The Women's Center is currently seeking qualified candidates to join our staff as the new "Shelter Child Counselor/Advocate." This is a part-time position (17-20 hours a week as scheduled with supervisor, primarily Monday-Friday afternoons and/or early evenings); the salary ranges depending upon education and experience ($16-$20 per hour).
If you or someone you know is interested in this position, please see the job description listed below and send your resume, with a cover letter, to our Director of Administration & Human Resources at womenscenter@wcogd.org or (203) 731-5207 (fax) by January 5, 2015. And please feel free to share this opportunity with your networks!
PART-TIME SHELTER CHILD COUNSELOR/ADVOCATE
Job Summary: The primary role of the Shelter Child Counselor/Advocate is to provide support, counseling and advocacy services to sheltered child, adolescent and teen victims of domestic violence, sexual assault and other major life transitions, and their non-offending parents or guardians.
Primary Job Responsibilities:
- Provide services to shelter children, adolescents and teens
- Provide counseling and advocacy (including safety planning) on issues of domestic violence, sexual assault and other relevant concerns for children in an age-appropriate manner
- Conduct intake interviews with each individual child and their guardian/non-offending parent
- Provide parenting guidance to appropriate adult clients (counseling and/or support/educational groups/workshops)
- Work with shelter staff to determine the needs of each family; act as an advocate for children in the family
- Work with shelter staff to assist in implementing child programs and family goals for healthy parenting
- Develop appropriate handouts dealing with the effects of issues on children, expectations during recovery process, etc. for parents and children
- Research and make referrals to community programs for children, (i.e. camperships)
- Maintain current referrals for child care, parent aides and other resources needed by children and parents
- Provide training and supervision for shelter child advocate volunteers
- Maintain inventory of materials needed for the children's program and inform supervisor of needed supplies
- Participate in staff rotation as "backup" hotline coverage for nights, weekends and holidays
- Ensure that all child "play rooms" and counseling rooms are adequately supplied and safe
- Facilitate groups as assigned by supervisor, to include parenting groups at shelter
- Coordinate children's support groups as needed
- Assist with donations, particularly those for children
- Provide counseling and support, including safety planning
- Facilitate support or activity groups for children
- Model healthy parenting skills
- Assist parents with school registration, medical appointments, etc.
- Assist parents in developing plans for the safety of their children
Additional Job Responsibilities:
- Attend meetings and trainings at CCADV as requested by supervisor and required by contracts
- Record statistical and intake information on delivery of services and clients; enter information in appropriate computer programs
- Attend case management, case share, supervision and staff meetings
- Submit monthly program reports to supervisor
- Submit quarterly reports to supervisor on forms provided by CCADV
- Develop goals and a work plan for your assigned program area
- Maintain domestic violence certification
Community Relations:
- Maintain networking and cooperative relationships with community and state organizations as appropriate
- Represent the Women's Center on appropriate community and state collaborations as assigned by supervisor
Supervisor: Shelter Manager
Other: Other duties as assigned
Qualifications:
- Bachelors degree in related field and/or a minimum of three (3) years experience with children and youth; Masters degree and/or knowledge of local resources a plus
- Successful completion of certification training; maintain annual training requirements
- Commitment to advocacy within the social service and criminal justice system for adult and children clients
- Understanding of feminist issues and child development
- Ability to work effectively with a diverse range of clients
- Bilingual a plus