Description

Safe Shores, the DC Children’s Advocacy Center, is currently seeking a Bilingual (Spanish) Client Advocate. This is a full-time, exempt position with a starting salary of $67,824, which includes bilingual pay. 

Be part of a diverse and dynamic team delivering quality services to/for child victims with equity, respect, and care! 

At Safe Shores, our work is all about PEOPLE. Therefore, we center people in our programming, services, policies, practices, and operations. Which people? The children and families we serve AND the people who do the work, our staff. How? For our trauma-impacted clients, we honor the humanity of every individual and deliver high-quality services tailored to their specific needs, which includes giving them the time and attention they need. For our staff, by listening, offering excellent benefits, paying competitive salaries, providing remote work flexibility (depending on the position), investing in professional development, pursuing JEDI, encouraging and facilitating self-care and wellness, prioritizing progress over perfection, and building a team of smart, dedicated pros who know that Safe Shores’ mission is best accomplished when we show up as our whole selves, support one another, and experience joy.  Joy working with young victims of crime? Absolutely, yes! Mining joy is essential to offering hope, helping clients heal, and individual/organizational sustainability. 

HOW WE PRIORITIZE THE PEOPLE WHO DO THE WORK (EMPLOYEE BENEFITS) 

To start, we recognize that co-workers impact the job experience. Safe Shores is intentional about assembling and supporting a team of individuals who are not just able, resourceful professionals, but just as importantly, people who are respectful, responsible, honest, and kind and who embrace Safe Shores' mission and values wholeheartedly, with a focus on racial equity, kindness, belonging, trustworthiness, integrity, and taking care to give care. 

That said, our robust benefits for newly hired employees include: 

• Birthday Comp Day (your birthday is a holiday for you!)
• Annual Professional Development Fund
• 13 days of paid vacation leave 
• 13 days of paid sick leave 
• 13 days of paid holidays 
• Paid personal leave 
• Paid parental leave 
• 100% employer-paid medical (PPO with lots of provider options), dental, and vision insurance for the current plan year
• Wellness stipend
• Dedicated Employee Assistance Program (EAP) 
• Employee appreciation and wellness events 
• Short- and long-term disability insurance
• Life insurance 
• 403(b) Retirement Plan (Employer contribution after one year of service)
• Essential oils and diffusers for employee workspaces
• Safe Shores provides clinical supervision that may be counted toward licensure as a benefit for the clinical positions.
• Safe Shores covers the cost of licensure fees in the District of Columbia for clinical positions. 
• Safe Shores offers paid sabbatical leave for employees with a five or more consecutive years tenure.

JOB SUMMARY

The Bilingual Client Advocate provides advocacy, crisis intervention, systems navigation, emotional support, and referrals to both Spanish-speaking and English-speaking families impacted by sexual abuse, physical abuse, and other forms of violence. The Bilingual Client Advocate works directly with non-offending caregivers to support the caregiver in providing support to child victims, their siblings, and any other secondary victims. The focus of advocacy is to help reduce trauma for the child and family members and to support cases in achieving best outcomes. The Bilingual Client Advocate helps caregivers identify and access services the family may need and acts as a liaison with the Multidisciplinary Team, supporting the child and family throughout the investigative process. 

This is an in-person position, subject to modification or hybrid work based on programmatic needs. The incumbent is required to participate in an on-call rotation for after-hours and weekend forensic interviewing and advocacy. This position is a mandated reporter for child abuse and neglect under District of Columbia Statute §4-1321.02. 

 ESSENTIAL DUTIES and RESPONSIBILITIES include the following. Other duties may be assigned.   

• Provide support, education and crisis intervention to non-offending caregivers, child victims, and secondary victims / survivors during the forensic interview process and as needed; assist caregivers in identifying options available to them and empowering them.
• Meet with non-offending caregivers to assess social service and crime victim’s compensation needs, connect them with child-serving community-based agencies and follow up to ensure services are obtained.
• Provide information to the non-offending caregivers regarding trauma and the impact of trauma on children, adolescents, and families.
• Provide educational information to caregivers about available support and service resources, crime victim rights, and the multidisciplinary team (MDT) investigation process.
• Participate in the MDT process by coordinating client services, as needed, with clinical staff and MDT members (attorneys, law enforcement, social workers, and medical personnel)
• Provide accompaniment to clients as needed for purposes such as housing referrals, school support, or court accompaniment.
• Troubleshoot barriers to accessing services with clients and community service agencies.
• Assist the family in accessing services recommended by the team and provide immediate and ongoing follow-up as needed.
• Steward children and non-offending caregivers throughout the investigative process. 
• Partnering with Advocates on the Youth Advocacy Team to provide support for adolescent victims/survivors. 
• Act as an advocate/liaison between families and law enforcement, child protective services, medical and mental health service providers, and the prosecutor’s office.
• Assist in developing information and resources to support children and caregivers.
• Perform a safety assessment of the family and develop and recommend a safety plan in cases when appropriate.
• Participate in regular individual supervision, staff meetings, multidisciplinary (MDT) meetings, in-service training, professional development, and other meetings as required.
• Provide 24-hour on-call crisis intervention and advocacy services as assigned.
• Provides supervision of clients on the program floor, engaging clients in the waiting/play areas and assessing play/learning levels for age-appropriate activities and preparing and serving light snacks/meals.
• Assist in and lead the facilitation of client groups.
• Maintain and assure quality and confidentiality of electronic and paper files, statistical tracking, and inventory.
• Arrange or order emergency clothing or other material/referral resources for clients.
• Assist in maintaining material needs such as the clothing closet or youth activity program food and toys.
• Assist in the implementation of Safe Shores seasonal drives, as needed.

Supervisory Responsibilities: 

There are no supervisory responsibilities for this position.

 EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE

• Ability to speak and write fluently in English and Spanish to various individuals and groups. 
• Bachelor’s degree required in social work, mental health, or counseling.
• A minimum of two (2) full years of professional experience working with adult caregivers of children who have experienced abuse and trauma and the ability to engage and facilitate dialogue about childhood, parenting, and navigating complex emotions. 
• Ability to work with caregivers, children, and adolescents.
• Ability to work effectively with MDT partners, including child welfare social workers, law enforcement officers, medical and mental health professionals, and other government and judicial agencies. 
• Knowledge and understanding of the dynamics of child development, child sexual abuse, trauma, family violence, and sexual violence.
• Ability to successfully pass Child Protection Registry clearance and criminal background check.

Preferred Qualifications 

• Master’s degree in social work, psychology, or counseling.
• Formal training and/or certification as victim advocate or crisis counselor. 
• Experience working within a multidisciplinary team.
• Licensure as an LGPC, LPC, LGSW, or LICSW.

EEO STATEMENT 

Safe Shores is an equal opportunity employer and value diversity. We are committed to building a team that represents a variety of backgrounds, perspectives, and skills. The more inclusive we are, the better our work will be.  

DIVERSITY, EQUITY, INCLUSION, and BELONGING

Safe Shores expects all employees to respect and be sensitive to Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging and the cultural differences of applicants, other employees, and those we serve. We demonstrate this respect and sensitivity without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, marital status, personal appearance, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, familial status, family responsibilities, matriculation, political affiliation, genetic information, disability (actual or perceived), source of income, place of residence or business, military service, and any other basis protected by federal or District of Columbia law. 

Interested in applying or want more information? Visit www.safeshores.org/careers!