Career Opportunities - Child Advocates of Fort Bend

Career Opportunities

Bilingual Clinical Family Advocate

Position is in a Children’s Advocacy Center providing therapeutic services and interventions to children alleged to have been sexually abused, seriously physically abused, or who have witnessed a violent crime. Provides single session therapy and crisis therapy to non-offending caregivers. Provides crisis therapy to children interviewed at the Center as needed. Conducts trauma screenings with child victims and children in crisis to implement necessary therapeutic interventions. Conducts trauma screenings with caregivers and child victims to make appropriate therapy and counseling referrals. Assesses the needs of children and families to ensure they have appropriate resources to heal from their abuse experience. Works collaboratively with caregivers and their social systems to process the development of a case. Provides ongoing emotional support to restore and enhance psychosocial functioning. Ensures understanding of investigative process and the dynamics of sexual abuse through psychoeducation. Maintains case tracking documentation. May also provide ongoing/long term therapy to child victims and their families.

Job Skills:

Able to engage children and families of all ages, ethnicities, genders, and socioeconomic backgrounds to restore and enhance psychosocial functioning of individuals and families adversely affected by child abuse/trauma
Knowledge of and ability to apply social work theory, methods and techniques; knowledge of post-traumatic symptoms, stages of child development, and crisis intervention techniques required
Ability to provide supportive counseling
Must be able to work professionally and collaboratively in a multi-disciplinary setting
Strong oral and written communication skills essential

Duties:

Contact families prior to appointments to answer questions and process concerns
Implement early intervention and psychosocial support model to address the needs of victims of child sexual abuse and their non-offending caregivers
Conduct biopsychosocial assessments of clients
Assess therapeutic needs of all affected family members by conducting trauma screens
Assess and provides treatment through supportive counseling, crisis intervention, psychoeducation, and resource coordination to appropriately address post-traumatic symptoms
Assess children’s developmental level to include verbal ability, cognitive and emotional functioning
Provide short- and long-term counseling support services for children and adults
Provide crisis intervention services for children and adults at the point of the forensic interview
Provide emergency clinical assessments to assess mental status of children and families who are in emotional distress and expressing thoughts of self-harm or expressing suicidal and/or homicidal ideation, or are currently experiencing psychotic symptoms
Develop and carry out individualized treatment plans for therapy clients
Maintain a client log and progress notes for therapy clients
Participate in multi-disciplinary team review meetings and consultations with partner agencies concerning CAC clients to ensure client’s needs are being addressed
Work collaboratively and effectively with Law Enforcement, the District Attorney’s Office, Child Protective Services, and Forensic Interviewers in the investigation of child abuse and/or children who have been exposed to violent crimes.
Documentation of all case activities
Participate in community outreach activities such as speaking engagements and fundraising events
Participate in training to enhance professional skills and development
Perform other tasks requested by supervisors

Minimum acceptable qualifications include:

Masters of Social Work or related field and with a minimum of one year direct experience working with sexually and physically abused children.
LMSW, LPC-A or LMFTA
Bilingual required
Willingness to submit to a child abuse background check (civil and criminal)
Valid Texas Driver’s License
Willingness to work in a smoke and drug free environment
willingness to work some evening and weekend hours
Bending, stooping, reaching and other movement required in dealing with children. Lifting of office materials (up to 20 lbs)

Interested individuals should send a cover letter and resume to Fiona Remko at FRemko@cafb.org.

Bilingual Therapist

We are seeking a clinician to provide bilingual therapy in our Children’s Advocacy Center to sexually abused and physically abused children and to children who have witnessed violence. Therapy is also provided to non-offending caregivers. The position interfaces with the other therapists in the department as well as Clinical Family Advocates and other staff in the CAC. We are looking for someone who is committed to making a difference in the lives of children who have experienced trauma.

Reports to: Director of Clinical Services

Requirements:

LMSW, LCSW, LMFT, or LPC, LMFT-A or LPC-I license
Experience in working with abused children
Experience and training in trauma work with children
Experience in providing individual and group therapy
Experience in providing crisis intervention services
Ability to work in multi-disciplinary team setting with clinical staff, advocacy staff, and partners
Fluent in English and Spanish – both speaking and writing
Strong speaking and writing skills
Works well as part of a team
Interested in making a difference in the life of a child

Job Duties:

Provides individual, group and family therapeutic services to child victims and their non-offending family members
Provides trauma-focused treatment such as TF-CBT, play therapy, EMDR or other therapeutic modalities to clients
Provides pre and post assessments to clients to measure changes
Develops treatment plans for clients and updates those plans
Documents sessions through case notes
Provides brief crisis intervention when necessary
Participates in multi-disciplinary team case staffings
Available to Provide court testimony in civil and criminal cases
Provides community education regarding child abuse and CAFB
Maintains statistics and data entry as necessary for grant reports
Participates in the Children’s Advocacy Center’s on call program
Participates in CAFB awareness and fundraising activities
Perform other duties as assigned
May be required to bend and stoop and lift up to 20 lbs. In connection with assigned duties

Interested individuals should send a cover letter and resume to Luisa Bowers at lbowers@cafb.org.

CASA Program Assistant/Quality Assurance Specialist (Part Time)

The Program Assistant furthers the CASA mission by providing administrative support to CASA team members. The Program Assistant provides support with the Optima database to maintain accurate case records and files for advocates. Program Assistant provides support for advocates in absence of Advocate Supervisor. The Program Assistant fosters relationships with partner agencies to enhance collaborative work environment.

PRINCIPAL RESPONSIBILITIES

Case Management Support

Assist the Advocate Supervisors with data entry, document uploading, case file audits, and closing cases
Assist with administrative tasks related to CASA programming and development, including scanning, copying, faxing and ordering supplies.
Conducts case closing surveys and collects data to assist in developing volunteer retention plans and activities
Schedules Advisory Council meetings and updates membership as needed
Assist in managing CASA calendars and advocacy program duty calendar
Conducts and collects data for partner surveys
Manages Kids Projects such as holiday wish list, Back to School list, etc.
Quality assurance checks on case files quarterly
Assists with other duties as assigned

Community Outreach

Champion an approach to working with children/youth and families that emphasizes relationships, collaboration and the challenging of social injustices.
Model positivity and collaboration in working with CASA volunteers, staff and community partners.
Assist with coordination, preparation and facilitation of CASA program and development events.
Represent CASA at meetings and presentations with community partners, as needed.

Volunteer Services Support

Assist in auditing advocate files as needed
Scanning and filing documents as needed
Participates in pre and post interviews of advocates as needed
Assists and supports advocates recruitment and retention events including but not limited to volunteer appreciation events, retention events, swearing in ceremonies and in-service trainings

Qualifications

A minimum of two years of experience in office management operations. Written and verbal communication skills. Ability to communicate in a friendly and informative manner with people from a wide variety of cultural and ethnic backgrounds and lifestyles; ability to work independently and possess strong time management skills; ability to multi-task; be highly organized and be extremely detail-oriented. Ability to establish strong working relationships with small to large scale businesses, community groups, and other entities needed in Child Advocates of Fort Bend. Competency in office software applications. Knowledge and skills in utilizing social media. Demonstrated collaboration and leadership ability and sound understanding of the principles of volunteer management. Ability to communicate and empower volunteers to be effective in their roles. Ability to work collaboratively in a team environment.

Other Requirements

Submit to a child abuse and criminal background check
Complete 30+ hour pre-service training
Bending, stooping, reaching and other movement required
Ability to lift 20 pounds
Valid driver’s license
Must comply with all city, state and federal laws
Perform other duties as assigned

Interested applicants should submit their cover letter and resume to Metoyer Martin at mellis@cafb.org.

Courtesy CASA

The Courtesy CASA will provide visitation for children appointed by the court to CASA programs. Visitation will supplement a CASA program’s ongoing visitation. The facilitator will communicate with CASA programs regarding children seen and consult with CASA programs regarding placements. The Courtesy CASA will support CASA programs across the state and be managed by Child Advocates of Fort Bend in Rosenberg, TX.

This opportunity will require extensive travel throughout the state of Texas and out of state at a rate of approximately 90% of total contract time. Hours per week are flexible, will depend on requests from CASA programs and will include some evening work/availability.

PRINCIPAL RESPONSBILITIES

Accept requests from CASA programs for supplemental visitation to children in placements that are not geographically near the court of jurisdiction.
Prioritize requests based on an established matrix.
Provide prompt response through in-person contact with children.
Provide additional contact with collaterals involved in the child’s case, as needed by the requesting CASA program.
Within current placement, assess the child’s safety, relationship with caretakers, needs and well-being.
Maintain records of visits and provide a standardized report back to the requesting CASA program.
Submit documentation of time, travel and hours worked to Child Advocates of Fort Bend.
Compile information regarding RTCs, shelters and other placements during visits onsite and submit quarterly reports on placements to Texas CASA.

QUALIFICATIONS

Bachelor’s or higher level degree in Social Work/Human Services or a closely related field. Experience with CASA and the child protection system. Demonstrated project management skills required. Clear and concise writing skills needed for reports and correspondence. Attention to detail and accuracy essential. Must maintain confidentiality. Must be able to pass required background checks.

Additionally, must have:

Experience working with children and youth and demonstrated skills at quickly establishing rapport with and good communication skills with children.
Experience using Microsoft Word and Excel.
Experience preparing and maintaining narrative documentation of visits concerning individual children seen.
Experience communicating effectively with people over the telephone, in writing and in person.
Willingness and ability to work flexible hours.
Willingness and ability to travel locally and out of state.

Contractor Development, as needed:

Complete Texas CASA’s OCAST training.
Complete CASA pre-service training.
Attends trainings related to permanency, trauma informed care, and others as requested by the managing CASA program.
Develop an understanding of types of placements, levels of care and licensing standards.