Child & Family Advocate

Network Against Domestic Abuse; Enfield (CT); On-site; USD 42,000 - 62,000; Full time

Job summary

Network Against Domestic Abuse seeks a Child & Family Advocate to oversee family needs programming in the safe house and community, maintain child and family profiles in EmpowerDB, and prepare quarterly CCADV reports.

The role requires collaboration with shelter staff, community partners, and advocacy training; it includes hotline coverage and occasional evening/weekend work. Prior experience with children in traumatized settings is essential.

Qualifications

• Experience working with children from traumatized families.
• Strong written and oral communication skills.
• Basic knowledge of crisis intervention; ability to analyze situations and develop creative solutions.
• Skills in counseling and group facilitation.
• Demonstrates strong work ethics and dedication to Network Mission.
• Demonstrates initiative and motivation, self-starter.
• Demonstrates sound teamwork and collaboration skills.
• Active listening skills resulting in ability to formulate sound judgment.
• Awareness of personal prejudices; flexibility to work evenings and weekends.

Responsibilities

• Assess family needs and create service plans for each sheltered family.
• Develops, implements, and maintains programs and curriculum.
• Supervise volunteers supporting family/children's programs and groups.
• Works closely with Shelter staff to ensure comprehensive family services.
• Daily check-in with each family to assess ongoing needs and progress.
• Provide counseling and advocacy for individual families.
• Provides directed play/resiliency building to moms and children.
• Completes intake processes at the shelter and in the community.
• Provide hotline coverage as needed.
• Balances complexities of domestic violence analysis with agency goals and confidentiality.
• Collaborates with outside service providers (DCF, local schools, mental health programs).
• Maintains relationships with Domestic Violence Liaison at DCF.
• Transports clients as appropriate.
• Completes reporting and training for CCADV; participates in daily shelter log communications.

Skills

Trauma-informed

Communication

Crisis intervention

Counseling

Teamwork

Active listening

Flexible schedule

Driving

Computer skills

Education

Bachelor's degree or equivalent in social work/domestic violence

Experience working with children

Experience in Domestic Violence is preferred

Job description

Job Summary

Within the structure of a trauma centered approach, the Child & Family Advocate is responsible for overseeing family needs programming in the safe house and community. In addition, this individual is responsible for upkeep of child and family profiles in EmpowerDB, completing quarterly reports for CCADV, utilizing the Bridging program, and attending Child Advocate meetings and trainings.

Supervised by: Safe House Manager

Duties Include

A. Child and Family Programs

• Assess family needs and create service plan accordingly for each sheltered family
• Develops, implements, and maintains programs and curriculum
• Participate in maintaining child-friendly working environment in the children's facility
• Supervises volunteers who support family/children's programs and groups.
• Works closely with all Shelter staff to ensure comprehensive family services

B. Direct Service Skills

• Daily check-in with each family to assess on-going needs and progress
• Provide counseling and advocacy for individual families
• Provides directed play/resiliency building to both moms and children
• Completes intake process both at the shelter and within the community
• Provide hotline coverage as needed

C. Advocacy Skills/Community Collaboration

• Balances complexities of domestic violence analysis with Mission and goals of agency maintaining appropriate boundaries and confidentiality
• Works collaboratively with outside service providers such as DCF, local schools, and area mental health programs.
• Develops and maintains on-going relationship with Domestic Violence Liaison at DCF
• Acts as a resource for other services interacting with the Network seeking advice on Domestic Violence, such as Community presentations
• Works with the Community Educator to represent the Network within the community as needed
• Makes presentations to staff and board regularly to ensure sound communications regarding progress and issues relative to the Child Advocate position
• Transports clients as appropriate

D. Completes required Network and CCADV statistical reporting and training

• Participate in daily shelter log communications
• Demonstrates ability to maintain service records
• Completes statistical and narrative reports, as needed
• Attends trainings as required

Qualifications

• Experience working with children from traumatized families
• Skilled in effective communication with others both orally and in writing
• Basic knowledge of skills in crisis intervention; ability to analyze situations and develop creative solutions
• Skills in counseling and group facilitation
• Demonstrates strong work ethics and dedication to Network Mission
• Demonstrates initiative and motivation, self-starter
• Demonstrates sound teamwork and collaboration skills
• Demonstrates active listening skills resulting in ability to formulate sound judgment
• Is aware of and understands one's personal prejudices
• Flexibility to work evenings and weekends is required
• Reliable vehicle and valid driver's license
• Computer skills

Education

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience in social work/domestic violence required.
• Strong experience working with children is required.
• Experience in Domestic Violence is preferred.