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

GUARDIAN AD LITEM OFFICE, 8TH CIRCUIT- ASSISTANT CHILD ADVOCATE MANAGER -  About the Organization and the Opportunity

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 a community volunteer or pro bono attorney, to represent each child the Office is court‑appointed to.

The Assistant Child Advocate Manager position offers an extremely interesting and challenging, entry‑level opportunity for jobseekers engaged in a career of social work and family service. It provides a great venue for increased professional growth and personal development. More information about the Statewide Guardian ad Litem Office can be found rdianadlitem.org.

• 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 for all FTE positions
• 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. Some examples of a “typical” working day may include the following:

• Visiting children and youth in foster care or group care and assessing their safety and well‑being
• Working with a local team 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
• Utilizing 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
• 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, writing and computer literacy skills
• Able to maintain a professional and effective demeanor in emotional or traumatic situations
• 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 welfare and protection

• Must possess a valid Florida Driver’s License
• Associate’s degree from an accredited college or university with a major 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 welfare, social service, counseling, preferred

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Please note:

An exception for the required education and experience may be granted by the Executive Director or designee.)

The State of Florida supports a Drug‑Free workplace. All employees are subject to reasonable suspicion drug testing in accordance with Section 112.0455, F.S., Drug‑Free Workplace Act.

For assistance, call the People First Service Center at (877) 562‑7287 Monday‑Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., Eastern time. Pursuant to Florida Law, 110.211

F. S., the State of Florida is an EEO employer.