Guardian Ad Litem Office, 15Th Circuit- Ops Child Advocate Manager

Overview

Requisition No: 874683;
Agency:
Justice Administrative Commission;

Working Title:

GUARDIAN AD LITEM OFFICE, 15TH CIRCUIT- OPS CHILD ADVOCATE MANAGER ;
Pay Plan:
Temp;
Position Number: ;
Salary: $19.89 PER HOUR;
Posting Closing Date: 06/30/2026.

The Statewide Guardian ad Litem Office is Florida’s award-winning, state-funded child advocacy organization that provides independent legal representation to abused, abandoned and neglected children in Florida’s dependency court proceedings. The Office upholds the highest standards of integrity, excellence and child centered representation. The Office assigns a multi-disciplinary team which is comprised of a guardian ad litem attorney, a child welfare professional, and hopefully a community volunteer or pro bono attorney, to represent each child the Office is court appointed to.

The Child Advocate Manager position encompasses a broad range of consultative, administrative and advocacy activities. The Child Advocate Manager may also supervise a group of Guardian Ad Litem Office Child Advocate volunteers. Some examples of a “typical” working day may include the following:

• Collaborate with the Guardian ad Litem Office multidisciplinary team, management, Department of Children and Families, contracted service providers, Department of Juvenile Justice, Department of Education, Law Enforcement, etc.
• Overseeing the work of Guardian ad Litem Office volunteers.
• Gathering and documenting independent pertinent case information.
• Providing best interests advocacy recommendations to the Guardian ad Litem Office multidisciplinary team, to the court and to our child welfare partners.
• Preparing written reports to the court.
• Provide testimony to the court.
• Attending internal and external case-related court hearings, depositions, case plan conferences, dependency mediations, staffing’s and meetings.
• Visiting and contacting assigned children, parents, caregivers, schools and service providers.
• Utilizing the organization’s database and reporting systems.
• Participating in internal and external training, meetings and conferences.

• The Child Advocate Manager serves as the child welfare professional on the multi-disciplinary team and is responsible for overseeing a team of guardian ad litem volunteers for which they assign to serve on individual cases.

As a full-time OPS employee, benefits include health insurance options with low employee contribution. Examples mentioned: single coverage as low as $50 per month, family coverage around $180 per month. Rates may differ for half-time employees. Other benefits include:

• Participate in FICA social security and Medicare (mandatory).
• Workers Compensation (mandatory).
• Unemployment Compensation (mandatory).
• Participate in Deferred Compensation (voluntary).
• Participation in group insurance (available for employees who work an average of 30 hours or more per week). Enrollment options for basic life insurance at $25,000; OPS employees not eligible for optional term life.
• Health Insurance: eligibility if reasonably expected to work 30 hours or more per week on average.

The following are desirable knowledge, skills, abilities and traits for prospective Child Advocate Manager position candidates:

• Self-motivated and achievement oriented.
• Strong desire to learn and pursue personal development.
• Ability to take direction and work as part of a team.
• Ability to effectively interact with and/or influence people of diverse backgrounds.
• Ability to exercise discretion, respect privacy and maintain confidentiality.
• Strong organizational/time management skills and ability to meet deadlines.
• Excellent oral, written and computer literacy skills.
• Able to maintain a professional and effective demeanor in emotional or traumatic situations.
• Ability to coach, instruct and motivate volunteers.
• Knowledge of case management, social support services and concepts of child development.
• Knowledge of the dynamics of child abuse, domestic violence, substance abuse and mental health.
• Knowledge of the Florida State Courts System.
• Knowledge of Florida Statutes relating to child…