La Rabida Children’s Hospital 

Child Sexual Exploitation Specialist (CSES)

La Rabida Children’s Hospital is hiring a full-time (36 hours/week) Child Sexual Exploitation Specialist for the Children’s Advocacy Center (200 Lakewood Boulevard) in Park Forest, IL.

At La Rabida Children’s Hospital, our mission is simple: we’re dedicated to maintaining and improving the quality of life for each of our patients with complex conditions, disabilities, and chronic illness. The path to completing this mission, however, is often complicated. Fortunately, we’ve got the best team around. If you are looking for your next career opportunity to partner with a compassionate multidisciplinary collaborative team, we have the job for you!
This is a grant-funded position. Should the grant be terminated, this position will cease to be funded. 

Job Summary:

The Child Sexual Exploitation Specialist’s primary responsibilities include advocacy, outreach, and training activities focused on child victims of Human Trafficking and Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM). The CSE Specialist is the primary advocate for trafficking survivors, those at risk of being trafficked, and victims of CSAM, working to establish a trusting relationship with victims and assisting them with resources and stability following their victimization. Additional responsibilities of the CSE Specialist include engaging in outreach and training within the community to increase awareness of risk factors for trafficking and CSAM, identify potential trafficking and CSAM victims, and connect survivors with available services. 

Essential Child Exploitation Specialist Functions: 

Advocacy: 

• Act as the primary advocate for sexual exploitation, CSAM, and sex trafficking cases that are referred to the center for forensic interviewing and/or advocacy services. 

• Implement screening and assessment tools as necessary for suspected victims of trafficking. 

• Provide intensive case management services to identified victims of CSAM and human trafficking with a goal of developing safety plans, linking to services, enhancing life skills, and addressing health/mental health needs to support the victim. 

• Connect and monitor effectiveness of services provided to victims, providing alternative linkages to service providers as needed. 

• Maintain regular contact with the child victim and caregiver to assess and assist with ongoing and emerging needs. 

Training and Outreach: 

• Act as the primary provider of child sexual exploitation training and prevention programming which includes educating students, teachers/administrators, and caregivers on the topics of child sexual abuse material, sexual exploitation, sex trafficking, and internet safety. 

• Provide child sexual exploitation awareness activities in the community including holding informational sessions, trainings, and public speaking events focused on increasing awareness of child safety measures to prevent child sexual exploitation and victimization. 

• Respond to identified and suspected cases of Child Sexual Exploitation and provide resources to suspected victims. 

• Coordinate and provide training to MDT members on dynamics of child sexual exploitation, how to screen for sexual exploitation, and best practices when responding to child sexual exploitation cases. 

Additional duties as assigned 

• Provides on call coverage
• ​​​​​​Must maintain strict confidentiality and cross-cultural awareness in the performance of all duties 

• Maintains accurate and up-to-date documentation and data (i.e. enter case data and documentation into database and tracking logs, and provide vignettes of cases for quarterly reports, etc.) 

What we need from you:

• Bachelor’s degree in social work, criminal justice, psychology, or similar field required 

• Master’s degree in psychology, social work, or equivalent field strongly desired

• A minimum of 2 years' experience within the field of child abuse, investigations, and knowledge of child development and impacts of childhood trauma required 

• Prior training and experience in forensic interviewing strongly desired 

• Must have in depth knowledge of the dynamics of sexual exploitation, CSAM, and human trafficking 

• CPR required – only certifications issued by the American Heart Association ro the American Red Cross will be accepted 

What you will receive:

• Competitive Salary

• Medical, Dental, and Vision

• Pet Insurance 

• Flexible Spending Account (FSA)

• Life & Disability Insurance

• Retirement Savings Plans & Matching

• Tuition Reimbursement

• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)

• Generous Paid Time Off & Holidays

• Free Parking 

Who we are: ​​​​​​

La Rabida is a place unlike any other. We understand the needs of families with children dealing with the most serious or complicated of conditions. With teams of the best healthcare providers in Chicago, we give continuous, comprehensive care, education and support, helping families face their unique obstacles head on. 

La Rabida Children’s Hospital is very proud to be an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer.

Conditions of Employment Required to demonstrate full vaccination status for Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) with a Food and Drug Administration (FDA) authorized or FDA-approved COVID-19 vaccine; OR Qualify for a reasonable accommodation for an exemption from vaccine requirements based on a medical disability or because of a sincerely held religious belief. Additional information and instructions regarding how to request a reasonable accommodation will be provided on request at the time of selection.