Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA) Family Advocate

Position Overview The ICWA Family Advocate develops, implements and provides social services and case management sensitive to the cultural heritage and needs of the Alaska Native peoples of authorized Tribes to promote personal self-determination, family unity, and stability. Key Responsibilities - Acts as a liaison and advocate between the State of Alaska DHSS Office of Children Services (OCS), Tribal Councils, and other state and federal agencies as needed to assure compliance with the Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA). - Serves as advocate on behalf of the Alaska Native community and on behalf of Alaska Native children regarding foster child placements. Supports and communicates with parents to remove barriers to working a safety and/or OCS reunification plan. - Evaluates ICWA cases for the Native Villages of Akhiok, Larsen Bay, Old Harbor and Ouzinkie that are referred, prioritizing children and families in need of social services due to neglect, abandonment, handicap, abuse, or other conditions that may affect their wellbeing. - Provides advocacy and intervention with families at risk for child abuse/neglect in efforts to prevent the removal of children from parents, families, and community. - Assists and refers clients in crisis or working towards stabilization, as necessary. Assists in the development of goals, provides service coordination, assesses barriers, and aid navigation of relevant agencies. Works with other service providers on referrals for children and families to support case plans. - Acts as a liaison and communicate with KANA providers, Tribal Councils, OCS and other state and federal agencies as needed; will include appearance at court hearings in person and telephonically to ensure proper outcomes for Native beneficiaries. - Assists with project compliance and required reporting requirements of the program activities for the BIA ICWA contract for Akhiok, Larsen Bay, Ouzinkie and Old Harbor. Provides updates to ICWA Representative, Tribal Councils, and ICWA Advisory Councils, and other reports as required. - Provides case management between KANA providers, OCS and Tribal partners of mutually shared clients. - Maintains contact with agency partners through releases of information (ROIs) from clients. Verifies participation in other programs necessary for client recovery and self-sufficiency. - Initiates and maintains positive working relationships and regular communications with clients, Tribes, and other agencies. - Provides transportation services as determined by necessary to meet the needs of the client and case plan requirements. - Provides supervised family contact for clients upon request from the Office of Childrens Services. - Prepares and submits court motions, orders, and petitions on behalf of the Tribe as appropriate. - Remains current on available resources in the Kodiak community and statewide for clients. - Attends relevant and mandatory training to more effectively adhere to program requirements, law and regulation changes, and gain knowledge in ways to improve service delivery. - Travels regularly to villages for investigations, direct services and programmatic outreach. - Documents case in case files and adhere to strict confidentiality. Qualifications High school diploma or equivalent and two years of relevant work experience; or combination of education and experience.