Childrens Advocate Job Opening

JOB SUMMARY:

Under the supervision of the Shelter Program Manager, manages children’s program and provides full range of crisis intervention, assessment, and counseling, advocacy, and referral services for child witnesses of domestic violence, in compliance with Kentucky Coalition Against Domestic Violence (KCADV) Victim Service Standards.

PRINCIPAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

Provide counseling for individual children and family units

• Applies Kentucky Coalition Against Domestic Violence (KCADV) Victim Service Standards and the Kentucky Association of Sexual Assault Programs (KASAP) Standards for rape survivors.
• Facilitate age-appropriate orientation to shelter for families
• Initiate individual contact with children daily
• Provide age-appropriate education regarding dynamics of domestic violence
• Assist children and parents with formulation of children’s personalized safety plans
• Assist with crisis intervention services

Provide case management for individual children and family units

• Assess children’s need for additional community resources
• Assist parents and children with creating goal plan for each child
• Provide parents with information regarding appropriate community resources for children, provide referrals to services, and link families to resource providers
• Assist with training staff and volunteers in working with child witnesses of domestic violence

Provide group counseling for children and families residing in shelter

• Facilitate supportive parenting groups
• Facilitate domestic violence education and counseling groups for teens
• Facilitate domestic violence education and counseling groups for school-age children
• Arrange for volunteers to provide childcare for toddlers and infants
• Organize recreational activities for children residing in shelter

Provide daily recreational activities for each age group

• Encourage healthy parent-child interaction, by providing activities for families
• Coordinate field trips, including transportation
• Organize children’s birthday parties and oversee planning of holiday parties
• Arrange for volunteers to assist with recreational activities

Supervise educational arrangements for children residing in shelter

• Network and establish professional relationship with local school district personnel
• Educate school personnel on the dynamics of domestic violence
• Inform parents of options for children’s education while residing in shelter
• Assist parents with enrolling children in school and arranging transportation
• Train and assist additional shelter staff with process of enrolling children in school

Oversee organization and cleanliness of children’s program storage areas and playroom

Receive and distribute children’s program donations

Provide a clean and safe play environment for children

Maintain client records

Other Duties

Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities and activities may change at any time with or without notice.

QUALIFICATIONS (Knowledge, skills, etc.):

• Knowledge and skills at a level typically acquired through obtaining a Bachelor’s Degree in a social service related field and one to two years related experience
• Knowledge of the developmental stages of childhood
• Ability to work under highly stressful, crisis oriented situations
• Ability to handle sensitive information and maintain high level of confidentiality
• Outstanding empathetic and listening skills
• Professional oral and written communication skills
• Ability to work independently
• Excellent problem solving and decision making skills
• Complete Kentucky Domestic Violence Association certification program

MENTAL/PHYSICAL ACTIVITIES WHICH OCCUR REGULARLY IN PERFORMING THE JOB:

• Speaking, seeing, hearing, standing, writing, walking, including climbing steps, carry, pull, lift, stoop, kneel
• Cleaning and cooking
• Using related office equipment, such as typewriter, PC keyboard and monitor, camera, copier, calculator, fax, phones, etc.
• This position may involve exposure to infectious diseases and stressful situations

It is the policy of the Women's Crisis Center to provide Equal Employment Opportunity and individual growth opportunities to all applicants and employees in accordance with all applicable Federal and State laws and executive orders.

Job Type: Full-time

Salary: $27,500.00 to $30,000.00 /year

Experience:

• Relevant: 1 year (Preferred)

Education:

• Associate (Preferred)

Work Location:

• One location