Job Title: Parent Support Worker/Advocate
Company: Youth Advocate Programs (YAP), Inc.
Location: Lansing, Michigan (Ingham County)
Position Type: Part-Time
Compensation: $17.50 per hour
Travel Required: Yes – Travel throughout the community to homes and schools.
FLSA Classification: Non-Exempt
Summary of Position
Hourly, part-time position serving youth and families throughout Ingham County.
Applicants must be dependable, committed, and able to serve as a positive role model for youth in community, school, and home settings.
The primary responsibilities of the Advocate are to initiate, organize, plan, develop, and implement direct advocacy services to assigned participants and their families.
All service plans will be based on a strength-based approach using the wraparound model.
The Advocate will support families involved with supervised visitations, ensuring a safe, neutral, and structured environment for children and parents. They will facilitate and monitor visits and document observations to promote the well-being of the child and compliance with court or agency guidelines.
This position offers flexible hours, weekly pay, activity reimbursement, and mileage reimbursement.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities
- Initiate, organize, plan, develop, and implement direct advocacy services to assigned participants and their families.
- Support families involved with supervised visitations.
- Ensure a safe, neutral, and structured environment for children and parents.
- Facilitate and monitor supervised visits.
- Document observations to promote the well-being of the child and compliance with court or agency guidelines.
- Utilize a strength-based approach and wraparound service model.
- Maintain required documentation and progress records.
- Coordinate services and activities that support participant and family goals.
Qualifications and Requirements
- Minimum High School Diploma or GED required.
- Experience in community work and knowledge of community resources.
- Familiarity with child welfare systems and trauma-informed care.
- Ability to work with diverse populations of staff, children, and families in a collaborative and culturally sensitive manner.
- Ability to provide quality documentation and progress notes and submit them within required deadlines.
- Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite.
- Experience using electronic health record systems is a plus.
- Strong written and verbal communication skills.
- Reliable transportation required.
- Valid driver's license required.
- Current automobile insurance required.
- Bilingual (Spanish) is a plus.
Benefits Available
- Voluntary Dental Insurance
- Voluntary Vision Insurance
- UNUM Supplemental Benefits
- 403(b) Retirement Savings Plan
- Pet Insurance
- Employee Assistance Program
- Direct Deposit
- Weekly Pay
- Flexible Schedule
Equal Opportunity Employer
Youth Advocate Programs, Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment based on individual merit, skills, and qualifications, without regard to race, age, color, ancestry, national origin, religion, sex, military or veteran status, disability, or any other status protected by the laws or regulations in the locations where YAP operates. YAP will not tolerate discrimination or harassment based on any of these characteristics.
This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws. For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor.
