in particular. Must demonstrate sensitivity to our service population's cultural and socioeconomic characteristics and needs.

Basic Responsibilities

• Promote foster care program and advocate for the children in foster care at White's RFS to area business or assigned regions
• Mobilize people in your community to support foster care and the needs of foster children
• Build a network of people engaged in the cause
• Serve as White's Foster Care Advocate in the identified catchment area; act as a spokesperson for the agency to market programs and services and to further strategic objectives specific to Foster Parent Recruitment
• Build awareness of the issues and way people can help within foster care
• Provide ongoing support to foster families through potential crisis counseling, relationship building in person at local office sponsored events, and through e-communication tactics
• Ability to self-manage and prioritize assignments.
• Maintain accurate and timely records of church visits and other relevant activity with constituents
• Monitor and regularly report on progress of efforts and potential threats to goal attainment or business strategy propose changes to strategy as necessary and obtain approval from Dir. of Church Engagement as required.
• Assist other staff with foster parent recruitment initiatives as needed, maintaining awareness of regional office and staff goals and being available to partner with them as directed.
• Perform other duties as directed by Director of Church Engagement.

Skill, Supervision, Knowledge, and Ability

• Must be a Christian and maintain a professional commitment to work with staff, foster parents, foster children, and all agency stakeholders.
• Must be a positive role model.
• Must demonstrate excellent public relation skills and represent White's in a professional manner.
• Must have advanced experience in using technology, including a working knowledge of Microsoft Office and ability to learn marketing database utilization.
• Must have the ability to effectively communicate the mission, vision, White's ministry in both oral and written communications.
• Must have basic counseling skills to be supportive of foster families
• Must demonstrate well-developed interpersonal skills and have the ability to get along well with diverse personalities.
• Must be dependable, well organized, and an effective time manager.
• Must be able to maintain professional boundaries and confidentiality.
• Must be personable, genuine, empathetic, and able to connect emotionally in their work with staff, children, parents, and other professionals.
• Must be a team player. This person needs to enjoy working closely with other staff members and have the ability to be flexible, adaptive, and positive in his/her actions.
• Must be committed to the Mission, Core Values, and Vision of White's Residential and Family Services.
• Must possess a valid driver's license with a safe driving record
• Highly organized with the ability to prioritize multiple functions and task while managing work time efficiently.
• Strong team player that loves to bring new ideas to the table
• Ability to demonstrate frequent independent judgement with decisiveness
• Excellent overall communication skills: oral, written, presentation

Physical Demands of Position

• There is a considerable amount of driving to and from events.
• Position will require significant periods of sitting, including driving and meeting with community constituents

Working Conditions

• Foster Care Advocate works remotely and in the local office as needed and specified by the Director of Church Engagement
• Work Hours will vary and will include regular business hours, some evenings, and some weekends, in order to meet objectives and prioritize community constituent availability.
• A large percentage of the time will be spent traveling and working in the community.