Adverse Childhood Experiences Advocate

Adverse Childhood Experiences Advocate Job Description

Job Classification: Non-Exempt, Full-time position (37.5 hours) for one calendar year

Pre-service qualifications: Relevant employment experience, college degree or course work. Effective communication skills and desire to work on the topics of domestic violence, sexual assault, and stalking. Ability to intervene in crisis situations and ability to maintain client confidentiality. Successful completion of thirty-five (35) hours of agency training is required.

Supervisor: The Child Advocate will report directly to the Program Director.

Responsibilities: The Child Advocate will have the lead role in researching and developing sustainable programs based on strategies to address Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE’s) for survivors of trauma. The Child Advocate will also attend Child Advocacy Center (CAC) interviews and provide follow-up services to families.

Responsibilities related to ACE’S

• Research best practices on strategies to address ACE�s.
  
• Be the lead in developing programming to address ACE�s.
  
• Present programming ideas to Program Director & Executive Director.
  
• Collaborate with Education Coordinator and Child Advocate to discuss programming and identify existing partnerships.
  
• Meet with the FVPS, Child Advocate and housing staff to offer programming and consultation. Replicate existing collaboration Bridges has with Milford Police to identify child victims with other police departments in our catchment area.
  
• Identify partner agencies to deliver programming.
  
• Establish partnerships with community agencies to deliver programming.
  
• Increase awareness of trauma and ACE strategies.
  
• Encourage increased assessment of trauma and ACEs in health care settings.
  
• Enhance the capacity of communities to prevent and respond to trauma and ACE�s.
  
• Act as a resource for Adverse Childhood Experiences for Bridges staff and volunteers.
  
• Identify strategies to address the behavior of children who are sexually-reactive.
  
• Provide in-service trainings on ACE�s to keep advocates current on best practices.
  
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with a wide variety of personnel and agencies.
  
• Work with individuals and groups in a culturally and linguistically competent manner.
  

Responsibilities related to the Child Advocacy Center

The Child Advocate will be responsible for linking, monitoring, and advocating for children and their families. The child advocate will work closely with parents around promoting their children’s safety, accessing the most appropriate services for the family and will offer families options in counseling and community resources. In addition, the Child Advocate is responsible for the following:

1. Serves to address the immediate crisis after a disclosure and interview with the victims at the Child Advocacy Center.

2. Identify needs of the child and the non-offending caregiver (NOC) with the family.

3. Provide support, information and follow-up services to families, including referrals to community agencies and programs such as the N.H. Victim Compensation program. Link those families interested in counseling with counseling services.

4. Provide personal advocacy including making phone calls on behalf of clients to secure services and advocate for their needs.

5. Facilitation and development of support groups.

6. As time permits, provide a support group for children who have been sexually abused and an education class for the Non-Offending Caregivers. The Child Advocate will co-facilitate one of these groups and is responsible for the organization and running of the ten-week group.

7. As time permits, provide a support group for children who have been exposed to domestic violence and a support group for the mothers. The Child Advocate will co-facilitate one of these groups and is responsible for the organization and running of the ten-week group.

8. Provide information about dynamics of sexual abuse, reactions to sexual abuse, childhood development and sexuality, health and healing, building a support system, abuse prevention, victim rights and compensation.

9. Answer any questions about the investigative process (in general) and refer the families to the members of the Multi-Disciplinary Team for specific information related to their case.

10. Confer with the Shelter Manager and Transitional Housing Advocate on providing services to children living at Janice’s House and in our transitional housing.

11. Accompany the child and/or non-offending caregiver(s) to court for criminal hearings or parenting rights and responsibilities hearings; or link the family with other Bridges advocates who can assist them in court.

12. Participate in weekly agency staff meetings and regular supervision sessions.

13. Participate in back-up rotation.

14. Promote the agency’s mission.

15. Participate in agency fundraising efforts.

16. Adhere to expectations consistent with Bridges definition of cultural competence. These expectations seek to clarify the knowledge, attitudes, skills and practices that would need to provide culturally and linguistic competent services to the diverse populations of the Greater Nashua area.

17. Attend training programs and use practices that promote culturally competent services.

18. Complete monthly paperwork and other duties as assigned.

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $23.00 per hour

Benefits:

• Dental insurance
  
• Health insurance
  
• Life insurance
  
• Paid time off
  
• Vision insurance
  

Work Location: In person