Community Action Stops Abuse (CASA)

Founded in 1977, CASA is the official 501c3 domestic violence center based in Pinellas County, FL. We operate the area’s 24-hour hotline and emergency shelter; non-residential programs, such as support groups, economic empowerment and legal advocacy; Child Protective Investigative Team support; community and corporate training; and the CASA Peacemakers anti-bullying and healthy relationship school curriculum.

Position Title: FJC Youth Advocate

Reports To: Program Manager (Family Justice Center)

Major Function: To provide support to youth and families with childcare, youth support groups, crisis counseling, safety planning, basic needs, and resources.

All employees of Community Action Stops Abuse are considered “essential” and as such may be required to remain onsite and/or required to assist during emergencies and other critical times

FLSA: Non-Exempt, Full Time

Illustrative Duties:

• Provide crisis intervention, safety planning, and support to youth and their parents.
• Provide survivors and their children with childcare, basic needs, and resources.
• Create and maintain a safe and comfortable environment for children and their parents in all designated areas for youth.
• Participate in Camp Hope programming and activities with campers of different ages.
• Working with camp staff members to plan and coordinate camp events.
• Host and participate in training workshops held prior to camp sessions.
• Work along camp staff to build relationships with all campers and ensuring campers are safe.
• Review all available services with survivor and their children and link the survivor with appropriate partners.
• Assist in developing and administering an interactive youth programming schedule that includes activities that foster interaction, communication, creativity, learning and support.
• Complete youth and family intakes, assessment forms, safety plans, and other necessary documents for the youth files.
• Facilitate youth support groups.
• Facilitate events and activities with survivors and their children.
• Collaborate with onsite and offsite partners to ensure wrap around services are provided.
• Prepare high-risk case review and participate in high-risk case staffing’s as needed.
• Facilitate youth support groups.
• Facilitate events and activities with survivors and their children.
• Accompany survivors and their children to appointments with other agencies, as necessary.
• Complete the youth center daily checklists.
• Effectively respond to crisis situations per CASA policies.
• Provide individualized interaction and crisis counseling with the children, including understanding their reactions to domestic violence.
• Maintain record of daily activities of each child and enter the information into the appropriate database.
• Complete all required paperwork, data entry, and monthly reports in a timely manner.
• Assist in documenting and entering staff training hours into database.
• Coordinate transportation for survivors and their children in CASA vehicles as necessary or provide planning routes to utilize the bus system.
• Ensure basic needs and food are stocked in the pantry at all times.
• Assist in enrollment of children in schools and/or daycare as needed.
• Provide input for program development.
• Ensure that all services are documented in the appropriate report and database.
• As needed, attend and participate in case conferences, staff meetings, trainings, community meetings, and presentations.
• Prepare food, serve, and feed children and families.
• Provide backup and assistance to any program areas as requested by management.
• Complete special projects and other duties as assigned.

General:

• Participate in staff meetings.
• Understand and abide by CASA’s Confidentiality Policy at all times.
• Demonstrate a commitment to treat survivors, volunteers, and co-workers in a respectful manner at all times.
• Attend and participate in all required training.
• Assist with training and supervision of volunteers.
• Agree to work a flexible schedule, which may include changing schedules to ensure coverage due to illness, absence, vacation, other staff members; this includes working weekends or during emergency situations.
• Complete special projects as requested.
• Complete other duties as assigned.

Qualifications:

• Requires 2 year degree, or minimum of one year of related experience, or minimum of nine months proven success in a current CASA direct service position.
• Completion of 40 hours of DCF Child Care Standards training required within first 90 days of employment may be substituted for education/experience.
• Ability to climb stairs, lifts up to 50 pounds, and carries children.
• Have experience working in a licensed childcare setting preferred.
• Agree to work a flexible schedule.
• Possess training and experience in domestic violence preferred.
• Demonstrate the willingness to drive agency vehicles.
• Possess the ability to function independently and work cooperatively as a member of a team.
• Possess a valid Florida State Driver's License and auto insurance card to be verified annually.
• Agree to participate in a Level II background check upon employment.

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $17.00 - $18.00 per hour

Benefits:

• 401(k)
• Dental insurance
• Health insurance
• Paid time off
• Vision insurance

Schedule:

• 8 hour shift

Experience:

• Childcare: 1 year (Required)

License/Certification:

• Driver's License (Required)

Willingness to travel:

• 25% (Preferred)

Work Location: In person