OUR MISSION: A network of parents working to build and engage parents and others to ensure every child has a champion.

OUR VISION: Parents are the driving force ensuring conditions exist for Metro-Detroit children to thrive.

The Detroit Parent Network Is Michigan’s Premier Parent Engagement Organization That Educates, Equips And Empowers Parents As Champions For Their Children And For Change In Their Schools And Community.

Growing from a start-up nonprofit in 2002, Detroit Parent Network is a membership network of more than 1,200 parents serving low-income families that are predominantly African American and Latino. DPN works to improve parent involvement in education, which is proven to promote child success. DPN is also Michigan’s premier parent membership association with 1,200 members who pay a small annual fee for a wide array of member benefits. DPN encourages our parent members to participate at every level of involvement with the school and at all stages of their child’s development.

A feature of DPN’s core programs is elevating parents to personal transformation which elevates their own pathway to literacy, workforce development and helps them support the aspirations of their children. DPN’s Core Parent Power Trainings are Parent Leadership, Parent Advocacy, Parenting Education (Love & Logic), Facilitator Training, and programs that foster a parent’s involvement in their child’s education. Central to DPN’s model is the recruitment, support and training of parents as peer-peer trainers that go on to become Home-based Early Childhood Literacy Coaches, and Train other Parents in early childhood to high school and college settings.

DPN utilizes a neighborhood-based framework for our work engaging families and partners on the Eastside, Westside, Central and Southwest neighborhoods. Each area team is responsible for partnering with organizations, schools, and community groups in their service areas. The DPN manager also has a parent program assistant (PPA) to assist with program delivery, promotion, and recruitment in their neighborhoods. In addition, each sector has a Parent Advisory Team (PAT) consisting of up to 20 parent members representing each zip code in the area. The Parent Advisory Teams assist the area team in assessing and addressing needs in their neighborhoods. The PATs also help to identify and engage local partners, from neighborhood-based organizations to small neighborhood businesses. Partners can be involved in everything from an individual event to hosting the DPN core programs, providing seven weeks of parent training. DPN also contracts with early care and learning providers and schools to provide specific parent workshops as identified by the school.

DPN’s work in the community includes new partnerships in Health to better connect families and intentional work to lift up Special Needs Families as a population of parents who have powerful stories, recommendations and needs that too often are overlooked.

As a result of its advocacy work with families DPN is also pleased to provide leadership in helping parents understand and strategize around the challenges of Michigan’s Third Grade Reading Legislation. Accordingly it has brought together parents, educators and advocates in bilingual workshops to better understand the legislation. While families learn the penalties and opportunities in the law, there is simultaneous emphasis on the need to embrace and encourage early literacy and reading as essential to lifelong learning and career attainment.

In 2017-18, DPN provided programming through contracts with six schools (both district and charter), as well as providing grant-funded services to eleven schools, sixteen Head Start and child care facilities, four City of Detroit recreation centers, and some twenty nonprofit and faith-based organizations. Services include training, support groups, workshops and parent/child activities. DPN in addition to its training offers two Pathways programs. Pathways to Literacy a home-based, peer-to-peer literacy program for children ages 1.5 to 4.5 years old that is also offered in Spanish. In the summer of 2018 DPN embarked on building an innovative pilot entitled Pathways to Education and Careers as a multi-generational workforce development pilot that already has partners in higher education, workforce development and a exciting partnership with the Detroit College Access Network DCAN.

Pathways to Education and Careers is a collaborative approach that infuses parent engagement and an equity framework across adult education, colleges, workforce agencies and corporate partners in order to reduce inter-generational poverty. Through its history of supporting and empowering parents, DPN understands that a deeper and more equitable approach with Families is required particularly in Metro Detroit where so many young people and adults are seemingly locked out of the economic development that thrives in Downtown and the suburbs.

This is a contingent role. Pay range $12-$19 / hr

Summary

DPN Parent Engagement Associates are an essential part of the DPN Team. Associates are assigned to 1-2 programs and may have a project title relevant to that grant or program. DPN is excited to partner with the Wayne Health in a year-long pilot providing Mobile COVID Testing throughout the metro area. In this first of its kind model, DPN will provide trained Family Health Advocates to inform, refer and connect adults and children to health and mental health, education and basic needs providers and resources. The DPN Family Health Advocate will be assigned to work with a single Mobile COVID 19 Testing clinical team and the participating community or school sites. Family Health Advocates will help facilitate, share and coordinate information, resources and engage in outreach and events that mitigate COVID and promote health awareness in family households and the surrounding community. Family Health Advocates will also be trained to provide lite tech information for seniors or parents needing help with telehealth or how to access online resources. Family Health Advocates will offer superior customer service to all stakeholders at the sites and doing remote phone calls and/or online engagements.

Family Health Advocates may perform as much as 90% of their time at the Testing Community Sites and/or events as organized by Wayne Health & DPN management. The Family Health Advocate will report to and support the program manager and must communicate regularly with her/his supervisor daily to fulfill tasks, distribute information, and verify timelines. Family Health Advocates will be responsible to collect and enter data at the direction of the supervisor, as well as follow-up with families or individuals needing additional assistance.

Family Health Advocates will participate in scheduled trainings and events at the beginning of the pilot and throughout the year. Family Health Advocates will have the distinct opportunity to participate in a Fast Track Community Health Worker Training and Certification as part of the pilot. Each Family Health Advocate will develop an education and career plan and work with DPN educational and workforce development partners to learn about healthcare training, education and career opportunities.

Role and Responsibilities

Trained Advocates Parent/Family Engagement Associates will work on-site as part of the Wayne State University Physician Group’s Mobile Team for 20-40 hours per week. (based on a full time or part time position) This role will require the following:

• Assisting the clinical team with registration.

• Direct, on-site assistance with site attendees using WSUPG tablet or laptop.

• Providing telephonic or online resources to site attendees during visits and/or after visits.

• Providing information and referrals connecting site attendees to MI Bridges, Primary Care, Mental Health as well as educational and basic needs resources.

• Advocate will be Participating in cross training for 2 weeks with “practicum” experience at designated sites.

• Make referrals to Wayne Metro navigators for key basic needs and/or special programs to assist families

• Participate in Site meetings and meetings with DPN Program Manager, WSUPG and partners

• Family Health Advocates will be cross trained for at least 20 hours and have a ‘job shadow’ experience at designated sites in the first 30 days of the pilot

• Each Family Health Advocate commits to participate in ongoing check ins, coaching and training on the average of 2 hours per week as part of the paid work schedule

• Each Family Health Advocate will a) produce a education and career plan, b) complete financial aid resources as needed, c) develop a portfolio for future employers and/or educational institute, d) successfully enroll in a targeted college and/or training program in the pilot timeline of September 2020 to August 31, 2021

• DPN along with pilot partners commits to expose, enrich and equip Family Health Advocates with information and opportunities that enable Family Health Advocates to serve the community and to chart a path towards economic mobility for themselves and their family.

1. Must have at minimum a high-school diploma or equivalent. Some post-secondary education preferred
2. Must be honest and ethical.
3. Must enjoy and be effective working in teams.
4. Must possess willingness to learn, participate in training, take on responsibilities and challenges.
5. Must be careful about detail and thorough in completing work tasks.
6. Must be pleasant with others on the job and displaying a good-natured, cooperative attitude.
7. Must be sensitive to others; needs and feelings and be understanding and helpful on the job.
8. Must be able to analyze information and use logic to address work-related issues and problems.
9. Must be timely, clean, and dressed appropriately.
10. Must have accurate typing and good Microsoft Office skills.
11. Must have good oral and written communication skills.
12. Must have good organization and follow-up skills.
13. At least 1 year of experience working with the public in a customer service role in schools, health, business, retail and/or community settings.
14. Must have reliable transportation; this position requires at least 90% travel
15. Must be willing to communicate regularly with team members by phone and email.
16. Must have basic knowledge of a digital camera and using social media.

WORK ENVIRONMENT AND PHYSICAL DEMANDS

While performing the duties of this job, the staff member is frequently required to sit and talk or hear. The staff member is occasionally required to walk; use hands to finger, handle or feel objects, tools, or controls; and reach with hands and arms. The staff member must occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision and the ability to adjust focus. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential job functions.

This job description does not constitute an employment agreement between the employer and employee and is subject to change by the employer as the needs of the employer and requirements of the job change.

Detroit Parent Network is an Equal Opportunity Employer that fully and actively supports equal access for all qualified applicants and employees, regardless of race, color, gender, national origin, sexual orientation, gender orientation, disability, age, religion, height, weight, marital or family status, military status, ancestry, genetic information, or any other legally protected category in its employment practices, programs and activities.All your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines.