Child & Family Advocate

Education and Experience: Minimum of a bachelor’s degree in social work or related field. Training and experience working with child abuse victims and their families preferred. Has completed or is willing to complete 24-hour victim advocacy training program.
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:
• Familiarity with community resources
• Knowledge of child abuse and neglect
• Knowledge of child development
• Ability to establish rapport and foster appropriate helping relationships with child victims and non-offending adults
• Ability to collaborate professionally and positively with CAC staff and multidisciplinary team members
• Ability to maintain confidentiality and healthy boundaries with families and team partners
• Helping skills: active listening, discernment, ability to motivate and encourage non-offending caregivers
• Oral communication skills: able to communicate positively and professionally with children, families, CAC staff and multidisciplinary team members
• Writing skills: able to produce e-mails, memos, case summaries and meeting notes in a timely fashion
• Computer skills: adept with word processing, spreadsheet programs; able to learn CAC database and website programs
• Facilitation skills: able to facilitate meetings and discussions with families and team partners
• Sensitivity to diversity issues
• Willingness to travel in state and nationally 
Duties and Responsibilities:
• Intake
o Receive and screen intake calls and other referrals.
o Enter referrals in the CAC’s secure database. Create and maintain physical files.
o Schedule investigative services in a timely fashion
• Initial Contact with Families
o Welcome child and non-offending caregiver(s)
o Provide initial orientation to CAC services and the various systems that will be interacting with the family
o Conduct intake interview with non-offending caregivers(s) to assess family strengths and needs
 Assess the safety of the child and non-offending caregiver(s)
 Assess family support for the child
 Identify any barriers that may prevent the family from receiving services
• Service Referral and Coordination
o Refer child and family to mental health services as appropriate
o Refer family to crisis support services as needed
o Monitor therapy participation and progress
o Collaborate with service providers, investigators, case managers and advocates to assure appropriate, timely care
• Ongoing Family Support
o Maintain regular contact with non-offending caregivers throughout the life of the case
o Answer questions, offer support, provide ongoing education about the dynamics of abuse and the various systems that are interacting with the family
o Attend child medical evaluations, court proceedings as appropriate
o Assist with organization and facilitation of support groups for non-offending caregivers
o Keep families informed about the status of criminal proceedings
• Record Keeping and Case Tracking
o Maintain physical and electronic case records
o Document referrals, service provision, caregiver interactions, other relevant information in the CAC’s secure database
o Assist in obtaining case data from CAC partner agencies
o Assist in obtaining satisfaction data from caregivers
o Maintain strict standards of confidentiality
o Track cases until final adjudication or end of services
• Multidisciplinary Team
o Prepare rosters for monthly case review meetings
o Attend case reviews, participate in case presentation and discussion
o Prepare case review notes, including action items for CAC staff and partner agencies
• Community Education
o Represent the CAC in meetings, community forums as directed by the CAC Director.