CASA: Staff Advocate - Grant Funded Part-Time

Incumbent serves as a Staff Advocate for the Vigo County Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) program, responsible for advocating and representing abused and neglected children within the juvenile court system in one of the following program areas: Family Recovery Court (FRC), Child Information, Assessment Intake, Staff Advocates, Volunteer Coordination, Community Liaison, Recruitment, Training, and Data. (Appx 29 Hours per week)

Examples of Duties

• Serves as Staff Advocate, including observing, investigating, evaluating progress and quality of case, facilitating, advocating, monitoring on limited basis, researching case background and current status of case, gathering medical, school and placement information on assigned cases. Includes but not limited to researching birth parents past and current criminal status, drug screen results and service compliance.
• Interacts and has contacts with the children of case through visits and meetings, all persons connected to the case including but not limited to: parents, family members, kinship care, placements, doctors, counselors, teachers, therapists, case managers and other social service providers. Also may have interaction with employers, community members, landlords, etc.
• Preforms "Spot" visits on assigned cases so that assurance of safety of the children involved is provided and will make reports of abuse and neglect as required by State law to Abuse Hotline.
• Is required to see/and or maintain child contact of assigned child a minimum of once every 30 days, unless exception has been given due to distance of placement, then exception arrangement can be allowed for alternative communication with child.
• Collaborates with Court personnel, Department of Child Services, social service providers, Law Enforcement, School, Mental Health and other community agencies for case updates and background history. Attends Family Team Meetings with social service providers.
• Assists in case triage and waitlist of cases.
• Maintains program database with updates on placement, parent and child information, case logs, court appearance, research and case work.
• Performs duties that require ensuring appropriate documents are scanned, processed and accessible for all offices, agencies, court personnel, staff and volunteers.
• Provides written court reports to court as required for all Periodic Review, Permanency and Termination of Parental Right hearings and any other requested report by the courts.
• Maintains mileage record and report to be submitted monthly.
• Attends ALL court proceedings and provide testimony as required.
• Provides quality case management and supervision of assigned case load of 25-30 cases with individualized case management for child and family on matters relative to community based and crisis intervention resource information, family stabilization, permanency planning, treatments and discharge of case, including providing information regarding community resources, monitoring and providing case review, evaluation, and documentation.
• Provides case management required by State and National Standards, such as maintaining direct contact with the children of the case, preparation for court testimony, including maintaining monthly contact for case updates, recording contact logs, approval of volunteer contact logs, Director Case updates.
• Prepares and submits various reports, including gathering detailed information from multiple parties, balancing discrepancies between the court programs and CASA program data, cross-checking data entry for correct labeling and input to State CASA requirements.
• Performs various clerical duties to included but limited to: providing content for brochures, proof reading documents, social media content, photocopying, scanning, mailing, and filing of hard copy documents; updates public and scheduling bulletin boards and electronic/digital time sheets;.
• Participates and attends staff functions: monthly staff structure meetings, planning meetings for events and parties, monthly community CASA and volunteer events. Includes staffing sessions of creation of new procedures and policy.

Special Projects

• Organizes one CASA Community event per year-training, community event, speaking series.
• Performs all/any additional related duties as assigned by Supervisor and or Program Director.

Typical Qualifications

• Must be at least 21 years of age.
• Recommended but not required: Baccalaureate Degree in Criminology, Criminal Justice, Human Development or related field of study OR work experience in related field.
• Must complete 30 hour CASA training course.
• Must carry 15+ advocacy caseload.
• Requires a valid driver's license and proof of valid insurance.
• Ability to meet all employer and department hiring requirements, including passage of drug test, and criminal background check.
• Working knowledge of child welfare, and/or child focused social issues and knowledge and understanding of issues and dynamics within families in crisis relating to child abuse and neglect preferred.
• Working knowledge of juvenile justice and/or socials service systems and ability to apply such knowledge to a variety of interrelated tasks.
• Ability to assist CASA volunteers in the advocacy of abused and neglected children, including providing training and evaluating performance.
• Working knowledge of standard office practices and ability to apply such knowledge to a variety of interrelated processes, tasks, and operations
• Working ability to count, perform simple arithmetic calculations of additions/subtractions.
• Working knowledge of Standard English grammar, spelling and punctuation and ability to prepare various documents and written reports as required.
• Working knowledge of Microsoft Office programs: Word, Excel, Publisher, PowerPoint.
• Working knowledge to use web based software programs used by the courts and program.
• Ability to properly operate standard office equipment: computer, calculator, fax machine, copier, telephone/headset/call forwarding system and shredder.
• Ability to provide public access or maintain confidentiality of department information and records according to Program, County, State and National standards.
• Ability to comply with all employer and department polices/work rules including but not limited to: attendance, safety, drug-free workplace and personal conduct.
• Ability to effectively communicate orally and in written word with: co-workers, County departments, and the public, including being sensitive to professional ethics, gender, cultural diversities and disabilities.
• Ability to understand, memorize, retain and carry out and present written and oral instructions.
• Ability to compare or observe similarities and differences in data, coordinate and make determinations based on data analysis.
• Ability to work alone with minimum supervision and with others in a team environment.
• Ability to multi-task in fast-paced environment for long periods of time and under time constraints.
• Ability to apply knowledge of people and/or locations to assist and plan layout for assigned work projects.
• Ability to plan, present and speak at presentations, trainings, fundraisers and events.
• Ability to occasionally work extended hours, weekends, evening hours and occasional out of town travel for conferences/training that could include overnight stays.

Supplemental Information

Incumbent performs a majority of duties in a standard office environment, involving sitting/walking at will, sitting for extended periods, keyboarding, lifting/carrying objects weighing less than 25 pounds, speaking clearly and hearing sounds/communications. Incumbent occasionally works extended, weekend and/or evening hours with occasional out of town travel for conferences/training involving overnight.

Incumbent maintains frequent contact with co-workers, other County departments, and the public for purposes of executing policies, developing/implementing programs/services, and resolving problems.

Incumbent reports directly to Vigo County Staff CASA Supervisor.

As an EOE/AA employer, Vigo County Government will not discriminate in its employment practices due to an applicant's age, race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, protected veteran or disability status.