Family Advocate and Trainer
Family Advocate and Trainer
First Witness Child Advocacy Center
First Witness Child Advocacy Center is seeking a Family Advocate and Trainer to join the family advocacy and training team. Our Family Advocates and Trainers provide crisis advocacy and support to non-offending caregivers and their children, conduct community outreach, and train professionals, children, and families nationally and locally.
To apply, please submit a resume, cover letter, and two professional references to Tyra Jaramillo-Kraemer at tjaramillo@firstwitness.org
About First Witness
First Witness Child Advocacy Center (CAC) is a child-focused non-profit agency offering hope, healing, and justice for alleged victims of child abuse and their families. We provide forensically sound interviews for children, adolescents, and vulnerable adults who have reported sexual abuse, physical abuse, witnessed violence, or who may have been otherwise victimized. Our family advocates help non-offending caregivers understand the system and professionals involved and connect children and families with resources in their community. First Witness is a nationally recognized training center, and trains forensic interviewers, family advocates, prevention educators, and other professionals throughout the US as well as children, families, and youth serving professionals in the St. Louis, Lake, and Carlton County regions.
Job Description
General Description
The Family Advocate and Trainer’s primary responsibility is to provide family crisis advocacy and support to children and non-offending caregivers. Additionally, this position will conduct community outreach, prevention education, and professional training to children, families, and advocates locally and nationally.
The hourly pay range for this position is $19.77- $21.64; the final pay will be dependent on qualifications and experience. This position is a non-exempt position: staff are paid hourly and if asked to work over 40 hours will be paid overtime. Most work hours take place between 8:30am – 4:30pm Monday-Friday and occasional (3-4x monthly) evening and weekend hours for community events and emergency/crisis advocacy services. First Witness offers full benefits (health, dental, vision, life, short- and long-term disability, lifestyle spending account for self-care activities and 401k employer contribution after a year of employment).
Responsibilities
Family Advocacy
Provide family advocacy to non-offending caregivers and their children, centering their identified needs and desired outcomes. Activities may include:
Provide information regarding dynamics of abuse and the coordinated multidisciplinary team response to child abuse
Provide or ensure updates on case status for families
Provide assistance accessing/obtaining victim’s rights as outlined by MN Statute 611A
Provide court education, support, and accompaniment for court processes
Provide assistance with access to treatment and other services such as protective orders, housing, public assistance, domestic violence resources
Provide education and facilitate supportive spaces
Provide referrals to other area resources to meet the self-identified needs of the family
Develop services and programs to meet identified needs of children and non-offending caregivers
Evaluate groups and services to ensure positive impact on families
Participate in case reviews
Be available for community calls to respond to crisis situations as needed
Ensure that all services meet National Children’s Alliance Standards
Participate in Multidisciplinary (MDT) Meetings and other MDTs throughout the community
Participate in systems change advocacy to ensure environments that facilitate growth and healing for all families that First Witness serves
Community Outreach and Training
Conduct community and prevention education utilizing Safe and Strong Child© curriculum in local schools and Safe and Strong Communities curriculum in local organizations
Provide professional in-person or virtual training to advocates and other professionals as an Advocacy Trainer in First Witness’ national training program
Develop collaborative programs and trainings with other applicable agencies
Work with Associate Director, First Witness program staff/training team, and multidisciplinary team members to ensure First Witness training incorporates best practices, research and updates to First Witness advocacy practices
Participate in the development of both currently offered and new First Witness trainings
Develop and conduct conference presentations at a local, statewide, and national level
Provide technical assistance to professionals regarding mandated reporting laws, developmentally appropriate sexual behaviors, and service referrals
General responsibilities
Support a positive environment for families, team members, and all others who enter First Witness
Build positive community collaborations and relationships
Participate in personal development and professional training, especially in the realm of cultural humility
Participate in relevant national and local trainings
Participate in staff meetings and retreats, team meetings, and occasionally board meetings
Participate on community task forces, as needed
Fulfill all grant requirements, assist in grant reporting and writing as needed
Assist in special events as needed
Other duties as assigned
Minimum Qualifications
Commitment to ending child abuse
Commitment to growth and learning about cultural humility
Commitment to serving all members of our community
Bachelor’s Degree in a related field
Strong interpersonal communication skills
Strong written and verbal communication, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills
Crisis intervention skills
Excellent organizational skills
Demonstrated initiative and ability to learn quickly
Experience working in a team environment
Creative trouble- shooter
Relevant life or work experiences
Must be able to remain in a stationary position 75% of the workday
Must be able to move about inside the office to access conference rooms, printers, file cabinets, etc.
Operate a computer and other office machinery; copy machine, calculator, USB camera, etc.
Occasionally move boxes weighing up to 20 lbs.