Family Advocate

FAMILY ADVOCATE

The mission of BraveBe Child Advocacy Center (BraveBe) is to respond to child abuse through a team approach designed to reduce trauma, seek justice, and provide hope and healing for children and their families. BraveBe serves 17 counties in southeast Nebraska. The main office is located in Lincoln, satellite offices are located in Beatrice and York. 

SUMMARY OF THE POSITION:

The role of the Family Advocate is to provide day of or ongoing support to children and families. The Family Advocate plays a vital role by providing support, resources, and guidance to children and non-offending caregivers during the investigative process and beyond. This position ensures families are informed, emotionally supported, and connected to services that promote healing and well-being.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Conduct a pre-interview phone call to the non-offending caregivers to explain the child advocacy model, and to address any questions or concerns before arrival. Welcome the child and non-offending family members to BraveBe and create a safe and supportive environment.  


• Provide the child(ren) with an initial tour and orientation of BraveBe.


• Provide immediate emotional support to the child and non-offending caregiver(s) during a time of crisis by providing on-site advocacy during a forensic interview and/or medical evaluation conducted at BraveBe.


• Work with non-offending caregiver(s) to identify the most urgent needs for themselves and their families and assist in finding resources to meet basic needs such as food, clothing, shelter and safety.


• Regularly monitor child safety through direct follow up with the non-offending caregiver(s) and report any concerns to the investigating officer or caseworker should caregiver support be diminished or the child’s safety compromised.


• Provide immediate and ongoing education to the non-offending caregiver(s) on the dynamics of abuse and the coordinated multidisciplinary response.


• Assist the non-offending caregiver(s) to rebuild or maintain a safe and stable home by providing access to trauma focused, evidence based mental health treatment and other services such as protection orders, housing, public assistance, domestic violence intervention and transportation. 


• Provide timely updates to the child and non-offending caregiver(s) on the status of the investigation and prosecution and seek answers to their questions or concerns.


• Provide information regarding the rights of crime victims to the child and their non-offending caregiver(s) including information about crime victim’s compensation.


• Respond to after-hour forensic interview requests and local area hospitals to provide on-site advocacy and support.


• Update the case tracking system with documentation that is fact-based, clear, concise, and timely. 


• Update statistical data needed to provide accurate data to funders.


• Provide Outcome Measurement System (OMS) survey to youth and their non-offending caregiver(s) for ongoing program evaluation.


• Provide information and referrals to the general community who contact BraveBe with concerns of possible abuse or neglect.


• Work closely with members of the multidisciplinary team to stay current on the investigation and prosecution of the case and share any concerns or needs identified by the child victim or non-offending caregiver(s).


• Accompany the child and non-offending caregiver(s) to legal proceedings and meetings associated with the prosecution of the case. 


• Provide Court School and support the child throughout the court process, including sentencing and assisting with a Victim Impact Statement. 


• Foster open and positive relationships with law enforcement, NDHHS, the prosecuting attorney, and other team members while promoting best practices for child abuse investigation, prosecution, and treatment. 


• Actively participate in regular MDT case review, and other internal case staffing and team meetings.  

QUALIFICATIONS

Education: A bachelor’s degree in social work, criminal justice, psychology, human services, or a related field is required; associate’s degree will be considered if applicant has a strong work history in human services and approval is obtained from the Department of Health & Human Services.

Experience: Two years of professional experience working with children and families who have either experienced or witnessed trauma is preferred.  Previous professional experience in working with the criminal justice or child welfare system and as a member of a multidisciplinary team is preferred.

Special Qualifications: Exempt employees must be able to work flexible hours and to be on-call for emergency situations. 

CAREER DEVELOPMENT

BraveBe employees are provided with the opportunity to gain specialized training and grow their professional skills across various areas. Employees are encouraged to attend local, regional, and national conferences as funding sources and operational needs allow.

As part of the onboarding process, BraveBe will provide the Family Advocate with initial instruction as outlined in the National Children’s Alliance Standards. The Family Advocate must show participation in ongoing education in child maltreatment, consisting of at least 8 contact hours annually. 

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES

The Family Advocate customarily and routinely exercises independent discretion and judgment in the performance of his or her duties and supervises volunteers and interns as assigned. The Family Advocate does not supervise direct reports but will regularly supervise clients, volunteers, and interns.

CLASSIFICATION

The Family Advocate position is an exempt position under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). This role is full-time at 40 hours per week. The salary range for this position starts at $37,000 annually, depending on education and experience. The Family Advocate reports to the Advocacy Program Manager.

OTHER 

BraveBe is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to providing a workplace that is free from discrimination of any kind. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, gender identity, and sexual orientation), national origin, age, disability, genetic information, or any other status protected by applicable laws or regulations.

The Family Advocate will primarily work weekdays from 8:30 am to 5:00 pm in the office environment, however exempt employees must be able to work flexible hours, which will require occasional evening and/or weekend hours with on-call. Employees must have access to a vehicle, possess a valid driver’s license and provide proof of insurance.  The position may involve occasional travel throughout Southeast Nebraska.  Employees must pass a criminal history background check prior to being hired and bi-annually thereafter.

The Family Advocate position requires the ability to sit and stand for extended periods while providing support to clients in both office and community settings. The role involves frequent walking to attend meetings and client appointments, as well as the capacity to lift and carry up to 20 pounds, including informational materials and supplies. Strong communication skills are essential, as this individual will engage in active listening and respond to clients in emotional situations. Additionally, this position will require clear vision and frequent sitting at a desktop computer for coordination and documentation preparation and review. 

Revised: January 2026

This job description is meant to describe the general nature and duties that may be required of this position within BraveBe. It is not intended to be an exhaustive list of all duties and responsibilities associated with this job. Nothing in this job description restricts your supervisor’s right to assign or reassign duties and responsibilities to this job at any time. All employment relationships at BraveBe enter are of an at-will nature and may be terminated at any time, with or without cause, and with or without notice. This job description does not constitute a contract of employment.