About Alongside Families

OUR MISSION:
Alongside Families exists to connect isolated families in the Carolinas to local church communities that champion family preservation and physical, spiritual, and emotional thriving.
Alongside Families is a non-denominational, Christian nonprofit religious organization with a statement of faith that all board members, staff, partner churches, and volunteers believe in.

THE NEED:
When difficult circumstances arise, many people rely on relatives and friends for support. But for some parents struggling with social isolation or poverty, this is not an option. During times of crisis such as homelessness, hospitalization or mental health struggles, parents without a support system may be unable to provide a safe home for their children. Children may eventually be removed into the child welfare system if parents are not given the support they need.

THE ALONGSIDE FAMILIES RESPONSE:
Alongside Families provides safe, loving homes where parents may voluntarily have their children cared for temporarily while seeking to restore stability in their lives. Alongside Families gives parents space to address their situation without the fear of losing custody and builds lasting social capital for isolated families so that they can thrive within community.

OUR HOSTING MINISTRY TEAM: 

We are a volunteer-driven, staff-supported organization in the Carolinas focused on family preservation. Our dedicated volunteers serve the community and are supported and directed by our staff who passionately invest their lives in engaging churches, supporting and training volunteers, coordinating the hosting of children and coaching of parents, and much more.  

Our Core Values: 

• Gospel-Centered: We live out the Great Commandment and the Great Commission
• Grace: We suspend judgement and seek to understand
• Community: We serve as a village, not alone
• Relationship: We pursue relationships, not transactions

• Dignity: We empower and do-with rather than compel and do-for
• Brave: We do hard things to love well

Support Line Coordinator Position (part-time), Charlotte, NC) 

Alongside Families is seeking to fill this position by August 31st, 2024.

OVERVIEW 

Alongside Families is seeking a part-time (20 hours per week) Support Line Coordinator to oversee and facilitate the intake process of families in need who reach out to Alongside Families. They are responsible to oversee the Support Line volunteer team and complete the end-to-end intake process with families. This role will also complete home evaluations as needed with prospective host families. 

QUALIFICATIONS:

A strong faith in Jesus Christ and a heart for the local church is required, as well as a desire to see the gospel change the lives of hurting families in our community. This person will thrive on managing lots of details, handling a lot of incoming information, and effectively communicating details to staff and volunteers to make sure families in crisis are supported quickly and volunteers are well-informed and supported through the process.

Experience in social work or a related field with vulnerable families is helpful. Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience required. Volunteer and/or team management experience preferred. Bilingual English/Spanish is a plus. 

This position requires spiritual discipleship of Support Line volunteers. This includes leading in prayer, sharing Scriptures, and pointing to the Gospel-centrality of our mission. 

CULTURE & FIT
Success at Alongside Families depends not only on a person’s skills but also on their ability to match our values and culture. If you answer “yes” to the following questions, you may fit into our team. Be prepared to give concrete examples and have candid discussions during the interview process. 

• Do you have a strong ability to multi-task and keep track of many moving pieces? 
• Are you known for getting the details right and the thoroughness of your work? 
• Are you a great communicator with a warm communication style? 
• Are you persistent when trying to solve a problem? 
• Are you able to stay calm and decisive in challenging situations? 
• Are you flexible when your day has to suddenly shift direction? 
• Are you compassionate? Able to hold space for someone else’s story? 
• Are you able to easily learn and navigate technology? 
• Do you work well with others? Able to lead a team of diverse people? 
• Are you a self-starter who can manage time and get things done without requiring lots of oversight?
  

ROLES & RESPONSIBILITIES

The Support Line Coordinator’s primary area of responsibility is the Support Line. Home Evaluations are secondary and only during times of slower intake needs. Areas of responsibility:

• Support Line Oversight & Intake
• Home Evaluations
• Leadership & Communication

1. Support Line Oversight & Intake 

• Direct, manage, and maintain an effective model for recruiting new Support Line volunteers; Work closely with the Church Engagement Coordinator for recruitment needs. (note: using volunteers to assist with the Support Line is a new endeavor. This role will be responsible for building up and implementing this new team and will answer all Support Line calls until the team is built).  
• Interview, onboard, and train new Support Line volunteers.  
• Supervise volunteers, including reviewing work, troubleshooting, ensuring mandated reporting occurs, checking in regularly, being available for emergencies, keeping documentation secure, facilitating regular gatherings of volunteers, and being proactive in volunteer appreciation.   
• Answer all Support Line calls when a volunteer is unable to cover the support line 
• Maintain a thorough call log record, including follow-up steps needed.  
• Receive Support Line requests from volunteers and complete the full intake process.  
• Communicate each need to volunteers; Match suitable volunteers with each intake need. 
• Build and maintain a system of Host Family profiles to expedite matching families. 
• Ensure that Alongside Families intake policies are fully followed and that intake needs are a fit according to Alongside Families guidelines.
• Complete all required forms and documentation and ensure that data is thoroughly input into the CMS. 
• Ensure thorough communication and a smooth hand-off to the Family Care Manager. 
• Facilitate hosting and community friend meetings when necessary.  
• Facilitate the start of emergency hosting needs in-person when needed.  

2. Home Evaluations

• Complete thorough in-home interviews and home safety evaluations of prospective Host Families.
• Write thorough home evaluation reports to be submitted to the Executive Director for approval.
• Ensure that host homes meet ASF standards and that volunteers are thoroughly screened and trained.
  

3. Leadership and Communication Responsibilities

• Communicate closely with the Family Care Manager; Report any critical child safety issues. 
• Participate in developing relationships with community agency and ministry partners. 
• Maintain a current list of resources to refer families to through the Support Line.  
• Facilitate periodic meetings with direct report volunteers. Ensure that agenda includes update on area of work, policy and paperwork changes, outreach and resource updates, and training.  
• Be prepared to report on activities related to each area of responsibility as well as actively participate in discussions about other areas of the ministry. Complete weekly statistical reports. 
• Implement operational improvements wherever needed. 
  

Other duties in addition to those listed above may be assigned. Alongside Families team members share in all work needed to meet the current needs of the ministry.

Position Details

Flexibility required: This position requires flexible hours to oversee the Support Line while it is open (Mon-Thur, 9a-5p, Friday, 9a-2p). This position does not allow for working a set schedule of hours each week.  This position does, however, allow for flexibility in where and how the job is done and supports family scheduling.

Work during evenings and weekends will be needed occasionally (hosting meetings, required all-staff events, volunteer training). In addition, the Intake Coordinator will participate in our on-call schedule rotation.  

Location and travel: This is primarily a remote position, but candidate must be available to work in-person with other team members one day every other week and meet as-needed with other team members. Candidate must live in the greater Charlotte area and must be willing to drive across the greater Charlotte area as needed to meet with families, volunteers, and staff. Candidate must be able and willing to transport clients (adults and children) when needed and must have their own reliable transportation, automobile insurance, and a driver’s license.   

Background checks and reference requirements: Candidate must be able to pass background checks: fingerprinting, federal and state criminal background checks, sexual offender registry, and child abuse registry.

Alongside Families is a nonprofit religious organization: In compliance with our bylaws and policies, candidate must provide a suitable pastoral character reference from a home church they are regularly attending and actively committed to and must adhere to and sign the Alongside Families Statement of Faith and Christian Fellowship Commitment. 

Compensation:

• Generous PTO bank (5 weeks per year)
• 11 paid holidays in addition to PTO
• Mileage reimbursed at the federal mileage rate
• Wages: $20 per hour
• No medical/health benefits are available at this time
  

Instructions to apply for this position

Email your Resume and Cover Letter Emily Kemmann, Alongside Families Executive Director: emily@alongsidefamilies.org for a link to a Get Acquainted Worksheet as the first step in our hiring process.

Your cover letter should include briefly sharing why you are drawn to this position and what unique perspective/gifting/passion you would bring to the position.