Parent Ally Mentor

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 The work of the Parent Ally Mentor is to support the work of the Parent For Parent program (PFP) by attending Shelter Care Hearings to provide outreach, and lend support and encouragement to families entering the Dependency Court System; as well as supporting the Parent Ally Specialist with Dependency 101 classes, 201 and Homeward House Coordinator.

This position has a social justice component that requires critical thinking through the lens of racism and intersections with poverty. Knowing the core principles of antiracism and grounding those principles in everyday work are required job skills and core values. As an equal-opportunity employer, we highly encourage people of color to apply.

Hours per week: 5 Hourly range: $23.00

Responsibilities

• Attend Shelter care hearings as scheduled
• Identify and provide outreach to parents at Shelter care hearings, introducing yourself as Parent Ally Mentor and offering support
• Offer encouragement and helpful suggestions to parents
• Collect accurate contact and demographic information on all parents with whom outreach is made
• Invite all parents with whom outreach is made to attend a Dependency 101 class
• Provide Parents with written materials about resources that can assist them in their case
• Provide telephone follow-ups to parents who have signed up for the class, the first three days prior to the class and then one day immediately prior to the class
• Communicate with PFP Specialist regarding possible barriers to the successful completion of job duties
• Work with the PFP Program Specialist, court personnel, and other system stakeholders to recruit and sign up for the Dependency 101 classes
• Ensure that all handouts for Dependency 101 classes are developed and available each meeting; ensure that folders and surveys are properly numbered, accurately completed, and available in sufficient supplies
• Share personal experiences of navigating the child welfare system with parents And stakeholders attending the Dependency 101 class in a manner that is at once honest and constructive
• Listen to parents' concerns and questions in high-stress situations, and follow through on finding answers to parents' questions as needed
• Offer encouragement and helpful suggestions to parents
• Complete gathering of parent information, as needed, if not completed at Shelter Care Hearing
• Ensure all pre/post surveys are completed and collected
• Communicate with PFP Specialist regarding possible barriers to the successful completion of job duties
• Makes presentations at child welfare forums, conferences, and training as scheduled by PFP Specialist and supervisor.
• Attend training and other mandatory YWCA-PFP events as needed
• Actively engages in agency-wide Race and Social Justice Initiative (RSJI), and strives for racially equitable outcomes; takes responsibility for creating and maintaining a safe and welcoming community by making room for people of color, trans and gender-non-conforming folks, and other populations who routinely encounter systemic oppressions
• Adhere to all Volunteer Services protocols relative to volunteer usage, recognition, and monitoring
• Attend required safety training and meetings; follow all safety and health guidelines, standards, practices, policies, and procedures; and actively participate in the agency’s Emergency Preparedness program and activities
• This position description generally describes the principle functions of the position, the level of knowledge and skills typically required, and the general scope of responsibility. It is intended as a partial list of specific duties and responsibilities and should not be considered an all-inclusive listing of work requirements. Individuals will perform other duties as assigned

Minimum Qualifications

• High school diploma or GED certificate
• Have been successfully reunified with their children and had their dependency case closed
• Can clearly articulate how they have accepted responsibility for the issues which lead to their family’s involvement in Dependency Court
• Have no new criminal actions on their record since their dependency was dismissed
• Commitment to diversity required
• Commitment to working with homeless families and veteran parents of the child welfare system required
• Sensitivity to the needs of clients and staff from diverse cultural and economic backgrounds required
• Knowledge of resources for low-income families in Snohomish County
• Experience working with communities of color and people from different cultures than your own
• Demonstrated commitment to anti-racist principles
• Demonstrated understanding of the intersection of racism and poverty
• Demonstrated knowledge and skills of basic computer competencies such as email, calendaring, entry-level data entry, and familiarity with Microsoft Office products
• Ability and willingness to work as part of a team
• Able and willing to provide parents newly involved in the dependency process with a positive and constructive perspective on how they too have the opportunity to succeed

Physical Demands

• Continuously performs indoor work including sitting while operating a computer
• Continuously exchanges information through listening and talking with clients, agency staff, employers, representatives of community organizations, and other individuals in the community
• Frequently stands, walks, sits, and climbs in performing duties in the workspace and in the community
• Frequently reaches and grasps in using telephones, computers, fax machines, and other office equipment and supplies
• Occasionally lifts/carries 10 pounds or less
• Occasionally stands, squats, kneels, and bends while performing job duties
• *Continuously = Over 80% of the time * Frequently = 20-80% * Occasionally = Under 20%