Program Advocate, Young Parent Living Program

Job Description

Job Description

Summary: The Open Pantry Teen Parenting Program is a residential program for teenage parents and their children. The Relief Staff is responsible for all aspects of shelter operation during his/her shift including maintenance of the house and supervision of families.

Why Work for SMOC?

• Paid Time Off: All full-time employees can accrue up to 3 weeks of vacation, and 2 weeks of sick time and are eligible for 12 paid holidays during their first year of employment.
• Employer-paid Life Insurance & AD&D and Long-Term Disability for full-time employees.
• Comprehensive Benefits Package including Medical Plans through Mass General Brigham with an HRA Employer cost-sharing program, Dental Plans with Orthodontic Coverage, and EyeMed Vision Insurance available to full-time employees.
• 403(B) Retirement Plan with a company match starting on day one for all full-time and part-time employees.
• Additional voluntary benefits including; Term and Whole Life Insurance, Accident Insurance, Critical Illness, Hospital indemnity, and Short-Term Disability.
• Flexible Spending Accounts, Dependent Care Accounts, Employee Assistance Program, Tuition Reimbursement and more.

Primary Responsibilities:

• Have Knowledge of house rules/expectations and logs any infractions of those rules.
• Attends assigned household tasks such as laundry, remaking rooms, etc.
• Attending staff meetings and training as required.
• Complete hourly house checks for purposes of safety and security.
• Participate in shift change at beginning and end of shift.
• Answer the phone and take messages.
• Maintain cleanliness and order in staff office.
• Build and maintain respectful helping relationships with clients.
• Supervise curfews and bedtimes when applicable.
• Engage all clients by understanding and addressing their needs whether within or outside the scope of the specialty.
• Attend & participate in engagement team meetings, follow up with client service plans and communicate effectively with clients and staff in other specialty areas.
• Ensure compliance with program/department, agency and/or funder requirements, as well as SMOC policies & procedures.
• Other duties as assigned.

Knowledge and Skill Requirements:

• Previous experience working with homeless and/or teens preferred.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills.
• Bilingual preferred.

Organizational Relationship: Directly reports to the Program Director.

Physical Requirement:

• Must be able to climb three flights of stairs as there is no elevator in the program.

• Must be able to climb up and down the stairs throughout your entire assigned shift.
• Program is not handicapped accessible.
• Must be able to work overnights.
• Assigned chores may include bending and stooping, carrying, light lifting and pushing.

Working Conditions: The program is operated out of a three-story house located in the North end of Springfield, MA. Staff are required to do hourly in-house checks and be able to respond to guests' needs on all floors. There is minimal lifting involved. Driving is also a requirement as the program is required to pick up all referrals to the program. As part of the responsibilities of this position, the Program Advocate will have direct or incidental contact with clients served by SMOC in various programs funded or administered through the Executive Office of Health and Human Services.