Child Advocate

Meriden-Wallingford Chrysalis Inc; Meriden (CT); On-site; USD 40,000 - 52,000; Full time

Job summary

Meriden-Wallingford Chrysalis, Inc. seeks a Child Advocate to deliver crisis intervention, advocacy and case management for child witnesses of domestic violence. You will support parents toward healthy family relationships and supervise within agency programs.

The role includes school enrollment support, intake/exit documentation, and facilitating child and parenting groups, with some travel and flexible hours. A Bachelor's degree or 8 years of related experience is required.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or 8 years related experience.
• Knowledge of domestic violence dynamics and youth work.
• Commitment to safety of DV victims and children.
• Understanding of child development and trauma impact.
• Strong oral and written communication skills.
• Ability to gather and present client information clearly.
• Knowledge of community resources and supports.
• Ability to work with traditional and non-traditional systems.
• Maintain accurate service records and reports on time.
• Maintain certification as battered women's counselor per CGS 52-146k.

Responsibilities

• Provide crisis intervention, advocacy and case management for child witnesses.
• Facilitate child advocacy, groups and individual support at shelters.
• Ensure children's school enrollment within 3 days of admission.
• Complete intake, exit and evaluation forms for each child.
• Organize mother/child activities and plan field trips with community resources.
• Co-facilitate weekly Parenting Group and refer to agencies as needed.
• Maintain service records and cover 24-hour hotline and shelter as scheduled.
• Attend meetings and trainings and participate in agency tasks.

Skills

Crisis intervention

Advocacy

Case management

Communication skills

Education

Bachelor's Degree or 8 years experience

Job description

Meriden-Wallingford Chrysalis, Inc.

Position Title: Child Advocate

Basic Functions:

To provide crisis intervention, support, advocacy and case management services to meet the emotional, behavioral, educational and recreational needs of child witnesses of domestic violence through all agency programs and services. To support parents in engaging in positive, healthy and non-violent relationships with their children.

Reports To:

The Child Advocate is supervised by the Director of Programs and ultimately accountable to the Executive Director. Tasks may be assigned by the Nighttime Shelter Manager and Director of Programs to meet the needs of program clients.

Class:

Non-Exempt, Bargaining

Hours per Week:

3 7.5 hours per week

Areas of Responsibility

This position requires work assignments and responsibilities such as, but not limited to:

Child Advocacy

• Facilitate support and educational groups for program children

• Provide individual support to shelter and transitional living program child residents a minimum of weekly

• Ensure children’s enrollment in school within 3 days of admission into shelter or TLP programs

• C complete Intake, Exit, and Goal and Evaluation forms for each child

• Organize and facilitate mother/child activities periods to observe interactions

• Utilize community resources to plan and facilitate field-trips

• Co-facilitate weekly Parenting Group

• Provide referrals and advocacy to appropriate agencies on behalf of the children

General

• Maintain accurate service records and submit all required statistics in accordance with agency due dates.

• Provide coverage to 24-hour hotline and shelter as scheduled

• Serve as a member of the 24-hour hotline back-up rotation

• Provide coverage to the Holiday Schedule

• Attend and participate in regular meetings called by MWC, CCADV and other meetings as necessary, including training programs developed for Advocates

• Must uphold privileged communication of clients and all responsibilities of mandatory reporting
• Provide peer coverage to critical tasks such as court-based family violence victim advocacy as needed
• Maintain vacant shelter rooms for immediate occupancy
• Other duties as assigned by the Director of Programs or Executive Director

Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree or eight years (8) years experience in related field. A combination of an Associate’s Degree plus four (4) years of experience will be considered.
• Comprehensive working knowledge of the dynamics of domestic violence and working with youth.
• Commitment to working with domestic violence victims and their children to develop a plan for their safety and preserve their right to self-determination.
• Comprehensive knowledge child development, including the impact of trauma on child witnesses of domestic violence
• Effective oral and written communication skills
• Ability to gather, consolidate and present client information through interviews
• Knowledge of community resources
• Ability to work effectively with both traditional and non-traditional systems
• Ability to maintain service records, complete accurate statistical and narrative reports and submit in accordance with due dates
• Must obtain and maintain certification as battered women’s counselor, as per CGS 52-146k

Schedule

37.5 hours per week, primarily Monday – Friday, 10 am – 6 pm. This position includes a ½ hour unpaid, lunch. This position will require some flexible hours to meet the needs of the organization.

Special Requirements

This position may require infrequent travel. A valid driver’s license and current certificate of insurance is required for personnel who may travel in their scope of service to Meriden-Wallingford Chrysalis. Criminal, Department of Children and Families and Department of Motor Vehicles background checks are required for all staff to confirm suitability for employment.

Physical Demand

Stand or Sit

Stationary position

Must be able to remain in a stationary position 50% of the time.

Walk

Move, Traverse

The person in this position needs to occasionally move about inside the office and residential buildings to access file cabinets, office machinery, etc.

Use hands/fingers to handle or feel

Operate, Activate, Use, Prepare, Inspect, Place, Detect, Position

Constantly operates a computer and other office productivity machinery, such as a calculator, copy machine, phone, and computer printer.

Climb (stairs/ladders) or balance

Ascend/Descend, Work atop, Traverse

Occasionally ascends/descends a ladder to service the lights and ceiling fans. As well as needs to use stairs on a daily basis.

Stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl

Position self (to), Move

Constantly positions self to maintain files in file cabinets,

Work with small children or to collect tasks

Talk/hear

Communicate, Detect, Converse with, Discern, Convey, Express oneself, Exchange information

The ability to communicate information and ideas so others will understand. Must be able to exchange accurate information in these situations.

See

Detect, Determine, Perceive, Identify, Recognize, Judge, Observe, Inspect, Estimate, Assess

The ability to observe details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).

Carry weight, lift

Move, Transport, Position, Put, Install, Remove

Frequently moves boxes weighing up to 20 pounds across office and between residential buildings for various needs.

May also need to assist with setting up/take down of events

Exposure to work

Exposed, Work around

works in indoor and outdoor weather conditions