Holyoke Young Parent Program_Direct Service Advocate_1st Shift

Department: Holyoke Young Parent Program  

Reports to: Site Director 

Schedule: Full-time Monday-Friday 7am-3pm

FLSA Status: Non-Exempt 

Starting Rate: $20

The YWCA of Western Massachusetts is a nonprofit organization dedicated to eliminating racism and empowering women. For nearly 150 years, the YWCA has served our region, guided by its founding principle: to provide shelter, support services, and tools for self-sufficiency for survivors of domestic violence and/or sexual assault. We do this through a variety of programs and services designed to promote safety, build skills for employment and financial stability, and strengthen relationships between parents and children. 

Expectations of all employees

In the performance of essential and general job responsibilities, all YWCA employees are expected to: 

• Demonstrate commitment to the YWCA's mission and principles of trauma-informed work.
• Represent the YWCA in a professional and competent manner to participants, community members, organizational partners, and other stakeholders. 
• Support policies, practices, and decisions that demonstrate our shared accountability for racial equity.
• Foster a positive working environment.
• Coordinate efforts across teams, programs, and partner organizations.
• Maintain professional behavior and strict confidentiality.

Position Purpose

The Direct Service Advocate (DSA) is responsible for providing support, advocacy and role modeling to adult, teen and child program participants living in the YWCA's residential programs. DSA's are part of a team model working with peers, supervisors, clinicians and outside connections to best serve program participants. DSA's support the agency mission and trauma informed service model in order to provide safe, consistent and quality services to vulnerable populations.

Essential Responsibilities

• Nurture and support a milieu approach that is participant-guided, family-driven, strengths-based, trauma-informed and embraces a framework of empowerment and encouragement, engaging with 100% of individuals and families that are on-site each shift.
• Encourage and support the development of life skills, positive parenting and improved parent-child interaction- 1:1 or group format to include recreational, educational, cultural or those that promote family engagement
• Follow and encourage the programs daily schedule and facilitate resident participation and community responsibilities, taking into