Child Advocate

Why work with YWCA Seattle King Snohomish?

YWCA SKS is the region’s largest non-profit organization with a 120+ year legacy, focused on the needs of women, with programs serving 7,000 people each year. When you work with YWCA, you make a difference.

We’re women and BIPOC-led, family-centered, and supportive of employees. As a full-time YWCA employee (30+ hours), you’ll enjoy a benefits package including medical insurance, generous vacation, holiday, sick leave plans, and an outstanding retirement plan. Put your passion for racial equity and social justice to work – apply today!

What You'll Do

This position provides trauma sensitive advocacy to children and acts in coordination with parents, agency staff, schools and community providers to assess the developmental needs of children. This position creates and monitors a strengths-based family support plan to children and their caregivers who are currently participating in shelter, transitional and/or permanent supportive housing programs served by the YWCA Housing Programs in the Snohomish County region.

Expectations of your role:

• Coordinate with parents, youth, and education programs to enroll children, support consistent attendance/participation, support academic achievement, and advocate ensuring compliance with the McKinney-Vento Act.
• Establish and maintain ongoing relationships with service providers in the community relating to the child and caregiver needs of family participants; provide support and advocacy to help ensure families have appropriate services to meet their needs.
• Act as the Child Education liaison between local school districts and the families we serve.
• Attend Collaborative, interagency, and networking meetings as appropriate. Advocate for and support needed changes to community systems relating to children and caregivers/families.
• Maintain organized and accurate case notes, files, and other required documentation.
• Demonstrate understanding and incorporation of best practices and issues related to childhood development and the special needs of homeless and low-income children and youth.
  
  

Must have's to be successful:

• (1) year of direct social service or related experience with (2) year of experience with low-income and/or homeless families
  
  

OR

• A Bachelor's degree in social services or a related field with at least (1) years of experience with low-income and/or homeless families
  
  

AND

• Mental Health experience & knowledge of Trauma-Informed Care and ACE’s.
• Knowledge of McKinney-Vento Act.
• Reliable transportation and a Washington Driver’s License.
• Experience/Familiarity with Public Education Systems.
• Ability to work closely and effectively with children of varying ages in whole-family settings.
• Ability to work some evenings.
• Ability to collaborate and network with others.
  
  

Hours, Rate, And Benefits

• Hourly Rate/Salary: $25.00
• Hours: 40 per week
• Excellent benefits package including medical insurance, retirement plan, plus generous vacation, holiday, and sick leave plans
• At the time of hire, employees may enroll voluntarily in the Fidelity 403b Plan
• After two years of employment, employees are eligible to participate in the YWCA Retirement Fund
  
  

Physical Requirements

• The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to use hands to finger, handle, or feel.
• The employee frequently is required to walk, sit, and talk or hear.
• The employee is occasionally required to stand; climb or balance; stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl.
• The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds.
• Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus.
  
  

YWCA encourages applicants with a variety of experiences to apply!

At YWCA, we recognize that lived expertise is a powerful asset. This refers to the insights, knowledge, and skills developed by those who have navigated systems and experienced inequity.

Valuing lived expertise helps build trust with program participants, develop culturally responsive programs, and break down barriers to equity. It enriches our collective understanding and enhances our ability to serve communities that are furthest from opportunity.

Vaccination Requirement

All new hires must be vaccinated in accordance with CDC guidelines before their first day of employment.

Mental Health Considerations

All employees of the YWCA interact with clients who have experienced or are experiencing trauma in various forms, including but not limited to, racial trauma, domestic violence, sexual violence, homelessness, unemployment, and financial hardship. As a result, employees are at risk of secondary trauma. We encourage employees to seek support inside and outside the workplace and maintain self-care routines.

Equal Opportunity Employment

YWCA Seattle King Snohomish is an Equal Opportunity Employer. To read more about this, view the EEO is the Law Poster and this EEO is the Law Poster Supplement .

For more information

Contact us at careers@ywcaworks.org with any questions or if you need accommodation for your application.