Victim Advocate - Childrens Advocacy Center

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Victim Advocate

Children’s Advocacy Center

Full
-Time, Hourly position.

Provides specialized and comprehensive advocacy and support to children, youth, and families within the Children’s Advocacy Center in order to improve outcomes for the victim and family; minimize the re-victimization and reduce trauma of child victims/witnesses and their protective family members as they go through the criminal and civil investigation, intervention, and prosecution process; providing guidance and navigation regarding the child abuse Multidisciplinary Team (MDT);

assesses family for service provision by utilizing ACEs and trauma-informed approaches to individualized action plans; provide training and education to families and MDT on the prevention, culture, and dynamics of child abuse/neglect; act as a liaison between the family and the MDT; may conduct developmentally and culturally appropriate and legally defensible forensic interviews of children and adolescents who are victims of child abuse/neglect or witness to crimes.

• Direct Client Services
  • Responsible for obtaining and assessing pertinent information regarding family history (ACEs) and current functioning of the family
  • Evaluate and assess the need for the family to receive supportive services; identify and link family to appropriate services; assist family in accessing service when appropriate.
  • Knowledgeable regarding and able to facilitate access to local community resources.
  • Utilize a standardized screening tool to assess for trauma symptoms and mental health services and be able to provide that feedback to caregivers regarding the results of the screener. Offers guidance and support for the child and families throughout the investigation process.
  • Act as a liaison between family members and the MDT regarding case disposition within the other agencies involved in the investigation (i.e. law enforcement, Children’s Division, prosecution.)
  • Conducts forensic interviews.
  • Service Coordination
    • Processes new referrals and schedules clients for forensic interview, when necessary.
    • Provides family information, service engagement, and updates to the MDT on a regular basis including case review settings.
    • Documents family’s progress in obtaining and engaging in services.
    • Maintains charts/database with integrity and accuracy.
    • As a member of the CAC team, ensure CAC space is neat and comfortable for family and MDT.
    • Participate in defining program outcomes and maintaining all necessary data to comply with grant related outcome measurement information.
    • Navigate complex systems and determine areas of strengths and needs for child/youth and family as appropriate. Advocate with or for client to meet needs, assist in service navigation and engagement, and communicate with any multi-disciplinary teams who are engaged with the child/youth and/or family.
    • Supports client choice in care, engagement and help-seeking skills.
  • Community Relations and Communications
    • Represents and promotes the interests and the image of the program and organization to governmental entities, at all levels, to the local community, to accrediting bodies and to the public at large as needed.
    • Maintain connection and relationship with partner agencies, community stakeholders, and other MDT agency partners to support collaboration and effective implementation of trauma sensitive and trauma aware practices.
    • Serves on community committees and/or boards to maintain collaborative relationships.
    • Provides training to agency, community, families, team members, and other interested parties on…