Youth Advocacy Initiative Coordinator

ABOUT US

Resolving to make the world better for children is at the heart of Safe Shores -The DC Children’s Advocacy Center’s mission to provide survivor-centered intervention, hope, and healing for children and families affected by abuse, trauma, and violence in the District of Columbia. Our efforts are focused on working to prevent and end child abuse and neglect through promising practices, policies, and partnerships.

Working side-by-side with passion-driven multidisciplinary teams, we aim to:

• Minimize the trauma experienced by children and adolescents who have been identified as victims of sexual or physical abuse.
• Improve the investigation and prosecution of sexual and physical abuse cases from the point of intervention through to treatment and healing.
• Promote inter-agency collaboration for effective decision-making and management of sexual and physical abuse cases.
• Prevent further or future abuse of child victims.
• Provide training professionals in the field of investigation, prosecution, and provision of services for sexually and physically abused children, adolescents, and their non-offending caretakers.

THE JOB AND YOUR ROLE

The Youth Advocacy Initiative Coordinator operates within the capacity of a Youth Advocacy Specialist (YAS) and provides administrative support and coordination of services within the Youth Advocacy Initiative. This role works to ensure the smooth daily operation of the Youth Advocacy Initiative services. This position is responsible for administration and operations tasks and support for Youth Advocacy services. This position may assist with other programmatic tasks as needed and directed, ensuring seamless provision of services.

This position is part of a team that is available 24/7 and requires participation in an on-call rotation for after-hours, holidays, and weekends. This position is a mandated reporter for child abuse and neglect under District of Columbia Statute §4-1321.02 when not acting within the defined role that provides an exemption to this mandate.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities include the following. Other duties may be assigned.

Direct Client Support

• Provide crisis intervention and advocacy support to 13–17-year-old teens (and family as desired) during the initial medical and/or law enforcement response to sexual assault.
• Meet with teens/youth to assess initial needs and interest in social service, medical care, and victims’ compensation needs; connect them with services as needed.
• Provide information to the teen/youth regarding trauma and the impact of trauma.
• Provide information to teenagers about available support and service resources, victims’ rights, and the multidisciplinary team (MDT) investigation process.
• Coordinate as appropriate with other involved service providers or government agencies, in accordance with the Sexual Assault Victims’ Rights Amendment Act of 2019.
• Provide accompaniment to teens and/or their families as needed for purposes related to victimization, including hospital visits and law enforcement interviews.
• Provide crisis intervention and advocacy services during on-call shifts.
• Troubleshoot barriers to accessing services with teens and community service agencies.
• Assist teens/youth in accessing services and provide immediate and ongoing follow-up as needed.
• Arrange emergency clothing, transportation, or other material/informational resources for clients.
• Perform a safety assessment of the youth and/or family and develop and recommend a safety plan for the Youth victim and family in cases when appropriate.

Program Coordination and Administration

• Participate in regular individual supervision, staff meetings, in service training and other meetings as required.
• Maintain and ensure quality and confidentiality of electronic records/documentation, statistical tracking, and inventory.
• Purchase, inventory, and stock supplies as needed to ensure all primary locations for service delivery have the supplies necessary for program service delivery.
• Ensure program coverage daily and communicate coverage needs amongst program staff.
• Assist with the facilitation of follow-up surveys as needed and as directed.
• Maintain, update, and submit program expenditures in a timely and consistent manner.
• Provide administrative support for maintenance of on-call rotation schedule, communications, and phone routing system.
• Prepare program data reports as needed.
• Serve as a point of contact for the department in the absence of the YAI Manager and ensure youth advocacy services continue uninterrupted.
• Assign incoming youth advocacy cases as needed.
• Support onboarding and peer guidance for new advocates as needed.

Community Engagement and Training

• Collaborate with the YAI Manager to develop and update presentations, workshops, and educational materials.
• Represent the YAI department at community outreach events, networking engagements, and coalition meetings.
• Support the planning and implementation of youth-focused events and initiatives.
• Strengthen relationships with community providers to ensure responsive and culturally relevant services for youth.
• Participate in organizational committees, strategic planning, or task forces related to advocacy, outreach, or youth services.
• Coordinates and arranges YAI outreach events.

Supervisory Responsibilities:

There are no supervisory responsibilities for this position.

Requirements

WHAT YOU OFFER

You are passionate about Safe Shores’ mission, vision, and values, committed to doing what’s best and suitable for those we serve, and driven to become an outstanding asset to our community of colleagues. You have strong listening and communication skills, both oral and written, and must be able to adapt to various audiences fluidly. You have the heart of an advocate and care deeply about reducing the impacts of trauma on children and families. Most importantly, you have a high level of cultural competence and believe and thrive in a workplace culture committed to countering all forms of prejudice and discrimination.

We are seeking a candidate with a strong understanding of Washington, D.C., including the needs and histories of local communities, locally available supportive resources, and the social services and regulatory context of the nation’s capital. The ideal candidate will be able to navigate the unique dynamics of the area, contributing to our mission with an informed perspective and local awareness.

EDUCATION and EXPERIENCE

• Bachelor’s degree in human services related field, such as Social Work, Psychology, Counseling, or related disciplines, with at least two (2) years of professional experience with youth and families as well as knowledge and understanding working with children, youth and families who have experienced abuse and trauma.
• Ability to successfully pass Child Protection Registry clearance and criminal background checks.
• Willingness to establish and maintain positive working relationships while collaborating with a wide range of professionals including law enforcement, social services, medical and mental health providers.
• Knowledge of local community resources and programs.

PREFERRED EXPERIENCE

• Experience working in a Children’s Advocacy Center.
• Oral and written Spanish language fluency.

COMPUTER/TECHNOLOGY SKILLS

Must be PC proficient and able to thrive in a fast-paced setting. Must have strong experience with computer technology and equipment and Microsoft Office 365, Outlook, Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to use hands to touch or feel a computer, keyboard, monitor, telephone, Smart Phone, and talk or hear when interacting with employees. The employee is frequently required to stand, walk and sit. The employee is occasionally required to reach with hands and arms. The employee may regularly lift and /or move 25 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, depth perception and ability to adjust focus.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate. No or very limited exposure to physical risk.

WHAT WE OFFER

Total Compensation: We prioritize your overall health and well-being

A salary is only part of a larger picture of compensation and rewards. As a Youth Advocacy Initiative Coordinator, the starting salary is $63,630 annually. We take total compensation seriously. We proudly provide one of the most robust benefits packages in the non-profit sector, including employer-paid medical, dental, and vision insurance for our employees, and that’s just the tip of the iceberg. Our work is complex, and in this field, we firmly believe that we must care for ourselves to be present for our circle and those we serve. Please take a moment to read the complete list of employee benefits we offer:

• Birthday Comp Day (Your birthday is a holiday for you!)
• Your Own Annual Professional Development Fund
• 13 days of paid vacation leave
• 13 days of paid sick leave
• 13 days of paid holidays
• Paid personal leave
• Paid parental leave
• 100% employer-paid medical (PPO with lots of provider options), dental, and vision insurance for the current 2024-25 plan year
• Wellness Stipend
• Dedicated Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Employee appreciation and wellness events
• Short- and long-term disability insurance
• Life insurance
• 403(b) Retirement Plan (Employer contribution after 1 year of service)

Other benefits as applicable are as follows:

• Safe Shores offers paid sabbatical leave for employees with a tenure of five consecutive years.