Advocacy Specialist

Company Description

Child Advocates of Montgomery County is a nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting the safety and well-being of children through court-appointed volunteer advocacy. For more than 34 years, the organization has worked to ensure that every abused and neglected child in Montgomery County can thrive in a safe, permanent home. Its services have expanded to include advocacy for children involved in the juvenile justice system, truancy prevention initiatives, and community education on Trust-Based Relational Intervention (TBRI).

These programs focus on healing, stability, and positive futures for children and families across the community. More information is available ldAdvocates

Texas.org.

The Advocacy Specialist’s main responsibility is to monitor and address volunteers’ growth in skills and advocacy on their cases, ensuring that children assigned to the Child Advocates program receive appropriate advocacy services. The Advocacy Specialist is also responsible for providing support to the organization by attending training, recruiting, and fundraising events.

• Contribute to Child Advocates of Montgomery County’s mission, vision, and program philosophies by way of work product and professional behavior with both internal and external consumers.
• Adhere to all current federal and state laws, as well as Child Advocates of Montgomery County’s Policies and Procedures, including the safeguarding of confidential healthcare information and compliance with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA).
• Report immediately any suspected incidents of child abuse or neglect to the Child Abuse Hotline and the Senior Director of Programs and Services within 24 hours.
• Attend trainings, conferences, workshops, seminars, and any other programs to ensure continuing education.
• Maintain and nurture relationships with Child Advocates staff, volunteers, and community stakeholders.

• Provide supervision, guidance, and support of volunteers throughout the course of each case. Accountable for up to 30 open cases.
• Ensure timely and efficient handling of volunteer Advocates’ case assignment process, including supporting and/or participation with the Advocate in home visits, youth and family interactions, and collaboration with professional team members.
• Coach volunteers on interacting and relationship-building with children, youth, and families while modeling Trust-Based Relational Intervention (TBRI) principles.
• Ensure ongoing development of volunteers by providing strong, consistent supervision and direction for each volunteer individually.
• Meet once per month with Advocate to review caseload and coach Advocate in proper reporting and case handling.
• Work with other child welfare professionals and judicial members to support volunteers.
• Attend court hearings and case meetings with Advocates.
• Work in conjunction with Program staff to incorporate new training on upcoming trends in child welfare, volunteer retention, and supervision.

• Maintain timely and thorough case records on each case and volunteer. Review case reports to ensure cases are recorded and submitted in a compliant fashion.
• Ensure volunteers maintain local, Texas CASA, and National CASA standards of child visits, court reporting, and data reporting.

• Provide TBRI education and coaching to assigned cases. Training and coaching may occur on or off site in the community.

Supervisor:Senior Director of Programs and Services

Supervises:n/a

Work Hours:This is a full-time, minimum 40 hours per week position. Work hours set by the Advocacy Specialist (and approved by the Senior Director) with allowances in scheduling to be available to meet with staff, children, and families during times and dates convenient for all parties involved (i.e., evenings and weekends).

Classification:Exempt

Education Required:Bachelor’s degree.

• Two (2) years’ experience in the field of child abuse and neglect.
• One (1) year experience in supervision of volunteers/staff.
• Degree in human services field preferred
• Demonstrated understanding…