Child and Family Advocate

Child And Family Advocate

The Child and Family Advocate is a full-time position located in the Tribal Victim Services (TVS) Program within the Social Services Department and is directly supervised by the Social Services Director. The Child and Family Advocate position serves and protects the rights, safety, and well-being of child/youth victims of abuse and neglect, including sexual abuse. The Child and Family Advocate provides core services to child/youth victims of abuse, harm, and/or neglect and their non-offending family members, including offering critical support, assessing needs, providing information and referrals, assisting with navigating systems (court, education, social, etc.),

developing safety plans, advocating for the child/youth in various settings, assisting with court processes or forms, and much more. The Child and Family Advocate, in consultation and coordination with the Social Service Director and other personnel, is responsible for creating, supporting, and maintaining program services that are consistent with the culture, practices, and values of the Kickapoo Tribe in Kansas (KTIK).

The essential functions of the Child and Family Advocate position are subject to change as the interests and needs of the Kickapoo community and the circumstances of the Social Service Department require:

• Greet and engage all persons entering the Social Service Department with respect.
• Collaborate effectively and consistently with the Social Service Director, Social Service colleagues, employees from other KTIK Departments, and the Tribal Community to create and maintain programs rooted in traditional Kickapoo values.
• Determine available local resources within the Kickapoo community and surrounding area for minor victims and their families. Additionally, engage in consistent and ongoing outreach efforts to facilitate the identification of critical local resources to better meet the needs of all service participants.
• Research available resources within other Native Nations, state and public agencies, and community-based service providers. Establish and cultivate partnerships with potential resources to increase the volume and accessibility of resources to minor victims and their families.
• Develop a community needs assessment followed by a written Strategic Plan outlining steps to enhance and sustain services to child victims and their families at Kickapoo Social Services.
• Complete necessary data-entry duties, service-related forms, and various reports.
• Attend trainings – virtual, local, state-level, and national when available and applicable to the functions of the position and as allowed within the project budget.
• Create and maintain accurate and up-to-date written/hard copy and electronic records for every assigned case.
• Advocate on behalf of the minor victim and/or family in educational, social, legal, and other areas when needed.
• Provide support and guidance to families, parents, and caregivers to help them heal from secondary trauma and to help them meet the needs of the minor victim.
• Schedule forensic interviews for children or youth from accredited child advocacy centers or certified forensic interview programs when warranted and appropriate based on the needs of the minor victim and their family.
• Participate in collaborative meetings to coordinate appropriate and effective services with the Intake and Investigation Specialist who assigns cases following the completion of an Intake.
• Provide an array of core services to the minor victim and their non-offending family members including safety planning, crisis care, critical support, information and referrals, assistance navigating systems, assistance with preparing for court and court processes/forms, and other appropriate and useful services based on the particular needs of the minor victim and their family.
• Participate in monthly Criminal Justice Coordination Meetings with all relevant and related criminal system personnel to establish a coordinated and consistent response to child abuse and neglect across systems and departments at the Kickapoo Tribe in Kansas.
• Complete case notes and/or spreadsheets to track case activities and ensure all…