Domestic Violence and Child Welfare Advocate

POSITION OVERVIEW: Child Protection Investigations (CPI) Project 

This is a full-time position to be co-located in the Child Welfare Offices or Sheriff’s Office Child Protection Investigation (CPI) Unit that oversee Pasco County child welfare cases and Sunrise Office(s).  The role of the DVCW advocate is to provide direct service to survivors, provide consultation to child welfare staff and community partners in the project and work closely with DCF. 

The DVCW advocate will spend a maximum of eight hours per week at Sunrise of Pasco office(s) in order to ensure sufficient oversight and supervision time at the certified domestic violence center. 

RELATIONSHIPS: Does not supervise other employees.  Conducts domestic violence training for local child welfare staff.

PRIMARY FUNCTIONS:

• Participate in case staffings where the survivor has an open child abuse investigation, diversion case, or is in the dependency process in Pasco County. 
• Provide safety planning, information/referral, crisis intervention, information on crime victim compensation/relocation and support to survivors of domestic violence where the survivor has an open child abuse investigation, diversion case, or is in the dependency process in Pasco County.
• Consult in the development of safety plans and/or case plans that enhance survivor and child safety while holding batterers accountable for their violence. 
• Participate in all trainings, meetings, technical assistance visits, webinars, and conference calls as required by DCF. 
• Collect all required data and submit all required reports as per contract deliverables and funding source, which include information about progress to date on each of the deliverables outlined in the contract. 
• Collect and report non-personally identifying aggregate data to DCF regarding project activities and services and any additional information as requested by DCF.             
• Meet monthly with the Sheriff’s Office and Community Based Care (CBC) partners in Pasco County to discuss successes, barriers to collaboration, and to develop strategies to resolve emerging issues with the CPI project throughout the project period. 
• Administer a satisfaction survey to program participants to assess potential areas of enhancement of program services. 
• Maintain participant records in accordance with Sunrise’s requirements. 
• Collaborate with the DVCW Coordinator on the development and maintaining of a project MOU and partnership protocols.    
• Provide routine project updates to CPI Project Coordinator. 
• Other duties as assigned by the CPI Project Coordinator. 

SECONDARY FUNCTIONS:

• May conduct home visits with child welfare staff.  
• May conduct support groups or educational groups for child welfare involved survivors. 
• Maintain active community involvement as it relates to services.
• Assist with event planning for community awareness and domestic violence and sexual assault awareness months. 

 PROHIBITED FUNCTIONS:

• Does not respond to request from the media without permission from the CEO.   

QUALIFICATIONS AND SKILLS

• Bi-lingual (Spanish) preferred.
• Master’s Degree is preferred, Bachelor’s degree required in related field. 
• A minimum of two years’ work experience in Domestic Violence field preferred
• Working knowledge of child welfare system, child dependency and child protection services 
• Knowledge facilitating support groups.
• Knowledge of local community agencies and resources.
• Ability to interact in a professional manner with members of other agencies.
• Ability to organize, prioritize and utilize time efficiently.
• Ability to work autonomously
• Ability to multitask
• Must pass a screening by Florida Department of Law Enforcement and Pasco County Sheriff’s Office.
• Must be able to work with a culturally diverse community with sensitivity and professionalism.