SPANISH SPEAKING UNITY COUNCIL·Oakland, California
The Family Advocate conducts family needs assessments, manages enrollment processes, and provides referrals to community resources. They also maintain accurate service records, facilitate transition planning, and monitor child attendance to ensure program compliance.
Title: Family Advocate
# of Open Roles: 1
Reports To: Family Services Coordinator
Department: Children and Family Services
Location: Oakland, CA
Schedule: Monday through Friday
Travel: Local travel may be required
Employee Status: Regular, Full-Time, Non-Exempt
This position is represented by SEIU Local 1021. Compensation and salary advancement are determined by the applicable Collective Bargaining Agreement, including eligible seniority increases at five (5) and ten (10) years of service.
Supervises: N/A
Three weeks of paid vacation a year, sick time, 14 holidays, based on employment status, medical and dental benefits on the first of the month following 30 days of employment, life insurance policy at no cost to employees (with the option of increasing policy amount), flexible spending account for medical and dependent care costs, commuter benefits, 403(b) with employer match, and other benefits. We foster a joyful workplace and offer opportunities for professional development and growth.
The Unity Council is a non-profit Social Equity Development Corporation with an over 60-year history in the Fruitvale neighborhood of Oakland. Our mission is to promote social equity and improve quality of life by building vibrant communities where everyone can work, learn, and thrive.
Our programs aim to provide the community with the tools, knowledge, and resources to transform their lives and ultimately achieve their long-term educational, career, and financial goals.
These holistic programs and services reach more than 10,000 individuals and families annually in five languages.
Programs include early childhood education, youth mentorship and leadership development, employment services, career readiness training, housing and financial stability, senior citizen services, affordable housing and neighborhood development, and arts and cultural events.
Our work expands beyond the Fruitvale district and now reaches across Oakland and into Contra Costa County.
The Unity Council employs a diverse workforce of more than 300 people who reflect the linguistic, cultural, and ethnic identity of the communities we serve.
The Children and Family Services programs include Head Start, Early Head Start, State Pre-Kindergarten, Home Based Services, and Developmental Play Groups. Over 900 children birth through kindergarten entry and 32 expectant parents and their families receive child development and comprehensive family services through the Unity Council. The programs are diverse, multilingual, developmentally appropriate, culturally responsive, and individualized for each child and family services are provided in seven centers and one home-based program throughout Oakland and Contra Costa County.
Family Advocate assists with enrollments, conducts family interviews and assesses family needs and strengths. This position establishes and maintains an accurate service record for each family. The family advocate interviews families to identify interests, concerns, services, strengths and refers families to community service providers. Family Advocates assist families with transition planning.
The Unity Council is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
Candidates should have at least one year of experience working with low-income families and possess an Associate or Bachelor's degree in a social service field. Proficiency in Spanish and English is preferred, and the role requires the ability to perform physical tasks like lifting and home visits.
Market context
Family Advocate openings in California often reflect steady demand in community-based programs serving low-income families, especially where bilingual support and home-visit experience matter. This role can be competitive because employers may prefer candidates with social service education, Spanish-English proficiency, and the ability to handle both outreach and physical tasks. Review the AI-summarized requirements and benefits here to save time, then tailor your application to show direct family support experience and comfort with field-based work.