Job Description
Position Title: Child Advocate Part-time

Program: Domestic Violence

Reports to: Associate Director

Employment Status: Part-time 20 hours (no benefits)

Non-exempt

09/01/2023

Days & Hours: M-3:30-7:30, T-1-4, W-3:30-7:30, THUR-3:30-8, Fri-3:30-8
Position Summary
Under the supervision of the Associate Director, the child advocate is responsible for:

• participating in the direct supervision of children in the children’s program to ensure their health and safety
• creating, implementing, and facilitating group and individual lessons teaching violence prevention, bullying, empathy, problem-solving, self-esteem and anger management skills
• working with management on the implementation of learning programs and enrichment activities
• communicating with parents in a positive, friendly, professional manner
• maintaining client files, logs, charts, and other records as required by agency or funder
• assistance within the domestic violence shelter as needed

Essential Duties and Responsibilities
The essential functions include, but are not limited to the following:

• Evaluate family needs and identify any problems or concerns that require immediate attention to the Associate Director or project manager.
• Monitors and interacts with children; guides, nurtures, assists, tutors, and plays with children during their stay in the program.
• Maintains cleanliness of children’s program classroom and play areas; repairs and/or reports unsafe equipment and ensures children do not use unsafe equipment; wipes up spills; cleans table-tops, sinks and chairs as necessary. Participates in cleaning and sanitation rotation of children’s program areas.
• Participates with leadership in developing learning programs and enrichment activities for the day, week or longer term; provides feedback to supervisor in the interests of improving the programs and working relationships.
• Collaborates with outside agencies to advocate for children and ensure families can access services and resources available including CalWORKs, WIC, MediCal, schools, courts, and other systems that clients interact with.
• Provides transportation to families as needed in support of meeting program goals
• Provide crisis intervention, information, and referrals to individuals calling the 24-hour hotline.
• Design and create bulletin boards and learning centers related to learning activities.
• Prepares materials for lessons and enrichment activities.
• Maintains case records and documents services while ensuring all client information is kept confidential.
• Sets up learning interest centers; teaches and guides children in how to use centers and monitors/supervises their use.
• Actively participates in staff meetings and in service programs in order to improve child development skills; seeks outside educational opportunities to improve professional skills.
• Works with the treatment team to provide appropriate coordinated care services to clients and their children.
• Assists with the 24/7 crisis Helpline and day-to-day client services as needed within the domestic violence shelter.
• Displays sensitivity to the cultural and linguistic needs of the clients and children served.
• Completes billing expectations per agency requirements and provides services consistent with program needs.
• Attends and participates in staff meetings.
• Attends conferences and meetings on domestic violence and child advocacy.
• Communicates effectively with a culturally competent and diverse consumer population and promotes favorable interaction with managers, co-workers and others.
• Acts as a mandated child abuse reporter and a liaison between parents and the Department of Children and Family Services. Advocates for the safety and well-being of the children as a priority.
• Reports to work on time and maintains reliable and regular attendance.
• Models the agency’s mission statement.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications (Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities)

• Associates or Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work, Psychology, Child Development or related field or minimum of 2 years of related professional experience working with families and/or the area of social work.
• A basic knowledge of maintaining a safe and secure environment for all children.
• Bilingual skills in English/Spanish preferred.
• Openness to working with trauma survivors from underserved populations, including people of color, people who are experiencing homelessness, people from immigrant groups, and people in the LGBT community.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Professional appearance and ability to maintain confidentiality in all matters related to the agency/ program.
• Excellent documentation and clinical skills, ability to prioritize, and meet deadlines.
• Must demonstrate excellent attendance and reliability.
• Current Valid Driver’s License and driving record acceptable to the agency’s insurance carrier.
• Mandatory 40 hours of training in domestic violence.
• Willingness to work a flexible schedule, including evenings/weekends based on program needs.

Physical Demands and Work Environment
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this position. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the functions. While performing the duties of this position, the employee is regularly required to talk or hear. The employee frequently is required to use hands or fingers, handle or feel objects, tools, or controls. The employee is occasionally required to stand; walk; sit; and reach with hands and arms. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this position include close vision, distance vision, and the ability to adjust focus. The noise level in the work environment is usually low to moderate.
Note
This job description in no way states or implies that these are the only duties to be performed by the employee(s) incumbent in this position. Employees will be required to follow any other job-related instructions and to perform any other job-related duties requested by any person authorized to give instructions or assignments. All duties and responsibilities are essential functions and requirements and are subject to possible modification to reasonably accommodate individuals with disabilities. To perform this job successfully, the incumbents will possess the skills, aptitudes, and abilities to perform each duty proficiently. Some requirements may exclude individuals who pose a direct threat or significant risk to the health or safety of themselves or others. The requirements listed in this document are the minimum levels of knowledge, skills, or abilities. This document does not create an employment contract, implied or otherwise, other than an “at will” relationship.

The company is an Equal Opportunity Employer, drug free workplace, and complies with ADA regulations as applicable.

Job Type: Part-time

Pay: $18.00 - $19.50 per hour

Expected hours: 20 per week

Benefits:

• Employee assistance program
• Tuition reimbursement

Schedule:

• Monday to Friday

Application Question(s):

• Are you Vaccinated? You need to be

Education:

• Associate (Preferred)

Experience:

• Social work: 2 years (Preferred)
• Child Development: 2 years (Preferred)
• Meeting facilitation: 2 years (Preferred)
• Record Keeping: 2 years (Preferred)
• Crisis intervention: 2 years (Preferred)

Language:

• Spanish (Preferred)

License/Certification:

• Driver's License (Required)
• 40 hours Domestic Violence Training Certificate (Preferred)

Work Location: In person