Child Advocate Specialist

Summary: The Center for Hope (CFH) Child Advocacy Center (CAC) is seeking a dedicated and compassionate Child Advocate Specialist to join our team. This role is essential in providing trauma-informed, child-centered support for children who have experienced sexual abuse, maltreatment, and trauma. The Child Advocate Specialist will be responsible for developing and training Child Advocates to guide children through the investigative process at CFH, offering emotional support, and ensuring their needs are met throughout their time at the center. This role will focus exclusively on ensuring the child’s emotional and psychological well-being is prioritized during their time at CFH, using evidence-based strategies. The Child Advocate Specialist will be part of a new initiative, the Child Advocate Program Model, aimed at improving the overall experience for child victims and enhancing the coordination of care within CFH’s multidisciplinary team (MDT).

Responsibilities - Essential Functions and Tasks:

• Develop Child Advocate Program Model
  
  

Develop a model where Child Advocates serve as the primary point of contact for children at CFH, providing emotional support and guidance before, during, and after forensic interviews and medical exams.

Tasks:

• Develop a model where Child Advocates serve as the primary point of contact for children at CFH, providing emotional support and guidance before, during, and after forensic interviews and medical exams.
• Describe how Child Advocates help children become familiar with the CAC process, explaining each step in a developmentally appropriate manner.
• Describe age-appropriate and trauma-informed techniques to assist in children in adjusting to the facility and reduce anxiety related to their participation in forensic interviews and medical exams.
• Describe methods to provide comfort and reassurance to children who may be scared, anxious, or confused about the investigation process.
• Provide therapeutic activities such as play therapy, mindfulness exercises, and coping techniques to help children manage trauma-related stress and emotions.
• Collaboration with CAC Team Members:
• Work closely with other team members, including family advocates, forensic interviewers, and medical examiners, to ensure coordinated and effective services.
• Participate in meetings as required to discuss the needs and progress of children served.
• Training and Development:
• Train Child Advocates on the Child Advocate Program Model
• Contribute to the development of training materials and resources for future child advocates at CFH.
• Provide model to other CACs
• Program Evaluation and Feedback:
• Participate in the evaluation of the Child Advocate Program Model by providing input on its effectiveness and suggesting improvements.
• Collect feedback from children, caregivers, and MDT members to assess the impact of the program and make recommendations for program adjustments.
• Support the documentation of outcomes and assist in gathering data for program reporting.
  
  

Qualifications:

• Education:
• Bachelor’s degree in social work, Psychology, Child Development, Child Life, or a related field. Master’s degree preferred.
• Experience:
• Minimum of 2 years’ experience in child advocacy, social work, or a related field, particularly in trauma-informed care.
• Experience working with children who have experienced trauma, abuse, or neglect is strongly preferred.
• Skills:
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to engage children and families in a compassionate and supportive manner.
• Knowledge of child development, trauma-informed care, and the impacts of abuse on children.
• Ability to work collaboratively within a multidisciplinary team (MDT).
• Ability to remain calm and focused under pressure, with excellent problem- solving skills.
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Physical Demands:
• Ability to sit, stand, and walk for extended periods of time.
• Must be able to lift to 25 pounds, such as boxes of supplies or children's therapeutic materials.
• The position may require occasional travel within the community for outreach or training.
  
  

Compensation Salary: $30/hour