Advocate

Join Our Team as an Advocate at the Dakota Children’s Advocacy Center (DCAC)

Are you passionate about making a difference in the lives of children and families? Do you have a heart for advocacy and a commitment to supporting those in need? If so, we have an exciting opportunity for you!

The DCAC is thrilled to announce a job opening for an Advocate. Join our dedicated team and be a part of an organization that empowers and advocates for young survivors and their non-offending caregivers.

Why Choose the DCAC?

Meaningful Work: At the DCAC, we are dedicated to providing a safe and supportive environment for children who have experienced trauma. As a Child Life Advocate, you’ll play a crucial role in helping families navigate challenging situations and find healing.

Supportive Team: Join a compassionate and collaborative team of professionals who are committed to making a positive impact in the community. This includes support for you while working in the trauma field.

Professional Growth: We offer excellent opportunities for training and professional development to help you excel in your role and make a lasting difference.

Community Impact: Your work as a Child Life Advocate directly contributes to building a stronger, more resilient community.

Key Responsibilities:

- Develop, coordinate and implement the delivery of developmentally appropriate activities, expressive arts, and coping skills for children and their families.

- Provide support and guidance to families throughout their journey.

- Provide individual and group support to children.

- Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams to ensure the best outcomes for children.

- Assist in accessing necessary resources and services.

PRIMARY DUTIES (duties consist of, but are not limited to the follow):

1. Caregiver and Child Advocacy. Caregiver and Child Advocacy. The Advocate provides initial and ongoing advocacy, support, resources and information to the non-offending caregiver and child.

A. The Advocate interacts and provides supervision to children when needed, including creating and facilitating fun activities with children while waiting for services.

B. The Advocate initiates continued professional growth, participates in regular supervision, maintains professional ethics, and participates in department program development.

C. The Advocate provides education, prevention and training to agencies and communities.

D. The Advocate coordinates services, screen and advocate for client and family needs, scoring mental health assessments

E. The Advocate is responsible for welcoming the child and non-offending family members to the DCAC and creating a safe and supportive environment that is free of judgment. This includes evaluating the individual needs and cultural considerations for the child and family to ensure those needs are being addressed.

F. The Advocate typically conducts a pre-interview phone call to the non-offending caregiver to ease their anxieties and answers any questions or concerns. Once the family arrives at the DCAC, the Advocate provides the child(ren) with an initial tour and orientation. The Child Life Advocate will greet families in the waiting room and implement strategies and education to relieve any anxieties with being at the DCAC by promoting coping skills.

G. The Advocate provides preparation for forensic interviews and immediate emotional support to the child and non-offending caregiver(s) during a time of crisis by providing on-site advocacy during visits a forensic interview or medical evaluation conducted at the DCAC.

H. The Advocate works with the non-offending caregiver(s) to identify their most urgent needs and to assist with identifying resources to meet basic needs such as food, clothing, shelter, and safety. This assessment includes assessing for risk and safety. I. Through direct follow-up, the Child Life Advocate regularly assesses child safety and reports any concerns to the investigating officer or CPS worker, when needed.

J. The Advocate also provides immediate and ongoing education to the non-offending caregiver(s) on the dynamics of abuse and the coordinated multidisciplinary response.

K. The Advocate assists the non-offending caregiver(s) to rebuild 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.

L. The Advocate provides timely updates to the child and non-offending caregiver(s) on the status of the investigation and prosecution and seeks answers to their questions or concerns.

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

N. The Advocate assists with procuring concrete services such as transportation resources to CAC related services and providing access to our closet of caring.

O. Coordinate and provide ongoing opportunities for engagement to the non-offending caregiver and child through support groups, skills group and 1:1 advocacy.

2. Updates Case Tracking System. The Advocate updates the case tracking system with every encounter to ensure that our data is fact-based, clear, concise, and timely.

3. Provides Outcome Measurement System (OMS) for Ongoing Program Evaluation. The Advocate provides children and their non-offending caregiver(s) the opportunity to provide feedback through our Outcome Measurement System (OMS).

4. Responds to General Information Telephone Calls and Community Referrals. The Advocate provides information and referrals to the general community who contact the DCAC with concerns of possible abuse or neglect.

5. Criminal Justice Advocacy and Support. The Advocate works closely with the 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). The Child Life Advocate helps the non-offending caregiver(s) secure transportation to interviews, court, treatment, and other case-related meetings. The accompanies the child and non-offending caregiver(s), when necessary, to legal proceedings and meetings associated with the prosecution of the case, provides Court prep, and supports the child throughout the court process, including sentencing and assisting with a Victim Impact Statement.

6. Working as Part of Multidisciplinary Team. The Advocate fosters open and positive relationships with law enforcement, social services, prosecuting attorneys, and other team members while promoting best practices for child abuse investigation, prosecution, and treatment. The Child Life Advocate actively participates in multidisciplinary case review meetings.

7. Prevention and Education. The Advocate provides education, prevention and training to agencies and communities.

8. Ongoing Professional Development. The Advocate will initiate continued professional growth by staying up to date on the latest abuse issues, best practices, and skills. The Advocate participates in regular group and individual supervision, maintains professional ethics, and participates in DCAC program development.

9. Leadership and Collaboration. Leadership exists within all levels of our organization. The Advocate must ensure culturally competent services are provided to all families served without regard to race, ethnicity, religion, socioeconomic status, disability, gender, or sexual orientation. The Advocate must read and comply with the policies and procedures of the DCAC and take a leadership role in ensuring other staff do the same. The Child Life Advocate must promote a positive image of the DCAC in the community and participate in internal and external committees, team meetings, special events and fundraising efforts.

10. Supervisory responsibilities. The Advocate may supervise volunteers and interns as assigned.

11. Performs other duties as assigned by the Executive Director and/or Supervisor.

Job Type: Part-time

Pay: From $27.00 per hour

Expected hours: 20 – 30 per week

Benefits:

• 401(k)
• 401(k) matching
• Dental insurance
• Employee assistance program
• Health insurance
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Parental leave
• Vision insurance

Schedule:

• Monday to Friday

Work Location: In person

Salary : $27