Child & Family Specialist TL

Salt Lake County•West Jordan, UT

About The Position

Works closely with children and families in child abuse investigation and medical exam settings, providing emotional support and helping families develop coping strategies. The role prepares children for forensic interviews or forensic medical exams, helps reduce stress and anxiety related to the criminal justice process, and supports children and families through the process. The position also assists with Crime Victim Reparation applications, gathers feedback, follows up with caregivers, and refers unmet needs to Children’s Justice Center staff. The work is primarily performed in a typical office environment, child abuse investigation settings, and community-based organizations as needed to coordinate services. Staff regularly work with clients in crisis who have experienced significant trauma and abuse. Traditional hours are 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., with occasional work outside those hours to accommodate victims or urgent child abuse investigations.

Requirements

Complete at least two years of college coursework in a related field, such as Social Work, Psychology, Sociology, Criminology, or Human Studies, or have equivalent years of experience working with youth.
Pass an annual criminal and child abuse background check and continually meet Bureau of Criminal Identification requirements.
Know the basic structure of the criminal justice system.
Understand the needs of children and family members, with a focus on social, emotional, and cognitive development, and have knowledge of child development.
Know general office practices and be able to operate a computer and other office equipment.
Be able to comfort and soothe children in distress.
Maintain client privacy, confidentiality, and professional boundaries.
Demonstrate problem-solving and conflict-resolution skills.
Multitask under pressure or strict deadlines and remain calm and assertive in stressful situations.
Work under steady pressure with frequent interruptions and in-person visitors who may be displeased, distressed, angry, or difficult to assist.
Apply general principles effectively to specific situations; communicate effectively verbally and in writing; act independently as appropriate; and maintain effective interpersonal relationships.
Be able to stoop, bend, and sit on the floor with children.

Responsibilities

Prepare children for forensic interviews or forensic medical exams to reduce stress and anxiety for children and families.
Reduce child and family distress, increase effective coping, and foster child victim independence.
Observe signs of trauma, reluctance to participate, strong emotions, and withdrawal, and report observations to the nurse practitioner and forensic interviewer.
Collaborate with detectives, caseworkers, and forensic interviewers to advocate for the child’s needs during the interview process.
Assist victims with Crime Victim Reparation application submissions and track application status to update victims and families.
Monitor children visiting the Children’s Justice Center and respond to distress by providing support, reassurance, and activities that increase comfort.
Prepare Crisis Intervention Kits for caregivers, including applications and educational materials tailored to family needs; create kits for Spanish-speaking clients.
Conduct parent feedback surveys in person and by telephone as required by the NCA Outcome Measurement System, and enter paper survey results.
Conduct victim feedback forms with children and teens to improve Children’s Justice Center services.
Make supportive follow-up calls to caregivers to assess victim and family adjustment and identify unmet needs.
Refer ongoing needs to Children’s Justice Center staff for resolution.