Child Advocacy Specialist

Provides ongoing crisis support to children and their non-offending caregivers when there has been a disclosure or allegation of child abuse. Monitors case progress, maintains client files and documentation accordingly, as well as works in collaboration with partner agencies to reduce trauma to children and their families.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Conducts comprehensive assessments of client needs in collaboration with the Youth Crisis Advocate assigned to the case. Provides referrals to other victim services and facilitates connections with additional community support services for additional assistance.
• Provides trauma-informed advocacy by helping clients with goal planning, offering crisis intervention, developing safety plans, and providing consistent follow-up services to ensure ongoing support.
• Assist with orders of protection, custody petitions, and family court advocacy in support of the child or non-offending caregiver on behalf of the child.
• Manages a caseload and ensures timely and accurate completion of case notes within the Agency database.
• Educates clients about their eligibility for the Office of Victim Services and guides them through the application processes as necessary.
• Communicates via phone and voicemails as needed with victims, caregivers, and Multidisciplinary Team members.
• Makes mandated child abuse reports to local law enforcement and State Central Registry as appropriate.
• Covers a 24-hour Youth hotline for approximately four weeks per year offering immediate support and guidance to individuals in crisis.
• Performs additional duties as assigned by management.

EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE

• A High School diploma with two years of experience working with vulnerable populations is required, while an Associate degree in human services with the same experience is preferred.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS & ABILITIES

• Excellent communication skills both written and verbal.
• Demonstrated ability to effectively present in public forums.
• Skilled in addressing and discussing sensitive issues.
• Ability to establish and maintain networks of professional relationships.
• Excellent organizational and time management skills, with the ability to prioritize tasks and meet deadlines.
• Ability to multitask, work rapidly to meet deadlines, and perform work under pressure while maintaining composure and professionalism.
• Ability to demonstrate cultural awareness and sensitivity to other perspectives.
• Demonstrated flexibility to adapt to different work and communication styles of colleagues and clients.
• Demonstrated ability to solve problems using analytical skills and abilities.
• Demonstrated ability to maintain composure and professionalism under stress.
• Strong proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook).

PHYSICAL DEMANDS & WORK ENVIRONMENT

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.

• Regularly required to walk, sit, use hands; and reach with hands and arms.
• Manual dexterity is required, including the frequent ability to grasp in both hands and continuous use of fine manipulation skills in both hands.
• Must occasionally lift and/or move up to 20 pounds.
• Specific vision abilities required by the job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.
• While performing the duties of this job, the employee may be exposed to various weather conditions.
• The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.
• Occasional exposure to bodily fluids.