Bilingual Forensic Interviewer
General Summary: Responsible for interviewing child victims of sexual abuse, serious physical abuse and witnesses of violent crimes brought to the Fort Bend Children’s Advocacy Center (CAC) by law enforcement or child protection investigators. These interviews are highly specialized and gather information needed by law enforcement and Children’s Protective Services investigators. Interviews are conducted in a manner that takes into account how children experience the investigative process and their developmental age. Other areas of responsibility include: coordinating team efforts, case tracking documentation and court testimony.
Principal Responsibilities:
- Conduct interviews of child sexual and physical abuse victims
- Assess children’s cognitive and linguistic abilities as well as non-verbal communications
- Foster an environment that is sensitive to a child’s cognitive, emotional, and psychological development, without leading a child in questioning
- Work in a multi-disciplinary team environment with partner agency representatives
- Participate in multi-disciplinary team review meetings concerning children who have been interviewed
- Testify as an expert witness in civil and criminal trials regarding the child’s statement and the forensic interview process
- Assist in maintaining records of services provided
- Documentation of all case activities
- Participate in community outreach activities such as speaking engagements, publication of newspaper articles, and fund raising events
- Participate in training to enhance professional skills and development
- Participate in after hours on-call emergency program
Partner Relations:
- Responsible to distribute partner satisfaction surveys
Evaluation:
- Review and critique of forensic interviews through the peer review process
- End of the year evaluation with Manager
Qualifications:
- Bachelor’s degree in social sciences or criminal justice
- Master’s of Social Work or related field (psychology, child development, sociology) preferred
Job Skills:
- Minimum of two years direct work experience with victims of sexual and physical abuse
- Working knowledge of the dynamics of child abuse, the ability to establish rapport with clients and other professionals, an objective attitude, patient demeanor, strong organizational skills, and knowledge of child development
- Ability to project a positive image in court room testimony
- Ability to work in a team environment
- Willingness to work some evening and weekend hours
- Strong verbal and written communications skills
- Proficient in the use of Microsoft Word, Excel, and Outlook
- Bilingual in English and Spanish
Other Requirements:
- Valid Texas Driver’s License
- Willingness to submit to a child abuse background check (civil and criminal)
- Willingness to work in a smoke and drug free environment
- Bending, stooping, reaching and other movement required in dealing with children. Lifting of office materials (up to 20 lbs)
- Willingness and ability to travel
- Complete 40+ hour pre-service training
Interested individuals should complete a CAFB employment application and send it, along with a cover letter and resume to HRRM@cafb.org.
Clinical Intake Specialist
The Clinical Intake Specialist effectively refers individuals to mental health services at the CAC or outside providers by strictly adhering to eligibility criteria and therapy capacity. The Clinical Intake Specialist has the primary responsibility of conducting trauma-informed Clinical Assessments with a focus on evaluating adverse experiences of child sexual abuse, the impact on functioning, and traumatic symptoms following CAC Forensic Interviews. Clinical Assessments will be completed prior to ongoing therapeutic or psychological services for children who have disclosed child sexual abuse, exploitation, or severe child maltreatment and offer support to their non-offending caregivers.
Duties and Responsibilities:
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- Conduct trauma-informed clinical assessments and refer to ongoing therapy services
- Assess level of trauma, family dynamics, behavioral concerns, and age-appropriate language.
- Attend training on assessment, brief interventions, and evidence-based treatment for child abuse.
- Attend triage meetings and multidisciplinary case staffing to discuss assessments
- Participate in peer review and stay up to date on current literature to maintain a high a level of assessments skills.
- Ability to maintain a minimum caseload of 10 clients
Requirements:
Education:
- Master’s Degree in mental health (Counseling, Social Work, or Marriage and Family Therapy) with a license to practice independently.
Experience:
- Minimum 1-2 years of experience in working with children/young adults who have experienced child sexual abuse, child maltreatment, or trauma-related populations.
- Minimum of 2 years conducting clinical assessments
Licensure:
- Licensed mental health provider (Licensed Professional Counselor; Licensed Clinical Social Worker, Licensed Master Social Worker, Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist)
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:
- Working knowledge of the dynamics of sexual abuse and trauma.
- A hospitable disposition, skill in public relations, and a patient, objective, non-judgmental attitude.
- Strong organization skills, reliability, computer skills, flexibility, and ability to work independently and on a team.
- Ability to assess age-appropriate language, verbal and non-verbal communication, and exceptional recall abilities.
Language:
- Bilingual in Spanish – Verbal and written (preferred)
Training/Experience:
- Demonstrated training and experience with child maltreatment, the child welfare system or child advocacy centers (preferred)
- Demonstrated training and experience conducting assessments of children (preferred)
General Information
Hours:
- Regular Full-Time position
- Monday-Thursday, Friday Half-day
- 40 Hours per week
Additional Information:
- Required to pass CPS and Criminal Background Check
Interested individuals should complete a CAFB employment application and send it, along with a cover letter and resume to HRRM@cafb.org.
Court Advocacy Specialist
The Court Advocacy Specialist is responsible for supervising and evaluating advocates appointed to serve children in foster care. The goal is to provide advocates with supervision and monitoring to ensure children’s best interest are being met while involved in the legal system. In addition, this position assists with advocate recruitment, screening, and training of advocates as well as program development, tracking and evaluation.
PRINCIPAL RESPONSIBILITIES:
Advocates and Casework
- Supervise and monitor up to 30 advocates and up to 45 cases. Provide consultation, problem solving, troubleshooting, feedback, guidance, evaluation, motivation, training, monitoring and preparation for court appearances. Demonstrate knowledge of each case’s history and pertinent advocacy issues.
- Monitor CASA’s involvement in these cases and case activity, while assuring that Child Advocates of Fort Bend’s policy and practice standards and sound case management practices are followed.
- Attend court hearings as necessary
- Attend emergency hearings as necessary
- Consult with appropriate DFPS staff regarding client needs and advocate assignments
- Act as primary liaison with advocates. Release and reassign advocates whose advocacy is inappropriate or detrimental.
- Provide assistance and consultation to advocates as needed and when requested. Contact volunteers a minimum of once per month
- Notify advocates well in advance of hearing dates
- Review court reports prior the hearing date
- Assess and record advocate performance
- Maintain compliance with Texas CASA and National CASA standards
- Maintain orderly CASA case file
Volunteer Training
- Assist with the design and implementation of volunteer pre-service and in-service trainings
- Participate in quarterly training sessions
- Provide training to other CASA Programs as needed
Collaboration and Outreach
- Participate in public awareness and community outreach
- Coordinate assigned activities with key stakeholders in the community
Financial and Records
- Assist in preparing outcome reports for grants
- Collect and tabulate program effectiveness measures
Program Activities
- Attend all available conferences and workshops for the development of programs for advocates
- Participate in program implementation, evaluation and planning
- Attend monthly staff meetings
- Serve on appropriate community committees and task forces
- Participate in planning for all CASA programs
Strategic and Operational Plan
- Assist in the development of a CASA long-range plan and annual operational plans
Qualifications
Bachelor’s degree in social services or related field with at least 3 years’ experience working with services for children and adolescents. Strong project management skills and ability to work independently with a wide variety of people of different cultural and ethnic backgrounds. Highly organized and detail oriented. Use computers and program related softwar5e proficiently, ability to develop and design a program for advocates and children/youth and evaluate the effectiveness of the program.
Other Requirements
- Pass a child abuse and criminal background check
- Complete 40+ hour pre-service training
- Must maintain 12 hours of continuing education annually
- 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 individuals should complete a CAFB employment application and send it, along with a cover letter and resume to HRRM@cafb.org.
Child Advocates of Fort Bend is an equal opportunity employer.
CAFB adheres to a strict Zero Tolerance for Child Abuse Policy in our practices and operations.
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