Intake/Family Advocate Specialist

Pat's Place Child Advocacy Center•Charlotte, NC

2d•$42,000 - $47,000•Onsite

About The Position

Since 2005, Pat’s Place has served as a multidisciplinary hub, bringing together detectives, child protection workers, medical and mental health providers, and prosecutors to respond collaboratively to child abuse allegations. Our mission is to protect and heal children, unite key partners, and engage the community to end child abuse. The Intake Specialist/Family Advocate ensures that new cases are received and triaged in a timely, accurate manner, coordinates forensic interview/medical appointments, and provides crisis intervention, education, and counseling to non-offending caregivers upon case initiation. The Intake Specialist/Family Advocate provides as-needed support to the Family Advocacy team, including potential participation in rotating afterhours coverage, including some weekends and holidays.

Requirements

Bachelor of Social Work or related field
Two years’ experience in child welfare field
Commit to the mission and vision of Pat’s Place, maintaining the highest standard of professionalism while promoting respect and enthusiasm
Demonstrate unimpeachable ethics
Remain flexible in an ever-changing work environment
Show attention to detail, strong organizational skills, and problem-solving capabilities
Have excellent verbal communication and writing skills
Prioritize and manage multiple projects
Build collaborative relationships and work as a team with maturity and professionalism
Create and maintain meaningful, positive relationships with community partners
Demonstrate a proactive and helpful attitude and a willingness to learn and do
Work independently and as team players
Maintain an open and inclusive culture within their team, and actively promote diversity, inclusion, and equity throughout the Pat’s Place organization
Demonstrate a proficiency in Microsoft office and the ability to adapt to new office programs

Nice To Haves

Bilingual (Spanish/English)
Demonstrated organizational and administrative skills
Experience in a CAC setting

Responsibilities

Respond to inquiries regarding possible evaluations for child sexual abuse, witness to violence, severe physical abuse, or neglect.
Triage allegations and priority level and coordinate in partnership with investigative agencies.
Conduct intakes and schedule services in accordance with established protocols.
Collect and synthesize bio-psychosocial assessment information from investigative partners.
Establish a trusting relationship with families via telephone.
Engage non-offending caregiver and assess bio-psychosocial needs of the victim child, identifying and referring to appropriate services pre-forensic interview.
Assess non-offending caregiver’s status, provide crisis intervention and referrals as appropriate.
Explain the purpose of the forensic interview and medical evaluation as a part of the law enforcement and(or) child protective services investigation, answer questions and address concerns about the child advocacy center process.
Act as liaison between referring agents and Pat’s Place Child Advocacy Center.
Collect and document accurate demographic and psychosocial data.
Coordinate transportation to Pat’s Place and schedule interpreters as needed.
Complete accurate and thorough intakes and provide all information to Family Advocates, Forensic Interviewers, and medical providers.
Accurately maintain electronic database.
Other duties as assigned.
Provide support and education to child and family prior to and during the forensic interview and medical evaluation; assist caregivers in identifying options available to them and empowering them.
Provide clinical case management services to families served at Pat’s Place, identifying when mental health services are needed and providing links to trauma informed, evidence-based therapists.
Meet with non-offending caregivers to assess social service and victim’s compensation needs, connect them with child serving community-based agencies and follow up to ensure services are obtained.
Troubleshoot barriers to accessing services with caregivers and community service agencies.
Follow up via telephone with non-offending caregivers at a minimum of 2 weeks after the forensic interview and medical evaluation, and as needed ongoing.
Act as an advocate/liaison between Pat’s Place families and law enforcement, child protective services and the district attorney’s office.
Prepare children and non-offending caregivers for court and provide support through the judicial process.
Assist in developing information and resources to support children and caregivers.
Administer follow up surveys to caregivers in accordance with the National Children’s Alliance outcome measurement system.
Rotate on-call during evening and weekends to provide family advocacy during emergency forensic interviews.
Create and maintain strong, positive relationships with community partners.
Track referrals for services, outcomes, and client feedback to ensure timely and accurate data reporting.
Participate in regular staff meetings, multidisciplinary (MDT) meetings, in service training and other meetings as required.
Other duties as assigned.