Title: Life Stories Child Advocacy Center Program Administrator
Supervisor: Life Stories Executive Director
Location: Greeley, in office. This position does not offer remote work.
Salary Range: $66,000 - $70,000
This position is salary, exempt, 40 hours per week
About Life Stories Child Advocacy Center (LSCAC):
The mission of Life Stories Child Advocacy Center is to provide advocacy and support for abused and neglected children by advancing coordinated investigations, prosecution and victim services. Since 1999, the Child Advocacy Center has provided a child-focused environment to gently support child victims of sexual abuse, other forms of child maltreatment, and witnesses to felony crimes as well as their non-offending family members.
LSCAC is committed to providing services, along with our multi-disciplinary partners, to all communities in Weld County. We are committed to the ongoing work of providing quality and culturally responsive services to children and families of all backgrounds and identities.
Summary of Position:
It is the responsibility of all LSCAC employees to support LSCAC’s mission and to ensure the integrity of the work we do to assist children and families. The Child Advocacy Center (CAC) staff must maintain confidentiality, adhere to best practices and work as part of a cohesive multi-disciplinary team (MDT).
This position will act as the MDT Coordinator having the primary contact with the multi-disciplinary team (MDT) and is responsible for leading a four-person program team that conducts forensic interviews and provides victim advocacy for children and their families. This individual will conduct and coordinate child abuse forensic interviews with children, adolescents and adults with special needs, using research-based, best practice interview techniques.
The successful candidate will also ensure that all standards required by the National Children’s Alliance (NCA) are met and lead the task of coordinating the NCA Site Review.
This job description should not be construed to imply that the requirements listed are the exclusive standards of the position.
Key Responsibilities:
Program Coordination
Continually develop, evaluate, and adapt the program within the scope of the mission of LSCAC.
Serve as the multi-disciplinary team coordinator as primary point of contact with members of MDT (Weld County law enforcement, Weld County District Attorney’s Office, Weld County Department of Human Services, mental health professionals, medical professionals and victim advocates).
Ensure all activities and operations comply with policies and procedures of the MDT as well as LSCAC’s internal policies.
Ensure that program objectives are being met and that children and clients are receiving services that meet standards of the National Children’s Alliance.
Promote stable and cooperative working relationships between all multidisciplinary team members and partner agencies.
Represent LSCAC at interagency meetings, trainings and workshops pertinent to the forensic interview program.
Coordinate and facilitate case review with all members of MDT.
Coordinate the CAC Core Team and the Weld County Victim Advocate meetings per NCA Standards.
Supervise the LSCAC team of forensic interviewers and victim advocates.
Coordinate LSCAC team meetings.
Ensure the LS forensic interviewers (FI) and victim advocates (VAs) are trained in the use of LSCAC’s client-based database and other relevant case tracking systems.
Maintain communication with the LSCAC team regarding program updates, case review, staffing and MDT updates.
Ensure LSCAC staff participation in LS agency staff meetings.
Participate in bi-monthly Life Stories Leadership meetings.
Ensure services for victims are met through working partnerships with partner agencies.
Plan, coordinate and conduct training for MDT members.
Provide feedback on current partnerships and discussions around continuous improvement for the CAC and MDT with guidance from the CAC Core Team.
Give public presentations and create PowerPoints.
Participate in organizational events and fundraisers.
Administration
Ensure that LSCAC is in compliance with National Children’s Alliance (NCA) standards. Maintain all documentation required by NCA. Compile and submit all required documentation for NCA Site Review. Lead the site review visit.
Provide program data to satisfy reporting requirements for board of directors, grant funding sources, etc..
Ensure the maintenance of documentation on trainings and ongoing education of program team members and MDT members as required by NCA.
Ensured therapy referrals are available and trauma-focused.
Ensure referrals are available and appropriate for families.
Ensure that CAC staff is trained and in compliance with NCA Standards including Crime Victim Compensation and the Victim Rights Act.
Monitor database system entry to ensure documentation compliance and submit bi-annual reports to NCA.
Ensure compliance with the OMS surveys of families and MDT members.
Assist in grant management functions for awards supporting the CAC.
Update and maintain program policy and procedures.
Ensure that all program team members attend peer review and stay abreast of current training and latest developments in their respective fields.
Coordinate the execution of the CAC Cooperating Team Agreement
Forensic Interviewing
Conduct neutral, defensibly sound interviews with children ages 2-17 or adults with special needs who are involved in child abuse investigations, victims of crime and/or are witnesses to violent crime.
Collaborate and consult with law enforcement officers, department of human services. personnel, district attorney personnel and other multidisciplinary team members to obtain information regarding the developmental and social history of the child prior to the interview.
Coordinate and conduct recorded interview of the victim with the participation of the multidisciplinary investigative team.
Conduct follow-up interviews when appropriate.
Consult with the investigative team following the interview including law enforcement, child protection workers and Weld County District Attorney’s Office DA’s and Investigators when necessary.
Respond to after hours requests for emergency forensic interviews.
Provide consultation to MDT members.
Respond to subpoenas according to LSCAC protocol.
Participate in trial preparation with the DA’s office and conduct self-preparation for trial.
Provide testimony in legal proceedings when required.
Promote stable and cooperative working relationships between all multidisciplinary team members and community agencies.
Routinely engage in peer review and supervisory review.
Knowledge and Experience
Minimum of three years post degree experience conducting child interviews.
Work experience in child abuse investigations.
Training, knowledge and experience in the following areas.
Current best practices for child interviews.
Basic child development.
Sexual and physical abuse, neglect, trauma, offender pathology, victimology and other pertinent topics.
Cultural issues related to child abuse/neglect.
Colorado Children’s Code, Colorado Criminal Code and the Colorado Revised Statutes for law related to child abuse.
Experience working with diverse populations of clients.
Required Qualifications
Successful, documented completion of a 40-hour forensic interview training by a nationally recognized organization, or willingness to attend training.
Bachelor’s degree in criminal justice, psychology, social work or related field with a minimum of 6 years post-degree experience.
Cultural awareness of the needs of diverse populations.
Strong interpersonal, communication and organizational skills.
Willingness to work with a flexible schedule when necessary.
Strong problem solving and solution-oriented skills.
Outlook Email and Microsoft Word skills required.
Oral and written Spanish fluency is a plus.
How to apply: Submit your application by email to chris@lifestoriesweld.org including a cover letter detailing your interest in the position and your current resume.
Salary range: $66,000 - $70,000
Benefits: Life Stories Child & Family Advocacy offers a benefits package including paid holidays, generous end of year time off, PTO and professional development opportunities for employees. Benefits are available the first month after hire with pro-rated, partial employer-supported health insurance, life insurance, short- and long-term disability coverage and a Simple IRA Retirement plan with employer match.