Family Advocate

About the position

If you are looking for a place where you can make a difference in the life of a child, Project Harmony is looking for you. We are seeking an experienced and committed Family Advocate to join our dynamic and innovative organization. This position is responsible for providing crisis intervention, support and education to the children and families being served at the Child Advocacy Center (CAC). Project Harmony exists to provide effective, immediate and sensitive support to child abuse victims and their non-offending family members. Project Harmony is committed to a vision with a focus on one goal: ending the cycle of child abuse and neglect. Project Harmony is one of the largest Child Advocacy Centers in the nation. At Project Harmony, we don’t just accept difference – we celebrate it, we support it and we thrive on it for the benefit of our employees, our clients and our community. Project Harmony is proud to be an equal opportunity workplace and is an affirmative action employer. We are committed to equal opportunity regardless of race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, national original, sexual orientation, age, citizenship, marital status, disability, gender identity or Veteran status.

Responsibilities

• Provide support and education to alleged victims of child abuse and family members
• Screen referrals for appropriateness for possible therapy options to Project Harmony's mental Health, Connections program, or a community provider
• Provide referrals to and facilitate the delivery of services to children and families through collaboration with treatment providers and other community partners
• Provide timely follow-up to ensure a coordinated service delivery response
• Participate in investigative and/or treatment multidisciplinary teams as needed to provide status updates regarding the family and other case information
• Conduct and go over various mental/behavioral health screeners with youth and caregivers to assist in determining treatment needs
• Provide immediate crisis intervention services with clients, caregivers and youth as needed
• Assess caregiver’s level of support for the child and identify other risk factors that may compromise their protective abilities and/or require safety planning
• Collaborate with the Department of Health and Human Services, law enforcement officers, medical professionals, forensic interviewers and mental health professionals throughout the investigation process
• Perform the intake functions for referrals from law enforcement and Child Protective Services (CPS), gathering background information and coordinating the scheduling of interviews and medical evaluations
• Responsible for entering accurate and timely documentation and information into Project Harmony databases
• Assist with coordination and tracking of CAC lead intakes, contacting caregivers and professionals as needed
• Ensure coordinated response between law enforcement and CPS when scheduling forensic interviews and medical exams, tracking and reporting back to partners all follow-up and services provided
• Must be willing to work flexible hours and provide on-call coverage nights and weekends on a rotating basis
• Ensure culturally competent services are provided to all families we serve without regard to race, ethnicity, religion, socioeconomic status, disability, gender or sexual orientation
• Other duties as assigned by Program Manager – Family Advocacy

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree preferred in Social Work, Human Services or related field
• Training and education in child abuse/neglect investigations, and/or child welfare service system
• Previous experience in child welfare preferred
• Training and/or experience in crisis intervention
• Previous experience in working with children
• Previous experience in working as part of a multidisciplinary team
• Good working knowledge of community resources and judicial system
• Knowledge and understanding of family violence and the dynamics of child abuse and neglect
• Demonstrate verbal and written communications skills
• Demonstrate strong organizational and time management skills
• Demonstrate problem solving skills and ability to resolve conflicts
• Knowledge and use of Microsoft Office Products (Word, Outlook, etc.)
• Good decision-making skills
• Must be able to work independently as well as part of a team
• Must respect and maintain confidentiality
• Must submit to a thorough criminal history background check
• Must have access to a vehicle, possess a valid driver’s license and proof of insurance
• Position may involve some travel, primarily within the state