Family/Victim Advocate

Description

The Victim/Family Advocate works directly with child abuse victims and their non-offending family members by providing advocacy, crisis support, and case management services in order to reduce effects of childhood trauma.

Key Responsibilities:

• Contact the non-offending caregiver prior to service delivery to provide orientation and explanation regarding upcoming CAC services.
• Provide information and case management to child victims of crime and their families. Assist in assessing for other needed services, including mental health treatment, and provide referrals and assistance in obtaining other services as appropriate, with specific emphasis on families who are impacted by low-income, multigenerational trauma, and other high risk factors.
• Assist child and family with identifying potential barriers to services and assist in exploring solutions to overcome identified issues.
• Work in collaboration with Victim/Witness staff to provide support to victims and their non-offending caregivers, including assistance in applying for Criminal Injuries Compensation Fund.
• Provide follow up services identified as needed, including ensuring access to services and resources.
• Perform forensic interviews as needed, including arranging for other team members to be present during the interview.
• Participate in regularly scheduled case review meetings with the CAC’s multidisciplinary team (MDT), as well as those meetings held on an as-needed basis. Collaborate with MDT partners as a member of the MDT.
• Ensure case data, including court outcomes, are logged into the VCAC computerized data base system.
• Conduct education and outreach presentations related to child abuse prevention and identification to community members as assigned.
• Comply with all Center policies and procedures, including adherence to the confidentiality policy.
• Maintain cross-cultural awareness in the performance of all duties.
• Perform administrative duties as assigned.
• Perform other responsibilities and duties as assigned or added to the scope of work for this position.

This position reports directly to the Executive Director.  This is a grant funded position with the Center continuing to seek funding to renew this position past the initial first year grant period.

Valley Children’s Advocacy Center does not discriminate in employment or service delivery on the basis of race, sex, age, religion, national origin, handicap, or sexual orientation.

Skills Required

• Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work or related field.
• Strong knowledge of child abuse dynamics, family systems perspective, and childhood trauma and recovery.
• No felony criminal history or history of child abuse through DSS.
• Be willing to work a flexible schedule to include evenings and occasional weekends.

Work Schedule

This is a full-time, 40 hour per week position. Hours will generally be M-F 8:30-4:30, however, client needs may necessitate occasional work outside those hours.

Additional Info

Experience working with diverse victim populations, as well as a strong working knowledge of the criminal justice system, are preferred.