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 children and non-offending caregivers, 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 Madeline Kvale: mkvale@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, 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 $18.53 - $19.12; 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 children and non-offending caregivers, 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 all 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 support groups
  • 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 all 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 Program Director, First Witness program staff, 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
• BA Degree
• 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 work day
• 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.