Job Title: Child and Family Advocate / School Prevention Coordinator
Agency: Children’s Advocacy Center of Southeastern Indiana
Supervised by: Director of Direct Services
Secondary Supervision: Director of Community Outreach
Benefits: Vacation Time, Sick Time, Mileage Reimbursement, Cell Phone Stipend, Healthcare Stipend,
Worker’s Compensation, and Retirement Benefits
Office Locations: Madison, Dillsboro and Greensburg
Position Summary:
The Victim Advocate/School Prevention Coordinator position is a dual-role position with primary responsibility for providing advocacy, crisis support, and case management services to child victims of abuse and neglect and their non-offending caregivers. The secondary responsibility is to assist with the implementation and coordination of prevention education programming within schools located in Madison, Indiana.
The individual in this role will spend the majority of their time providing direct victim advocacy services and will collaborate with the Director of Community Outreach regarding prevention programming activities within Madison schools.
This position is primarily based out of the Madison office and is responsible for serving Madison, Indiana and the surrounding service area. However, agency needs may require temporary or ongoing work from other CACSEI office locations. Office assignments, schedules, and service areas are subject to change at the discretion of agency leadership.
Minimum Qualifications:
Education Requirements: Bachelor’s Degree (minimum) in Social Work, Psychology, Criminal Justice, Education, or related field.
Experience: Preferably a minimum of two (2) years of professional experience working with children and families where abuse, trauma, violence, or victimization are identified issues.
Position requires that the individual has been or will be trained in nationally recognized victim advocacy and child abuse response practices.
Primary Role: Victim Advocate
Responsibilities:
- Provide advocacy and support services to meet the needs of children and their non-offending caregivers in a manner that reduces trauma, minimizes disruption, and enhances positive outcomes.
- Greet clients and families upon arrival and respond to emotional and practical needs.
- Conduct intake interviews with non-offending caregivers and family members.
- Provide information, referrals, and linkage to community resources.
- Assist eligible families with Crime Victim Compensation applications.
- Provide trauma-informed crisis assessment and intervention.
- Conduct risk assessments and safety planning as needed.
- Communicate and collaborate with multidisciplinary team members and other professionals involved in client care.
- Track cases and maintain accurate records in the CAC database.
- Provide court and systems education, support, and accompaniment when appropriate.
- Attend multidisciplinary team meetings and case review meetings as assigned.
- Assist families in accessing treatment and supportive services, including housing, public assistance, transportation, domestic violence resources, financial assistance, interpretation services, and other needed supports.
- Schedule and facilitate medical referrals and appointments as necessary.
- Complete a minimum of four (4) hours of victim advocacy training annually.
- Travel throughout the CAC service region as needed.
- Assist with the ongoing development and improvement of CAC programs and services.
- Maintain office operations including phones, mail, filing, and distribution of information.
- Participate in the agency’s on-call rotation and respond to crisis situations as assigned.
- Perform other duties as assigned by the Executive Director or Director of Direct Services
Secondary Role: School Prevention Coordinator (Madison, IN Schools)
Responsibilities:
- Coordinate, schedule, and support the implementation of the MBF Child/Teen Safety Matters curriculum in contracted schools across the CACSEI service region. Deliver programming using a trauma-informed approach while maintaining program fidelity and ensuring adherence to CACSEI standards and best practices.
- Conduct one-on-one minimal facts interviews with children and youth who disclose concerns about their safety, following established protocols and trauma-informed practices to assess the need for referral and appropriate intervention.
- Collaborate with school personnel, community partners, and internal CACSEI staff to support prevention initiatives, coordinate services, and ensure effective program delivery.
- Maintain accurate, detailed, and timely records and documentation related to prevention programming activities in accordance with CACSEI standards, organizational policies, and applicable reporting requirements.
- Participate in required prevention-related training, continuing education, and professional development opportunities to maintain knowledge, enhance skills, and support best practices.
- Participate in peer observations, constructive feedback, and self-reflection activities to support continuous professional growth and program quality.
- Perform other tasks and responsibilities as requested by the Director of Community Outreach.
Position Requirements:
- Ability to work effectively with children of varying developmental abilities, backgrounds, cultures, and experiences.
- Ability to remain calm and professional in stressful and emotionally challenging situations.
- Ability to work independently while also functioning as a collaborative team member.
- Must be a confident public speaker.
- Strong communication, interpersonal, and organizational skills.
- Computer proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite and data entry skills.
- Ability to meet on-call requirements and respond to crisis intervention situations.
- Ability to work effectively with families, law enforcement, child protection workers, medical professionals, educators, and other community partners.
- Ability to adapt to changing priorities and scheduling demands.
- Subject to successful completion of criminal background and child protective services checks.
- Must possess and maintain a valid driver’s license and reliable transportation.
- Must be willing and able to work from any CACSEI office location and travel throughout the service region as needed. Primary office assignment is Madison; however, office locations and schedules may be adjusted based on agency operational needs.
Physical Requirements:
- Ability to work with individuals experiencing significant emotional distress.
- Emotional stability and personal maturity are essential for success in this role.
- Requires normal range of hearing, vision, coordination, and manual dexterity sufficient to prepare reports, communicate effectively, and operate office equipment.
- Ability to lift up to 20 pounds to waist height.
- Ability to bend, stoop, reach, and engage with children in a variety of settings.
Ideal Candidate
The ideal candidate is compassionate, organized, adaptable, and collaborative. They demonstrate strong advocacy skills, a commitment to trauma-informed care, and the ability to balance direct service responsibilities with prevention-focused community outreach efforts.
Probationary Period: This position includes a minimum one-year probationary period.
