Residential Child Advocate

Position Summary:

The Child Development Specialist (CDS) creates and develops programming and activities for children staying with their parent in our domestic violence shelter. The CDS assists children to process, overcome, and thrive through their trauma via educational activities and various play therapies. This position involves hands on interactions, field trips and a variety of activities that allow children to “be children”. In addition, the CDS provides support to parents by connecting residents with community resources and parenting strategies.

Shift: Sunday-Thursday, 11am-7pm.

Essential Duties:

• Develop new programming and expand upon already created programing, with content specific to children who have experienced trauma and/or witnessed abuse in the home.
• Develop activities from a variety of modalities for children and parents to participate in.
• Facilitate support and empowerment focused groups with children and parents as-needed.
• Conduct parent interviews with all parents in shelter.
• Attend all case management meetings for support, ideas, and strategies.
• Advocate for children’s McKinney-Vento rights while in shelter.
• Assist with school enrollment, including transportation, and other school-based needs.
• Assist children and families in developing age-appropriate safety plans based on their needs.
• Plan, implement and provide transportation to child-focused outings.
• Participate in inter-department and agency-wide youth collaboration such as events, activities, volunteer groups, and training.
• Partner and collaborate with youth-focused community partners and volunteers .
• Maintain accurate records of activities, services provided, and outcomes.
• Maintain cleanliness and organization in the playroom and on the playground and assist with general cleaning and upkeep of the shelter.
• Provide child-watch aide during all group therapy sessions and START exams.
• All other duties as assigned.

Education and Experience:

• High school education or GED equivalent required
• Bachelor’s degree in Child Development, teaching or similar degree is preferred
• Experience in developing and planning children’s activities, outings, creative play and projects to meet children’s needs required
• 2 years of experience in a day care and/or classroom setting with experience in creative play required.
• Must be at least 18 years old
• Must possess and maintain a valid Michigan driver’s license and an acceptable driving record
• Must be comfortable driving and transporting residents and their children in an agency vehicle, including a passenger van

Competencies

• Demonstrated ability to work with children of all ages
• Ability to work well under pressure and in stressful situations
• Willingness to learn how intimate partner violence impacts children and parenting
• Ability to use a strength based, compassionate approach with children who have experienced violence in the home
• Ability to work a flexible schedule including evenings, weekends, and holidays
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively as a team member and independently

HAVEN is an equal opportunity employer. All applicants will be considered for employment without attention to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, and veteran or disability status or any other characteristic protected by state and/or federal law.

HAVEN’s Mission Statement:

Empower survivors to heal and engage all individuals and communities to address

and prevent sexual assault and intimate partner violence.