Family Victim Advocate

Job Description
Family Advocate, McKenzie’s Hope

Reports To: Executive Director
Responsible To: Board of Directors

Purpose: The Family Advocate is responsible for providing direct victim advocacy services to families of children seen at the Child Advocacy Center and adult victims of domestic violence and sexual assault and their families as needed. The Family Advocate is responsible for the immediate crisis response, safety planning, connecting the client to community resources, assisting the client with victim compensation, protective orders, and providing education on legal and courtroom processes. The Family Advocate manages cases in a confidential manner on an ongoing basis assisting the client in determining the client’s individual needs and providing trauma-informed services throughout the duration of the case.

ESSENTIAL RESPONSIBILITIES

Child Advocacy Program

1. Conduct intake of new clients, schedule interviews, and coordinate with participating multidisciplinary team members.

2. Prior to appointments, prepare children and families for their visit by answering questions, explaining the interview process, and advising caregivers on ensuring that children have proper nutrition and rest prior to the interview.

3. Welcome child and family/guardian to the facility and assist with authorization paperwork.

4. Provide crisis intervention and safety planning as needed.

5. Identify and connect clients with appropriate community and public resources.
6. Administer client surveys.
7. Act as an advocate for the needs of child clients and families during their visit and in follow-up contact.
8. Provide support and information to clients throughout the duration of the case.
9. Enter data into case tracking system.
10. May occasionally have to respond to after-hours requests for forensic interviews.
11. Provide support for community outreach and public relation endeavors, some of this may be outside of normal working hours.
12. Assist in planning and execution of fundraising events, this may occur outside of normal work hours.
13. Be available to assist the Director in other duties as requested.

Adult Advocacy Program

1. Provide crisis intervention to survivors as needed.

2. Identify and connect clients with appropriate community and public resources.
3. Maintain client files/notes and provide monthly reports to needed parties on case management activities including follow-up calls and documentation.
4. Provide clerical support such as answering phones, typing, data entry, taking messages, respond in helpful manner to telephone calls and visitor’s, receive and send out mail, and maintain an organized filing system for all files and financial records.

5. Assist with tracking time and activities by funding source.
6. Provide vision and organization for at least one fundraiser for the adult advocacy program a year.

Internal/External Relationship Building

● Work in collaboration with Multidisciplinary Team for case coordination and supporting survivors and families throughout the life of the case.

● Attend community meetings and create relationships with community organizations to continue developing expertise in resources and services available to clients.

Professional Development
● Complete and maintain compliance with required trainings and education required for the position, including ChildFirst forensic interviewing and victim advocate training.
● Attend community education events/seminars to continue developing expertise in the field and improving important professional relationships.
● Participate in appropriate team and/or administrative meetings, board meetings, forensic interview peer reviews, and other continuing education/training.

Core Competencies
● Reducing Trauma
● Seeking Justice
● Bringing Hope

Position-Specific Competencies
● Survivor Focused – Empowers survivors toward their healing through intentional listening, resource sharing, and service coordination.
● Effective communicator – Uses 2-way communication that demonstrates warmth, clarity, and professional consideration for client and staff beliefs, values, and judgments.
● Organized – Guides staff to produce high-quality and reputable work with absolute efficiency; leads through confident understanding of and appreciation for policies and procedures; ability to quickly reprioritize tasks and address emergent situations.

● Team Oriented – Work together with multidisciplinary team and community organizations to provide the best services for survivors and their families.

CRITICAL FUNCTIONAL SKILLS & KNOWLEDGE

Education and Experience
● Bachelor’s degree in social services, education, psychology, sociology, criminal justice and/or related fields is preferred. Exceptions may be made if a candidate has a combination of education, life experience, training or actively enrolled in school and working towards a degree.

Other

• Must have competent and effective communication abilities, both verbal and written.
• Must be able to communicate and work effectively with the public and people from all walks of life and the ability to adapt to various situations.
• Awareness of cultural diversity and creativity in overcoming cultural, systemic and individual barriers.
• Beginning (basic) knowledge of the dynamics of families where abuse is occurring.
• The ability to maintain confidentiality.
• The ability to provide leadership, instruction, and guidance, when needed.
• Understands and has knowledge of the community resources and services that may be able to assist the children and families.
• Competent in Microsoft Office and above average computer skills.
• Must be able to multi-task without supervision.
• Must demonstrate organizational skills and ability to maintain records appropriately.

Background Checks
Employment is contingent on background checks as required by McKenzie’s Hope policies which may include: Criminal History, Sex Offender Registry Search, Education Verification, and Professional
References.

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $20.00 per hour

Benefits:

• Health savings account
• Paid time off

Ability to Commute:

• Huntington, IN 46750 (Preferred)

Work Location: In person