Family Advocate

Canopy Child Advocacy Center • Cleveland, OH

3d • $44,000 - $48,000

About The Position

The Child Advocacy Center Family Advocate assists juvenile victims of child abuse and their families referred to the CAC by providing crisis intervention, court support, case-status updates, community referrals, and related services. The advocate supports children experiencing problematic sexual behavior (PSB), human trafficking, physical abuse, and sexual abuse, providing community-based support, referrals, and education about the investigative process, victims’ rights, and trauma. The advocate supports families throughout a child sexual abuse investigation, from intake through disposition.

The role works with families, the multidisciplinary team, prosecutors, law enforcement, court personnel, and community service providers. It includes educating and supporting families through judicial, medical, and child protective services processes; helping families access therapy and victim compensation; advocating for juvenile victims’ needs and confidentiality; and providing court, medical, and legal support. The advocate also promotes the CAC through community meetings and maintains positive relationships with courts and team partners.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in human services, child development, or a related field and/or five years of relevant experience.
• Valid Ohio driver’s license, appropriate insurance coverage, an appropriate driving record, and access to a personal vehicle.
• Obtain Registered Victim Advocacy (RA) credentials within one year of employment.
• Extensive experience working with victims of domestic violence and child abuse.
• Considerable knowledge of the criminal justice system, crisis intervention practices, interviewing, community resources, crime victimization, victims’ rights, and advocacy techniques.
• Computer skills, including word processing, database management, email, fax, and Windows applications.
• Ability to make sensitive and insightful observations and determine an appropriate course of intervention.
• Ability to address crisis situations requiring prompt decisions and action.
• Knowledge of safety issues and of the social, emotional, and personal aspects of domestic violence.
• Working knowledge of community resources available to adult victims of domestic violence.
• Ability to perform duties with initiative and independent judgment.
• Thorough knowledge of the rules, regulations, functions, procedures, organization, and policies governing CAC operations.
• Ability to analyze problems and develop a plan of action or correction.
• Ability to organize work, manage varied tasks, and consistently meet deadlines.
• Sound judgment and outstanding interpersonal skills.
• Emotional maturity, stability, personal integrity, initiative, and resourcefulness.
• Ability to communicate clearly and sensitively with staff, board members, accrediting bodies, grantors, funding bodies, clients, volunteers, and the public.
• Good written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to communicate effectively with victims, defendants, law enforcement, and court personnel, and to coordinate and maintain effective working relationships with courts, agencies, and individuals.
• Willingness to respect, understand, and promote the agency’s mission, values, and goals, and to incorporate the CAC philosophy into assigned duties.
• Commitment to developing self-respect and respect for others, celebrating diversity, promoting individual growth, sharing responsibility and involvement, and communicating openly, honestly, ethically, and directly.
• Ability to operate a computer and keyboard.
• Ability to perform job responsibilities in a facility with multiple levels and no elevators.
• Ability to provide services at various locations.
• Ability to communicate consistently with others in person, electronically, or by phone.
• Regular and predictable attendance.
• Successful completion of a background check.

Responsibilities

• Greet and orient children and families to the Child Advocacy Center.
• Provide education and support regarding investigative processes in the judicial, medical, and child protective services systems.
• Explain the coordinated multidisciplinary response and provide caregivers with information about trauma and its effects on children and families.
• Attend scheduled staffing sessions and multidisciplinary team (MDT) meetings.
• Act as a liaison between families and the MDT, keeping families informed about case status.
• Provide crisis intervention and support.
• Work with MDT members to educate families about abuse dynamics, coping strategies, the effects of abuse on children, and ways to support the child.
• Explain children’s rights as crime victims and assist them in accessing those rights when needed.
• Provide court, medical, and legal education, support, and accompaniment.
• Help children and families access therapy services.
• Assess immediate needs during crises and emergencies and refer victims and families to community resources.
• Work with prosecutors and law enforcement to maintain juvenile victims’ confidentiality.
• Educate law enforcement, prosecutors, and court staff about the needs of juvenile crime victims.
• Help guardians apply for State Victim Assistance Compensation by gathering information and documents, completing and processing paperwork, and following cases through payment of bills; coordinate with victim service providers and the Ohio Attorney General’s Office.
• Orient victims to the criminal justice system by explaining the procedural status of criminal proceedings and provide court support.
• Initiate case records and submit timely documentation of case activities to the Justice Affairs Manager.
• Advocate for juvenile victims’ needs with the community and criminal justice system; confer with law enforcement and prosecutors about case status; and assist with temporary protection orders, reimbursement claims, and other processes that protect victims’ rights.
• Support victims and families during interviews with law enforcement officers, attorneys, and court personnel.
• Explain victims’ rights within the criminal justice system.
• Follow up with victims and families about case status and disposition, filed charges, criminal proceedings, probation terms and conditions, parole hearings, and release dates.
• Promote the CAC through community meetings.
• Maintain positive working relationships within the organization and with assigned courts and team partners.
• Provide children with PSB medical and/or criminal justice education and support.
• Respect, understand, and promote the CAC’s mission, values, and goals.
• Assume additional responsibilities and complete special projects as needed and directed.

Benefits

• Medical coverage
• Dental coverage
• Vision coverage
• Paid time off, including ten paid holidays, vacation, sick, personal, and trauma days
• Paid bereavement leave

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time