Guardian Ad Litem Office, 8Th Circuit- Assistant Child Advocate Manager

GUARDIAN AD LITEM OFFICE, 8TH CIRCUIT- ASSISTANT CHILD ADVOCATE MANAGER -

Requisition No: 877972

Agency:
Justice Administrative Commission

Working Title:

GUARDIAN AD LITEM OFFICE, 8TH CIRCUIT- ASSISTANT CHILD ADVOCATE MANAGER -

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. It assigns a multidisciplinary team—comprising a guardian ad litem attorney, a child welfare professional and a community volunteer or pro bono attorney—to represent each child the Office is court‑appointed to.

The Assistant Child Advocate Manager position is an entry‑level role offering professional growth and personal development for individuals interested in a career in social work and family service.

• State of Florida retirement package – Pension or investment plan (3% employee contribution required)
• State group insurance coverage options, including health, life, dental, vision, and other supplemental insurance options
• Life insurance, $25,000, provided by the state at a pro‑rated cost to you for all FTE positions; employees may purchase additional coverage
• Additional supplemental insurances such as dental, vision, disability, etc.
• Flexible spending account
• Nine paid state holidays each calendar year
• One paid personal holiday each fiscal year
• 13 paid sick leave days accrued within the calendar year
• 13 paid annual leave days accrued within the calendar year, with an increase after five years
• Public Loan Forgiveness Program
• No State of Florida income tax for residents of Florida

The Assistant Child Advocate Manager position encompasses a broad range of duties from direct client contact to data reporting. Typical responsibilities include:

• Visiting children and youth in foster or group care and assessing their safety and well‑being
• Collaborating with local teams or staff in other circuits to convey information about a child’s progress, verbally or in writing
• Contacting children, caregivers, and service providers in other judicial circuits to determine progress of children placed outside their home circuit
• Gathering and documenting pertinent case information
• Providing recommendations and written reports to members of the advocacy team
• Tracking the status of case plan compliance, updating and retrieving files
• Conducting collateral contacts with schools, caregivers and service providers
• Attending internal and external case‑related conferences, staffings, and meetings
• Making regular contact with a variety of social service agencies and professionals
• Using the organization’s database and reporting systems
• Participating in internal and external training, meetings and conferences

• Self‑motivated and achievement oriented
• Ability to take direction and work cooperatively as part of a team
• Strong desire to learn and pursue personal development
• Effective interaction with and influence on people of diverse backgrounds
• Discretion, respect for privacy and maintenance of confidentiality
• Strong organizational and time‑management skills with the ability to meet deadlines
• Excellent oral, written and computer literacy skills
• Professional and effective demeanor in emotional or traumatic situations
• Knowledge of case management, social support services and child development concepts
• 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 welfare and protection

• Valid Florida driver’s license
• Associate’s degree from an accredited college or university in sociology, social work, psychology, child development, education, juvenile justice, communications, or a related social science
• Knowledge of the dependency system and one year of experience in a program focusing on child…