Organization Overview

 

The mission of Family Tree is to partner with all people to prevent and overcome the interconnected issues of child abuse, domestic violence and homelessness to promote safety, healing and stability across generations. As a long standing non-profit human services agency, we are committed to empowering change and transforming the lives of vulnerable populations in our community. We aim to recruit and retain high-quality and diverse team members who share in our commitment and vision to empower people and transform our community through innovative and integrated services. We are also committed to investing in our team i.e., offering staff development along with believing each employee’s unique qualities and experiences are the core of the organization. Family Tree strives to value and uplift diverse and marginalized voices, to recognize and address the ways in which oppression impacts the communities with which we work, and to promote inclusion and equity.

 

Essential Duties/Responsibilities:

• Answer phone calls, emails and texts to Family Tree’s Homelessness Helpline and determine how to best serve and refer the client.
• Research and update Family Tree’s Homelessness Program’s resource guide and other printed resources.
• Attend team and organization-wide meetings, such as: Homelessness Program Team Meeting, Helpline Team Meeting, Connections Program Team Meeting, Gather & Grow, Family Tree Town Hall, etc.
• Assist case managers with client’s day-to-day needs, which can include shadowing case managers on home/site visits.
• Participate in trainings and tours of agencies/programs as they are offered, such as: training on domestic violence, co-occurring disorders such as mental illness and substance abuse and/or visiting other shelters and programs.
• Perform various administrative duties and attend to program donations.
• Assist clients with utility assistance applications. 
• Optional: Take on a small caseload (3 – 5 clients) focusing on homelessness prevention.

 

Training & Support:

• All Family Tree team members are required to complete Child Abuse/Neglect and Elder Abuse/Neglect mandated reporter training.
• Attend internal trainings, such as: Volunteer Orientation, Gather & Grow, Narcan Administration/Harm Reduction, etc.
• Onboarding includes trainings related to Trauma-Informed Care, Housing First policies, self-care, de-escalation, etc. as well as specific training tailored to the Homelessness Helpline.

 

Skills/Competencies:

• Must serve clients in a strengths-based, client-centered, trauma-informed and culturally competent manner.
• Embody Housing First principles.
• Commitment to the mission and values of Family Tree.
• Ability to prioritize and complete tasks timely in a busy work environment.
• Demonstrate active listening and empathetic care.
• A willingness to learn about and desire to assist people experiencing homelessness or housing instability.
• Ability to independently find solutions to complicated problems/situations.
• Customer service skills, including both written and verbal communication.
• Complete volunteer orientation and have an approved background check.

 

Time Commitment:

• Family Tree’s Homelessness Program Interns are expected to be available for the duration of their semester, and/or up to 12 months. 
• Interns need to be available during the Homelessness Program’s business hours (M, W, Th, F 9am – 4pm; Tu 12 - 4pm). 
• Helpline team meetings are required and take place on the second and fourth Wednesdays of each month from 2 – 3pm. There are both in-person and virtual attendance options.

 

Work Environment:

• This is an in-office position with very limited remote work available. We are located at 3805 Marshall St., Wheat Ridge, CO 80033.
• Must have access to reliable transportation for each shift.
• Supportive, inclusive, engaged team with in-office collaboration opportunities.

 

Physical Activities:

• Sitting/standing for long periods of time.
• Talking, hearing (ordinary conversation).
• Seeing (reading the paperwork, computer screen work, etc.).
• Manual dexterity sufficient to operate computers and telephones.

 

Benefits

• Becoming part of the Family Tree team, providing solutions for families in crisis to become safe, strong and self-reliant.
• Hands on experience working in the human service field.
• Enhancement of the skills of interviewing, crisis management, case management and knowledge base of resources in the Denver metro area.
• Opportunity to participate and be active with a dynamic team of social service providers.
• Work experience to enhance the strength of your resume.
• On-going support, supervision and recognition.

 

Next Steps:

• If you are interested in this position, please send your resume, a brief cover letter and answers to the questions below to Rebekah Hawthorne, Director of Volunteer Engagement at rhawthorne@thefamilytree.org.
  • Are you looking for a formal internship linked to your school?
  • Are you looking for summer, fall, spring or full-year placement?
  • How many in-program hours will you need each week?
  • How many hours will you need total? What is the duration of your internship?
  • Are you fluent in any language other than English?
  • What is your availability? Please list days of the weeks and times.