Family Advocate

Academic Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in the following areas: social work, psychology, criminal justice, sociology, or a closely related field of study.

Required – Personal or professional experience with victims of human trafficking, victims of child abuse and neglect, or youth experiencing homelessness and/or addiction. 2‑3 years of case management and/or crisis intervention experience.

The Family Advocate is responsible for assessing whether a minor client’s family or household member meets protocol eligibility to launch services. Family Advocates work in tandem with the Care Coordinator to address needs in the family and will actively partner with community agencies—including advocates, law enforcement, medical, child welfare, placement, mental health providers, and, if available, child advocacy centers—to coordinate care.

• Participate in hotline rotation duties and document all received information.
• Document and maintain all data for grant metrics in the appropriate database within 48 business hours of occurrence, including report/notification information, demographics, services provided, and investigative steps; document any crisis response within 24 hours.
• Assess whether the client’s family or household member meets the agreed‑upon protocols to launch coordinated services.
• Conduct meetings with clients’ families, accompanied by the CSEY advocate, on a weekly basis to establish rapport.
• Maintain a minimum number of daily or weekly contacts with families and household members on the caseload.
• Document progress that families and household members make toward risk reduction, achievement of service goals, and positive case outcomes.
• Comply with immediate reporting and response requirements for safety‑related case issues in the field.
• Participate in weekly internal staffing supervisions, Care Coordination meetings, and community meetings.
• Meet regularly with community partners and attend community events to expand the continuum of care for clients.
• Provide comprehensive, trauma‑informed service and safety planning, including immediate risk reduction and short‑term therapeutic interventions.
• Create an information‑tracking system that tracks requested volunteer information and supports quarterly report development.
• Establish subject‑matter expertise on community resources.
• Implement BCFS HHS safety protocols in case of an emergency.
• Maintain confidentiality in all areas of the service population and program operations.
• Maintain BCFS HHS professional and ethical standards of conduct outlined in the employee handbook, including demonstrating respect for agency staff, the service population, and community members, and complying with the required dress code.
• Travel across regions with occasional overnight stays, if needed.

• Pass a pre‑employment drug screen and pass random drug screening tests, maintaining emotional control and professional composure at all times.
• Acquire and maintain required licenses and certificates, which may include:
  Trust Based Relationship Intervention (TBRI), CPR, First Aid, CSE‑IT Certification, State Driver License, and other applicable certifications.
• Provide proof of work eligibility status upon request.
• Pass pre‑employment and biennial criminal background checks.
• Demonstrate the ability to:
  • Respond sensitively and competently to the service population’s cultural and socio‑economic characteristics.
  • Apply advanced training in crisis management.
  • Communicate effectively in writing and verbally in English, and possess knowledge of DFPS and law‑enforcement designations, definitions, and acronyms.
  • Work in a fast‑paced environment while maintaining emotional control and professional composure.
  • Maintain computer literacy required to meet the responsibilities of the position.
  • Work effectively and independently or as part of a multidisciplinary team without intensive supervision.
  • Actively support supervises in professional development.
  • Demonstrate a working knowledge of all BCFS HHS policies and procedures.

In accordance with Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and other applicable federal and state laws…