Safe House Child Advocate

This job description is a broad outline of the responsibilities and duties of the Child Advocate and will be amended, as needed, to meet the program priorities of Women Aware, Inc. (the “Agency”) and its ensuing work requirements. It should not be construed as a contract and does not create a contract of employment.  Employment with the Agency is at will.

Reports to:           Director of Residential Services

Status:                    Non-Exempt

Qualifications:                  

·   Bachelor’s degree preferred

·   Childcare/Education experience preferred

·   Bilingual

Spanish preferred

·   Full Time, evenings

·   Driver’s license: clean and valid

·   Lifting up to 25lbs

General

Responsibilities:

In collaboration with the Coordinator of Residential Services, the position carries the responsibility for providing supportive service to residential victims of domestic violence. This includes, but is not limited to, the following:

·   Provide a safe, non-judgmental, and empowering environment to clients.

·   Facilitate childcare and educational activities.

·   Coordinate services on behalf of children in a domestic violence shelter.

·   Work collaboratively with Agency staff in order to facilitate comprehensive services.

Specific Duties:

· Ensure that residential children are connected with the appropriate resources including support, advocacy, crisis intervention, safety planning, parenting support, information, and referrals.  

· Liaison between Women Aware and Boards of Education, coordinating transportation with

the child’s school or assisting with referring child to enroll in new school system or childcare.

· Complete safety assessment with parents on car seats, sleep safety, and overall household safety.

Provide direct client services including childcare as well as age-appropriate educational and/or recreational activities with safe house children.

· Ensure children are connected with appropriate services including therapy, early intervention, medical, dental, recreational, etc. Ensure each child leaves the program with a post-shelter services plan. 

· Facilitate activities that promote parent/child bonding.

· Model non-violent conflict resolution and use of non-violent forms of discipline.

· Update and maintain the “Child Activity Log” as well as Childcare stats in order to

manage contacts and hours of services provided.

·   Create and maintain the child activities binder in order to document activities provided to clients.

·   Inspect all toys, crafts, and games to ensure they are child-safe and have proper sanitation.  

·   Update and maintain Child Activities bulletin board.

·   Alert Coordinator of Residential Services to any safety concerns.

·   Other duties and responsibilities as assigned by the Coordinator of Residential Services.