Bilingual Child Advocate

Overview
Deirdre’s House is an accredited Children’s Advocacy Center (CAC) serving Morris County, NJ. Child Advocacy Centers (CAC’s) are child-focused programs that coordinate multidisciplinary investigation, prosecution, and treatment of child abuse cases. Our mission is to provide a secure, nurturing, and home-like environment that reduces trauma and provides a source of hope, healing and justice for children who have suffered abuse and/or neglect.

Deirdre’s House is seeking a dedicated and compassionate Child Advocate to join our team. This role is ideal for someone who thrives in a ever-changing environment and is passionate about making a difference in the lives of children and families impacted by abuse and neglect. No two days at the center are the same, and the Child Advocate plays a key role in both direct client support and essential non-profit operations.

The Child Advocate provides critical advocacy and outreach services to children, adolescents, and their families during their time at Deirdre’s House. This includes offering emotional support, facilitating access to services, and ensuring coordinated communication between various providers. The role also involves a range of administrative and logistical support to help ensure the smooth day-to-day functioning of the center.

This position offers a unique opportunity to be part of a mission-driven team that provides hope, healing, and justice to children and families during their most critical times of need.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s or Graduate Degree (or currently enrolled in a degree program) in Child Advocacy, Psychology, Social Work, Criminal Justice, Family Studies, or a related field
• One-year experience working with children and families
• Minimum GPA of 3.0 (overall)
• Bilingual- English & Spanish (written and verbal fluency)

Hiring Date: June 2025

Key Skills:

• Comfortable working in a trauma-informed environment
• Ability to engage compassionately with children and families
• Strong verbal and written communication skills
• Proficient in communicating, writing, and translating in Spanish
• Highly efficient in time management and organization; able to meet deadlines and adapt to shifting priorities
• Exceptional attention to detail with the ability to maintain accuracy across multiple responsibilities
• Ability to work independently, take initiative, and manage task-driven responsibilities with minimal supervision
• Collaborative team player with the ability to work effectively across disciplines
• Ability to complete timely and accurate documentation and reporting
• Ability to track and manage multiple projects simultaneously
• Proficient in Microsoft Office programs, including Word, Excel, and PowerPoint

Responsibilities

Advocacy & Client Services:

• Greet and welcome all children and caregivers upon arrival, ensuring a trauma-informed, supportive, and child-friendly environment
• Provide direct advocacy and support services to clients, including:
• - Connecting children and families with services, referrals, and resources- Assisting clients in accessing services, accompanying them to appointments, completing forms or applications- Coordinating transportation for counseling sessions- Making calls or facilitating communication on a client’s behalf- Providing translation and interpretation for client communication and as needed for the Counseling Program
• Deliver case management services for clients of the Center
• Gather initial referral information for the Clinical Counseling Program and provide information to the Associate and Executive Director
• Provide visitors and caregivers with informational materials related to their visit and the services offered at Deirdre’s House

Data Tracking:

• Administer and maintain client Needs Assessments and satisfaction surveys
• Input accurate Child Advocate data into Center’s internal databases

Operational Support:

• Coordinate the daily activities of interns and volunteers
• Maintain the Center’s master calendar for internal meetings and agency partners
• Coordinate and manage the client summer camp applications and submissions
• Coordinate and manage client applications for financial assistance and scholarship programs
• Manage the main phone line, voicemail, incoming mail, and office supply inventory
• Ensure upkeep and organization of the Center’s shared spaces, including playrooms, waiting areas, the front desk, kitchen, closets, and conference rooms
• Provide cross-functional support to other Center staff as needed

Community Engagement:

• Assist the Program Coordinator in organizing donation drives with local partners and volunteers
• Represent Deirdre’s House at all fundraising and community outreach events as needed

Special Events:

• Assist the Executive Director with all fundraising events including the preparation prior to and after the event and attending all events
• Coordinate the Child Abuse Prevention Month Awareness efforts including but not limited to: soliciting partnerships with local businesses, ordering and inventory of campaign materials, tracking donations and participating businesses, and creating program awareness materials, etc.
• Assist the Program Coordinator with major drives including the Holiday Drive and Back-to-School Drive

Other Requirements:

• Submit Resume and Cover Letter to Mirella Diaz at mirella@dobcac.org.
• Employees are occasionally required to participate in activities outside of normal business hours.
• The physical environment is an office building. The position requires the ability to walk up and down stairs, sit at a desk and work on a computer. Bending, stooping, reaching and other movement required in dealing with children.
• All candidates are subject to comprehensive background screening. All Deirdre’s House employees must have no criminal convictions (felonies/crimes) of child abuse/neglect or violent crimes and no listing as a perpetrator with the Department of Children and Families.

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $51,000.00 per year

Benefits:

• Health insurance
• Paid time off

Schedule:

• Monday to Friday

Work Location: In person

Salary : $51,000