Family Advocate (part-time)

Primary Description:

Work within a multidisciplinary team to create and support high standards for child abuse investigations and to advocate for the needs and well-being of child abuse victims and their families. Provide initial on-site and off-site services to non-offending caregivers of children alleging sexual and/or physical abuse or witnesses to violence. Consult with forensic interviewers, law enforcement, prosecutors, medical professionals, child protection workers, therapists and advocates.  Provide case management services and crisis intervention to non-offending caregivers of children alleging sexual and/or physical abuse or witness to violence. after the initial forensic interview/medical evaluation appointment. Coordinate appropriate referrals for services, and collaborate directly with non-offending caregivers to make contact with community services. 

Specific Responsibilities:

1. Ensures children and their non-offending caregivers receive the most sensitive and humane care during the investigative process by ensuring a timely response from investigative agencies, and seeks to protect children from being subjected to repeated interviews and medical examinations.

2. Delivers orientation services to children and families, including an explanation of the interview and medical evaluation process and taking relevant history about the child.

3. Provides crisis intervention and resource information to families.

4. Locates community resources for children and families and communicates with agencies to reduce barriers to services.  This can be by calling or visiting service providers along with the non-offending caregivers.

5. Consults with investigative team members before and after child interviews and medical examinations to determine strategies to support the non-offending caregivers’ efforts to protect the child.

6. Prepares timely, thorough and accurate case notes of family advocacy sessions, including data collection, data entry and maintenance of the computerized case tracking system.

7. Advocates for child victims and their families during the case review process.

8. Participates in the coordination of a multidisciplinary Case Review Team with 

assistance from the Executive Director/Program Director.

9. Bridges the gap for non-offending caregivers between the initial family advocacy appointment and direct services such as therapy and  medical care by providing ongoing case management and support to non-offending caregivers of children referred for forensic interviews and/or medical evaluations through face-to-face, email, and/or telephone contact.

10. Initiates follow-up telephone, face-to-face, and/or email contact with the non-offending caregiver to evaluate the families’ changing needs and requests, links the family with essential community services such as therapy and medical care, and provides ongoing emotional and educational support and crisis intervention.

11. If the child was referred to a specialized medical evaluation, works directly with the non-offending caregiver to identify any barriers to the child coming to the evaluation and then works directly with the caregiver to ensure that the child attends a medical evaluation whenever possible.

12. Calls all non-offending caregivers and offers to meet with them to assess on-going needs of children and their families to support family safety and therapeutic services for the child victim and family. The frequency of meetings will be determined by each family’s needs and requests.

13. Assists families in completing, submitting, and following up on applications for community and State benefits such as DCF, Crime Victims Compensation, and Protection from Abuse Orders.

14. Serves as the ongoing point of contact for families for crisis intervention, behavioral interventions and strategies, and problem solving.

15. Notifies DCF social workers, detectives, and prosecutors of case developments and child safety issues.

16. Builds relationships with collateral agencies and commonly used services to expedite service delivery and bridge the gaps in services.

17. Attends skills-based and relevant continuing educational trainings and conferences to remain abreast of latest research, trends and best practice standards on issues related to child abuse and victim advocacy and cultural sensitivity as approved by the Executive Director/Program Director.

18. Provides regular updates to the Executive Director/Program Director for modification to service delivery, program content, evaluation, etc.

19. Attend agency functions, special events and meetings as necessary and appropriate.

20. Other duties as assigned.

Basic Requirements:

Minimum of a bachelor’s degree in social work, psychology, law enforcement or related human services field.  If a professional license for that field is required within the state of Kansas, the candidate must possess that professional license.  Must work effectively with individuals from various economic, social and cultural backgrounds. Successful candidates will demonstrate an ability to accomplish and advance program goals, a willingness to remain abreast of current research related to child abuse/neglect and victim advocacy, and an ability to remain sensitive and demonstrate appropriate boundaries with program clients, agency staff, multi-disciplinary partners and volunteers. 

Preferred Requirements:

Three years or more of direct work experience intervening with abused children and their families. Knowledge of dynamics of child abuse; knowledge of law enforcement, criminal and civil court systems and how to communicate with and function within these systems; strong skills in public relations and negotiation; strong organizational skills; ability to engage children of all ages; and empower and mediate with parents in crisis; comprehensive understanding of community resources. 

Work Schedule:  This is a part-time position at 26 hours a week; our business hours are Monday through Friday, 9am to 5pm. Occasional evening and weekend work may be required as job duties demand. 

Status:  Pay range $20.51-$23.08hr./Cell Phone Stipend, Mileage Reimbursement and Professional training provided

Location:  1009 New Hampshire, Lawrence, KS 66044

To Apply:  Send resume to bev@cacdouglas.org, interviews will take place in January with anticipated start date in February 2025.