(PT) Children's Advocacy Center Coordinator

Job Title: Children’s Advocacy Center Coordinator

Department: Hill County Sheriff’s OfficeType:(1) Part-time

Accountable To: County SheriffWage: $23.25/hourlyExpected Start Date: Anytime

• Currently grant funded through June of 2027; may continue dependent upon further funding*Job Overview:
  
  

The Children’s Advocacy Coordinator provides a compassionate response to the trauma of child abuse in a safe and child friendly environment. Children are referred to the Child Advocacy Coordinator from law enforcement and child protective services due to suspected sexual and physical abuse and/or neglect. Through specialized services such as family advocacy, forensic interviews, comprehensive medical evaluations and mental health services, suspected victims’ birth through age 17 receive quality and timely care by sharing their story and beginning their path to a healthy future. The Children’s Advocacy Coordinator provides leadership and management for program operations, multidisciplinary team collaboration, compliance with national accreditation standards, and assists with development, oversight and implementation of program evaluation, strategic plans, community assessments, protocols, and reaccreditation activities.

The Children’s Advocacy Coordinator will also be a trained forensic interviewer and act as an advocate for the families and children accessing the center’s services. Essential Functions (Major Duties or Responsibilities): Greets children and families upon arrival to the CAC and provides an orientation; Assists non-offending caregivers with the intake process, which includes paperwork and explaining the forensic interview process; Provides crisis assessment and intervention, risk assessment and safety planning, and ongoing family engagement to support children and family members at all stages of involvement with the CAC; Assesses individual needs, cultural considerations for child/family, and helps to ensure those needs are being addressed in concert with the MDT and other service providers; Assesses the child/family’s response to participating in the investigation, prosecution, treatment, and support services, including communication with the MDT regarding factors impacting engagement; Participates in information sharing with other MDT members, informs and supports the family regarding the coordinated, multidisciplinary response, and assesses the needs of children and caregivers at the CAC during the forensic interview; Provides education and assistance to families ensuring access to victims’ rights; Assists non-offending caregivers in procuring concrete services (housing, protective orders, domestic violence intervention, food, transportation, public assistance, civil legal services, etc.) and crime victims’ compensation; Provides referrals for, and education about trauma-focused, evidence supported mental health and specialized medical treatment, whether these be provided at the CAC or off-site; Facilitates access to transportation to interviews, court, treatment, and other case-related meetings for non-offending caregivers; Engages with the child and family to help them ensure understanding of their own unique situation regarding: investigation/prosecution process, crime victims’ rights, and child abuse dynamics and/or child trauma; Participates in case reviews to communicate and discuss the unique needs of the child and family and associated services planning; and to help ensure the coordination of identified services and that the child and family’s concerns are heard and addressed; Provides case status updates to the family, including investigations, court dates, continuances, dispositions, sentencing, and inmate status notification (including offender release from custody); Provides court education and support, including court orientation and accompaniment; Records statistical information on victim services, maintains accurate documentation of all client contacts, and inputs data into case tracking software or similar secure client database; Travels occasionally for educational or business purposes.Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

1-3 years’ experience with Children’s Advocacy Centers or with Child Welfare and/or Law Enforcement is ideal

• Demonstrated management and leadership experience
• Excellent interpersonal, verbal and written communication skills
• Ability to plan and prioritize work is essential
• Strong organizational and time management skills
• Ability to work in and manage databases
• Meticulous attention to detail required
• Ability to work both independently and as a member of various teams
• Displays leadership and professional integrity
• Demonstrates ability to hold self and others accountable
• Proven ability to work effectively with diverse populationsPreferred Qualifications (Education and Experience):
  
  

The above knowledge, skills and abilities are typically acquired through a combination of education and experience including:

• Bachelor’s Degree (Social Work, Counseling, Human Service or related field)
• Trained Forensic Interviewer
• Crime Victim Advocacy Training Required Qualification:
• Successfully pass a criminal background check