Position Title: Advocate – Children’s

Division:            Housing

Department: Residential Services

Expected Hours Per Week: Full-Time (40 hr/week)             

FLSA Status: Non-Exempt

Reports to: Manager – Residential Services

Date: February 2025

WEAVE’s mission is to promote safe and healthy relationships and support survivors of sexual assault, domestic violence and sex trafficking. WEAVE’s vision is a community free of violence and abuse. 

Position Summary: The Children's Advocate is critical to providing support, care, and advocacy for children who have been exposed to domestic violence and are living in WEAVE’s residential programs with their families. Primary duties include creating a safe, nurturing, and enriching environment for these children, providing emotional support as needed, working with parents living in WEAVE’s residential facilities and collaborating with various stakeholders to address the needs of these children. This position operates within the domestic violence shelter environment and with victims of trauma, which may include exposure to emotionally challenging situations. Shifts are Monday through Friday 10:30 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. This position qualifies as a mandated reporter of known or suspected child abuse per California Penal Code section 11165.7.

Key Responsibilities:

• Coordinate and facilitate consistent, regular drop-in play-care hours for residents in WEAVE’s emergency shelter and transitional housing programs. 
• Coordinate and lead enriching, age-appropriate group activities or workshops designed to help children process their emotions and develop coping mechanisms. 
• Provide one-on-one support to children who have experienced domestic violence, offering a safe space to express their feelings and concerns. Establish and maintain a trusting relationship with each child, ensuring their emotional needs are met.
• Create an atmosphere of security and comfort. Assist in ensuring that children have access to age-appropriate resources, activities, and support to help them cope with their experiences.
• Collaborate with schools and educational institutions to ensure that children's academic needs are addressed during their stay. Advocate for appropriate accommodations and support to promote their educational growth.
• Collaborate with other members of the Residential Services and Client Prosperity teams to provide comprehensive support to families. Engage with parents and caregivers to ensure they have the tools to support their children.
• Be prepared to respond to crisis situations and provide immediate support to children and families when necessary. Ensure that safety protocols are always followed.
• Maintain high visibility and availability, initiate contact with residents and provide a welcoming and nonjudgmental environment.
• Collaborate with internal teams, external agencies, and community partners to coordinate services, referrals, and advocacy for children of residents.
• Attend staff meetings, training sessions, and one-on-one meetings with supervisors to enhance skills, knowledge, and awareness of domestic violence issues and case management best practices.
• Promote a culture of respect, equality, and diversity within the residential services environment.
• Consistent with agency and program requirements, maintain accurate, timely and confidential records of services provided.
• Adhere to all agency and department policies and procedures.
• Other duties as assigned.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in education, social sciences or a relevant field, or minimum of four years’ relevant work experience.
• Strong understanding of domestic violence dynamics, trauma-informed care, and survivor-centered approaches.
• Previous experience working with survivors of domestic violence or trauma and their children in a residential setting is highly desirable.
• Prior experience facilitating programming and activities for minor children; knowledge of and experience with promising practices for working with children of all ages.
• Excellent interpersonal skills; ability to build rapport with diverse individuals and create respectful, empowering professional relationships.
• Effective communication skills, both written and verbal, for documenting services, communicating with residents, and collaborating with team members or community partners.
• Empathy, compassion, and the ability to maintain professional boundaries while providing emotional support.
• Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple cases and priorities.
• Cultural sensitivity and an understanding of the intersectionality of domestic violence with other issues, such as race, gender, and socioeconomic status.
• Bilingual skills are an asset; additional compensation may be considered for certain high-need languages.
• Valid driver’s license, proof of current auto insurance and reliable transportation.
• Successful pass of criminal background check.
• Successful completion of 69-hour domestic violence and sexual assault peer counselor training (post-hire requirement.)
• Successful completion of Defensive Driving Training (post-hire requirement.)

ADA Job Characteristics:

WEAVE is committed to providing inclusive, accessible and respectful workplaces for all staff, including those with disabilities such as being in a wheelchair, Deaf or Hard of Hearing, blind or low vision or other access or functional needs. 

WEAVE works to equip staff of all abilities with reasonable accommodations to perform their job functions. These can include the provision of adaptive equipment, materials in alternate formats, and flexible work schedules.   Our priority is to provide ongoing, individualized accommodations to give all staff access to resources best suited to their needs.  If you require an accommodation to access this job application, please send a request to hr@weaveinc.org

Work environment is a residential program setting.  Local travel (driving) required to various agency sites. Must be able to lift and carry 25 lbs., extend both arms above the head and/or reach below the waist, stoop, squat, crawl, bend the back to retrieve items, climb stairs, or use an elevator. Employee may also need to remain in one position (i.e. sitting or standing) for an extended period of time while completing work tasks. Must be able to efficiently operate a keyboard and mouse or adaptive equivalent, write reports, take notes; utilize desk tools such as phones or calculators, and utilize larger office equipment such as printers and copy machines.  Communicate clearly and concisely to others.  Apply above average reasoning and detail as required in the accomplishment of job duties.