GUARDIAN AD LITEM OFFICE, 3RD CIRCUIT- CHILD ADVOCATE MANAGER - 21016215

State of Florida; Florida; On-site; USD 35,000 - 55,000; Part time

Job summary

Join a dedicated team as a Child Advocate Manager, where you will lead a group of volunteers to provide essential advocacy for children in need. This role is vital in ensuring that the voices of abused and neglected children are heard in Florida's dependency courts. You will collaborate with various agencies, oversee case management, and advocate for the best interests of the children you serve. With a focus on professional development and a supportive work environment, this position offers a unique opportunity to make a meaningful impact in the lives of vulnerable children and families.

Benefits

State retirement package

Health insurance options

Flexible spending account

Paid holidays

Sick leave

Tuition waivers

Child Advocate Manager training

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree preferred in sociology, social work, or related fields.
• Two years of experience in child welfare or social services desired.

Responsibilities

• Oversee Guardian ad Litem volunteers and manage cases.
• Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams and document case information.
• Prepare reports and provide advocacy recommendations.

Skills

Child welfare knowledge

Organizational skills

Communication skills

Team collaboration

Coaching and mentoring

Confidentiality

Education

Bachelor's degree in social work or related field

Experience in child welfare

Job description

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GUARDIAN AD LITEM OFFICE, 3RD CIRCUIT- CHILD ADVOCATE MANAGER - 21016215

Date: May 5, 2025

The State Personnel System is an E-Verify employer. For more information click on ourE-Verify Website .

Requisition No:852472

Agency: Justice Administrative Commission

Working Title: GUARDIAN AD LITEM OFFICE, 3RD CIRCUIT- CHILD ADVOCATE MANAGER - 21016215

HALF-TIME GUARDIAN AD LITEM CHILD ADVOCATE MANAGER

• Click on the “Career Opportunities” icon.
• Scroll down to the link, “Submit Your Guardian ad Litem Office Employment Application Here.”
• Complete the “mini” job application and attach your current resume.
• Select COLUMBIA COUNTY for the job location

ABOUT THE ORGANIZATION AND THE OPPORTUNITY

The Statewide Guardian ad Litem Office is Florida’s award-winning, state-funded child advocacy organization that provides independent legal representation to abused, abandoned and neglected children in Florida’s dependency court proceedings. The Office upholds the highest standards of integrity, excellence and child centered representation. The Office assigns a multi-disciplinary team which is comprised of a guardian ad litem attorney, a child welfare professional, and hopefully a community volunteer or pro bono attorney, to represent each child the Office is court appointed to. The Child Advocate Manager serves as the child welfare professional on the multi-disciplinary team and is responsible for overseeing a team of guardian ad litem volunteers for which they assign to serve on individual cases. More information about the Statewide Guardian ad Litem Office can be found at www.guardianadlitem.org .

As an employee with the State of Florida, your benefits are a significant part of your compensation with 19 percent of your total compensation coming from the benefits that the State offers. For full-time employees, the insurance rates will be significantly low due to the contribution of the State of Florida. In fact, single coverage is as low as $50 per month, with family coverage costing only $180 per month.

While the rates are higher for half-time employees, health insurance options are still available if you are in a salaried position.

BENEFITS OF WORKING FOR THE GUARDIAN AD LITEM OFFICE:

• State of Florida Retirement package – Pension or Investment plan (3% employee contribution required)
• State group insurance coverage options, including health, life, dental, vision, and other supplemental insurance options.
• Life insurance $25,000 is provided by the state at a pro-rated cost to you for all FTE positions. Employees may purchase additional coverage.
• Additional supplemental insurances are available such as dental, vision, disability, etc.
• Flexible spending account
• Nine paid state holidays each calendar year
• One paid personal holiday each fiscal year
• 13 paid sick leave days accrued within the calendar year
• 13 paid annual leave days accrued within the calendar year with an increase after five years
• Public Loan Forgiveness Program
• State tuition waivers
• Child Advocate Manager training and professional certification with the Florida Certification Board
• No State of Florida income tax for residents of Florida

ABOUT THE WORK

The Child Advocate Manager position encompasses a broad range of consultative, administrative and advocacy activities. The Child Advocate Manager may also supervise a group of Guardian Ad Litem Office Child Advocate volunteers. Some examples of a “typical” working day may include the following:

• Collaborate with the Guardian ad Litem Office multidisciplinary team, management, Department of Children and Families, contracted service providers, Department of Juvenile Justice, Department of Education, Law Enforcement, etc.
• Overseeing the work of Guardian ad Litem Office volunteers.
• Gathering and documenting independent pertinent case information.
• Providing best interests advocacy recommendations to the Guardian ad Litem Office multidisciplinary team, to the court and to our child welfare partners.
• Preparing written reports to the court.
• Provide testimony to the court.
• Attending internal and external case-related court hearings, depositions, case plan conferences, dependency mediations, staffing’s and meetings.
• Visiting and contacting assigned children, parents, caregivers, schools and service providers.
• Utilizing the organization’s database and reporting systems.
• Participating in internal and external training, meetings and conferences.

ABOUT THE KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES

The following are desirable knowledge, skills, abilities and traits for prospective Child Advocate Manager position candidates:

• Self-motivated and achievement oriented.
• Strong desire to learn and pursue personal development.
• Ability to take direction and work as part of a team.
• Ability to effectively interact with and/or influence people of diverse backgrounds.
• Ability to exercise discretion, respect privacy and maintain confidentiality.
• Strong organizational/time management skills and ability to meet deadlines.
• Excellent oral, written and computer literacy skills.
• Able to maintain a professional and effective demeanor in emotional or traumatic situations.
• Ability to coach, instruct and motivate volunteers.
• Knowledge of case management, social support services and concepts of child development.
• Knowledge of the dynamics of child abuse, domestic violence, substance abuse and mental health.
• Knowledge of the Florida State Courts System.
• Knowledge of Florida Statutes relating to child welfare and protection.

ABOUT THE EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS

The following are education and experience requirements for prospective Child Advocate Manager position candidates:

• Must possess a valid Florida Driver’s License.
• Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university with a major in sociology, social work, psychology, child development, education, juvenile justice, communications, or a related social science is preferred but prior experience will be considered to meet the degree requirement. Experience could include time as Child Protective Investigator, Dependency Case Manager, Juvenile Probation Officer, Law Enforcement, Military, Educators, or other professional experiences working with children and families.
• Two years of experience in a program focusing on child welfare, social service, counseling, teaching, managing people or supervising volunteers is desired but not required.
• Experience with critical decision making, planning, organizing, coaching, leading, or supervising will be helpful to a successful candidate.
• All individuals hired after February 1, 2020, must be able to obtain a Child Advocate Manager Certification offered by the Florida Certification Board within 12 months of hire date.
• Maintain Child Advocate Manager certification during the duration of employment. Agency pays costs of certification.

(Please note: The Executive Director or designee may grant an exception for the required education and experience. This is a part-time/20 hours per week position. External)

If you are a retiree of the Florida Retirement System (FRS), please check with the FRS at 1-844-377-1888 on how your current benefits may be affected if you are re-employed with the State of Florida. Your current retirement benefits may be canceled, suspended, or deemed ineligible depending upon the date of your retirement.

The State of Florida is an Equal Opportunity Employer/Affirmative Action Employer, and does not tolerate discrimination or violence in the workplace.

Candidates requiring a reasonable accommodation, as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act, must notify the agency hiring authority and/or People First Service Center (1-866-663-4735). Notification to the hiring authority must be made in advance to allow sufficient time to provide the accommodation.

The State of Florida supports a Drug-Free workplace. All employees are subject to reasonable suspicion drug testing in accordance with Section 112.0455, F.S., Drug-Free Workplace Act.

For assistance, call the People First Service Center at [phone] Monday - Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., Eastern time