Family Advocate
Wayfinders’ Mission is to ignite students’ potential by expanding their confidence, connections, and horizons. We achieve this through summer camp experiences, year-round enrichment programs, and mentor relationships for self-motivated, underserved students.
Our Vision is that every child, regardless of zip code, has access to transformative life experiences through camp, mentorship, and educational opportunities. In 2022, we served 160 4th – 12th graders in Mecklenburg County, with 130 mentors supporting our scholars.
Job summary:
Wayfinders’ Family Advocate will connect Wayfinders families with community resources so the whole family thrives. The Family Advocate will be responsible for developing and maintaining strong relationships with Wayfinders families and community resource organizations; creating and maintaining a database of relevant community resources; sharing community resources with Wayfinders families through referrals, materials, and workshops; and overseeing outcomes measurement relating to the impact of the above activities. The Family Advocate will also be responsible for new scholar enrollment and maintenance of accurate scholar and family data.
Essential duties and responsibilities:
• Building Relationships – develop and maintain strong relationships with Wayfinders families, building trust and respect; seek to understand family needs and barriers to stability and flourishing; identify, develop, and maintain strong relationships with community resource organizations, becoming a referral partner as needed.
• Curating Resources — become an expert on the array of community resources available in the Charlotte area relating to housing, employment, healthcare, food, utilities, mental health services, financial counseling, immigration, academic tutoring, etc.; create and maintain a database of such resources including eligibility requirements; create and curate resource materials to share with Wayfinders families.
• Making Connections – share community resources with Wayfinders families proactively and as needs arise, including making referrals for services; develop and facilitate resource workshops for Wayfinders families when we identify gaps in community resources.
• Measuring Impact — administer and report on annual surveys which gather data about our family support programming; develop and administer other measurement tools as needed; work with development and other program staff as needed to report on family support outcomes and impact.
• Scholar Enrollment – work with Communities in Schools (CIS) to identify new scholars each year; educate CIS site coordinators about our program and eligibility requirements; work with CIS site coordinators and families to complete scholar enrollment forms; maintain accurate scholar and family data for all Wayfinders scholars.
Note:
The foregoing description is not intended to and should not be construed to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities of this job. Other duties may be assigned. This job description may be changed to include new responsibilities and tasks or change existing ones as management deems necessary.
This position will require in-person work for some events but can be performed remotely at other times. Frequent non-traditional hours may be required for program implementation and observation including some evening and/or weekend commitments. Occasional home visits may be required. Proof of Covid-19 vaccination is required prior to starting the position. The position reports to the Executive Director, who will conduct an annual performance review.
Experience and skills we’re looking for:
• Bachelor’s degree preferred (social work/human services degree or coursework desirable)
• Experience organizing, implementing, and managing multiple responsibilities under pressure
• At least 2 years’ program leadership/facilitation experience preferred
• Excellent organizational skills and keen attention to detail
• Strong verbal and written communication skills
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively
• Knowledge of community resources and the social services system
• Demonstrated competency working across socio-economic, racial, and cultural differences
• Ability to face challenges with creativity and empathy
• Passion for the work of Wayfinders
• Appreciation for and understanding of the work of racial justice
• Ability to represent Wayfinders to the public
• Experience working with a computer database and Microsoft Office suite
• Spanish language skills a plus
Physical demands:
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
The employee must be able to lift and/or move up to 20 lbs. Employee must be able to stand for extended periods of time. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to stand, walk, use hands to finger, handle or feel, reach with hands and arms, stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl, and talk or hear.
Compensation and benefits:
Ideally, this is a full-time, exempt position, although we will consider part-time depending on the candidate’s qualifications. The salary range for full-time is $40,000 – $50,000, depending on experience and qualifications. Wayfinders offers full-time employees a supplementary stipend in lieu of benefits in addition to existing generous paid, vacation, holiday, and sick leave, and this position is eligible for an annual bonus.
Wayfinders provides equal employment opportunity without regard to race, color, gender, gender-identity/expression, age, disability, religion, national origin, marital status, sexual orientation, ancestry, or political belief or activity.
