DISTINGUISHING FEATURES OF THE CLASS: This is responsible professional work involving administration of Child Advocacy Program and Child Advocacy Center (CAC). Responsibilities include planning, development and implementation of overall Child Advocacy Program goals, including coordination of diverse interagency and community resources and relationships regarding victims’ services, prevention programs, education and training programs for both professionals and the public, and similar. Working closely with the Coordinator of CAC, oversees and coordinates multidisciplinary and interagency meetings, reviews, management of computer-based tracking systems and databases, grant management, public awareness programs, and management of direct professional services to child victims of abuse and non-offending families/caregivers. Work is performed in conjunction with the CAC Management Board, under general supervision of the Commissioner of Social Services. General supervision is provided to the Coordinator of CAC and other program staff. Performs related work as required.

TYPICAL WORK ACTIVITIES:  (Illustrative only)

• Coordinates all program services for physically and sexually abused children and adolescents and their non-offending families and/or caregivers;
• Provides supervision and guidance to CAC Program staff, including masters-level social work interns, in the provision of direct services such as crisis intervention, counseling, support services, case follow-up, and referrals, to child victims and their non-offending families/caregivers;
• Coordinates, facilitates and chairs meetings of child abuse multidisciplinary teams, peer reviews, child fatality reviews, management board meetings, and Putnam County Suicide Prevention Task Force;
• Manages Putnam County Child Fatality Review Team, including development and implementation of policies and procedures, administration of fatality reviews, data maintenance, recommendation documentation, coordination of prevention programs, and required State reports;
• Acts as liaison between investigative and law enforcement agencies such as Police and District Attorney’s Office, the CAC Program, and other service providers such as Social Services, Child Advocates, etc.;
• Develops and implements appropriate policies, procedures and technologies to ensure compliance with, and adherence to, any and all state and national accreditation requirements and professional standards relative to management and tracking of child abuse cases from initial investigation through court intervention and treatment;
• Develops and implements policies and procedures for safety and confidentiality regarding medical and mental health referrals, child abuse reporting, and other protected information;
• Manages all aspects of state and federal grants, including both grant proposals and grant contracts, research, development, grant application writing and processing, grant reporting and budget requirements, etc.;
• Plans, coordinates and implements professional and public education programs for such groups as law enforcement personnel, school personnel, county employees, day care providers, as well as the general public;
• Plans, coordinates and implements public awareness campaigns related to child abuse prevention, including the Children’s Expo and Child Safety Day;
• Provides direct services such as crisis intervention, counseling, support services, case follow-up, and referrals, to child victims and their non-offending families/caregivers, as needed;
• Represents Child Advocacy Center at local, state and national conferences, meetings and training programs, including the Regional Crisis Team;
• Ensures that database and documentation maintenance procedures produce accurate records and reports, meeting local, state, federal and grant contract requirements;
• Develops and oversees maintenance of related materials such as informational handbooks, resource directories, etc.
• Performs a variety of related activities as required.

Typical Work Activities are intended only as illustrations of possible types of work that might be appropriately assigned to an incumbent of this title. Work activities that do not appear above are not excluded as appropriate work assignments, as long as they can be reasonably understood to be within the logical limits of the job.

FULL PERFORMANCE KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, ABILITIES AND PERSONAL CHARACTERISTICS: Thorough knowledge of child protective and law enforcement agencies and their roles in investigation and prosecution of child abuse cases; good knowledge of Federal, State and local laws, rules and regulations pertaining to child abuse; good knowledge of programs and services available for child abuse victims; working knowledge of grant, contract and budget development; working knowledge of personal computers; ability to obtain and evaluate data; ability to train others; ability to write clear and accurate reports and records; ability to establish and maintain cooperation with the public and other governmental and private agencies; ability to interface with the local media; ability to speak well in public; resourcefulness, courtesy; tact.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

Master’s degree in social work, counseling, psychology, criminal justice, or a closely related field, and five (5) years of experience in the fields described above.

PLEASE NOTE: Your degree must have been awarded by a college or university accredited by a regional, national, or specialized agency recognized as an accrediting agency by the U.S. Department of Education/U.S. Secretary of Education.

8/99; 1/08; 1/09; 12/18

Competitive Class