Family Advocate

FAMILY ADVOCATE

The mission of Brave Be Child Advocacy Center (Brave Be) is to respond to child abuse through a team approach designed to reduce trauma, seek justice, and provide hope and healing for children and their families. Brave Be serves 17 counties in southeast Nebraska. The main office is located in Lincoln, satellite offices are located in Beatrice and York.

The role of the Family Advocate is to provide day of or ongoing support to children and families. The Family Advocate plays a vital role by providing support, resources, and guidance to children and non-offending caregivers during the investigative process and beyond. This position ensures families are informed, emotionally supported, and connected to services that promote healing and well-being.

• Conduct a pre-interview phone call to the non-offending caregivers to explain the child advocacy model, and to address any questions or concerns before arrival. Welcome the child and non-offending family members to Brave Be and create a safe and supportive environment.
• Provide the child(ren) with an initial tour and orientation of Brave Be.
• Provide immediate emotional support to the child and non-offending caregiver(s) during a time of crisis by providing on-site advocacy during a forensic interview and/or medical evaluation conducted at Brave Be.
• Work with non-offending caregiver(s) to identify the most urgent needs for themselves and their families and assist in finding resources to meet basic needs such as food, clothing, shelter and safety.
• Regularly monitor child safety through direct follow up with the non-offending caregiver(s) and report any concerns to the investigating officer or caseworker should caregiver support be diminished or the child’s safety compromised.
• Provide immediate and ongoing education to the non-offending caregiver(s) on the dynamics of abuse and the coordinated multidisciplinary response.
• Assist the non-offending caregiver(s) to rebuild or maintain a safe and stable home by providing access to trauma focused, evidence based mental health treatment and other services such as protection orders, housing, public assistance, domestic violence intervention and transportation.
• Provide timely updates to the child and non-offending caregiver(s) on the status of the investigation and prosecution and seek answers to their questions or concerns.
• Provide information regarding the rights of crime victims to the child and their non-offending caregiver(s) including information about crime victim’s compensation.
• Respond to after-hour forensic interview requests and local area hospitals to provide on-site advocacy and support.
• Update the case tracking system with documentation that is fact-based, clear, concise, and timely.
• Update statistical data needed to provide accurate data to funders.
• Provide Outcome Measurement System (OMS) survey to youth and their non-offending caregiver(s) for ongoing program evaluation.
• Provide information and referrals to the general community who contact Brave Be with concerns of possible abuse or neglect.
• Work closely with members of the multidisciplinary team to stay current on the investigation and prosecution of the case and share any concerns or needs identified by the child victim or non-offending caregiver(s).
• Accompany the child and non-offending caregiver(s) to legal proceedings and meetings associated with the prosecution of the case.
• Provide Court School and support the child throughout the court process, including sentencing and assisting with a Victim Impact Statement.
• Foster open and positive relationships with law enforcement, NDHHS, the prosecuting attorney, and other team members while promoting best practices for child abuse investigation, prosecution, and treatment.
• Actively participate in regular MDT case review, and other internal case staffing and team meetings.

Education:

A bachelor’s degree in social work, criminal justice, psychology, human services, or a related field is required; associate’s degree will be considered if applicant has a strong work history in human services and approval is obtained from the Department of Health &…