Child Advocate

Title: Child Advocate

Reports to: Program Director

FLSA Classification: Non-Exempt

Hours: minimum 35 hrs – may vary (not to exceed 40 hours/week)

Salary Range: $14.50 - $18.00

General Description: To advocate on behalf of children survivors of domestic violence. To help locate the appropriate community resources for the survivor parent and their child/ren to meet their needs. Provides crisis intervention, danger assessment, safety planning, and child advocacy by focusing on the whole child. Provides public awareness about domestic violence and ways in which the community can respond more effectively to survivors and their children’s needs. Coordinate and supervise daily activities for children. Implement methods to allow children to express their feelings about abuse and facilitate recovery, growth, resilience, and healing by fostering trust and safety. Assist with childcare during intakes, court hearings, or other goal related appointments. Educate and assist the survivor parent with nonviolent methods of disciplining children.

All Safe Harbor employees are expected to work as a team to accomplish whichever tasks are necessary to meet the needs of the survivors we serve. This may include diverse tasks such as assisting with sorting donations, transporting survivors, grocery shopping, shelter coverage, etc. Safe Harbor expects employees to treat all members of the program/shelter (survivors, volunteers, other employees, and supervisors) with respect and compassion.

We are a culturally diverse program and shelter, which means we serve survivors from a variety of backgrounds living closely together. It is important to be respectful of those differences and to provide culturally competent and sensitive services. By accepting this position, you agree to this policy.

Specific Duties:

1. Meet with all residential survivors who have children within 48 hours of admittance into the program, discuss children’s guidelines and establish a file for documenting children’s activities.

2. Assist in developing an individualized safety plan for children with the assistance of the survivor parent.

3. Provide age-appropriate empowerment and trauma-informed care advocacy.

4. Provide intake and referral services to assess the needs of survivors and their children.

5. Advocate for children individually and as a group using systems intervention to obtain needed community services.

6. Facilitate daily play groups designed to address non-violent conflict resolutions, help build self-esteem and break the conspiracy of silence.

7. Collaborate with community partners/agencies who specialize in children’s services.

8. Recognize the need for intensive counseling and make appropriate referrals to visiting counselor.

9. Assist survivors with school registrations for their children, issue uniforms, and school supplies.

10. Assist survivors with contacting social service providers for children’s services.

11. Transport survivors and their children.

12. Assist with in-house training on DV and children’s issues.

13. Plan and implement summer enrichment program, including field trips.

14. Conduct teen dating violence education in schools and at health fairs.

15. Assist in monitoring and answering the crisis line.

16. Provide crisis intervention, complete crisis call sheet to include safety plan and lethality assessment.

17. Ensure compliance with program policies and procedures.

18. Inform the shelter supervisor of any damages, or safety concerns about the shelter, program building or outside area.

19. Be available for on-call emergencies

20. Secure a minimum of 30 hours of continual training annually.

21. Maintain and submit monthly statistical data.

22. Maintain and complete all operational logs and documentation required by the program.

General Duties:

· Explore and develop community resources for survivors of domestic violence and their children.

· Make appropriate referrals

· Complete all file documentation accurately and in a timely manner.

· Complete reports as assigned by the Executive Director.

· Abide by grantor policies and regulations.

· Any other duties and responsibilities as assigned.

Skills required: Superior interpersonal skills with children; excellent written and/or verbal communication skills; Knowledgeable about child development; Demonstrate an understanding of the child welfare system; Ability to stay calm in crisis situations; Ability to assess situations and take appropriate action.

Required Qualifications/Experience:

· High School Diploma/equivalent/or certification in Early Childhood Development Training or work-related experience.

· Ability to work flexible hours.

· Reliable transportation, automobile liability coverage, valid driver’s license

· Experience in working with diverse populations

· Ability to maintain confidentiality of our survivors/location/information

· Ability to maintain appropriate boundaries.

· Ability to perform household upkeep and cleaning chores

· Must be able to lift 20 pounds

· Ability to respond and move quickly in a crisis

· Physical ability to perform job duties including ability to push, pull, lift and bend.

Preferred Qualifications/Experience

· Domestic violence survivor

· 1 year work related experience with children

· Bilingual

Travel: Occasional overnight and out-of-town travel required for training.

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $14.50 - $18.00 per hour

Expected hours: 37.50 – 40 per week

Benefits:

• Dental insurance
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Vision insurance

Schedule:

• 8 hour shift
• Day shift
• Evening shift
• On call
• Weekends as needed

Ability to Commute:

• Pearl River, LA 70452 (Required)

Ability to Relocate:

• Pearl River, LA 70452: Relocate before starting work (Required)

Work Location: In person

Salary : $15 - $18