Options Advocacy Jobs (NOW HIRING)

• • Completes annual volunteer evaluations and provides regular coaching of Volunteer Advocates.
  • Fulfills the performance standards as outlined by Praesidium, through monitoring and supervision, incident reporting, shadowing of Volunteer Advocates, QA calls, and other tasks as assigned.
  • For any child not seen by an advocate within the prescribed time, without an approved exception, CAS program staff must see the child within 10 days.
  • Along with the Volunteer Advocate, works collaboratibely with other professionals.

1. Provides informed and consistent guidance, coaching and feedback to volunteer Advocates as well as encouragement and praise.
   • Provides timely notification of staffings, meetings, and court hearings to volunteer advocates.
   • Provides guidance, assistance and review of volunteer advocates’ written and oral reports to the Court.
   • Leads onboarding of new volunteer advocates and provides ongoing training and continuing education to volunteer advocates as needed.
   • Provides consistent contact in the process of maintaining and fostering relationships between the volunteer advocate and other professionals in legal, social welfare, educational and therapeutic areas/organizations, as well as between the volunteer advocate and the children/families we serve.
   • Enhances volunteer advocate engagement and retention by coaching new skills, evaluating the volunteer advocate’s experience, and by matching the volunteer advocate with future cases based on strengths and skills and in accordance with CASA policy.
   • Coaches volunteer advocates if they are not meeting expectations and provides feedback in order to empower advocates to be successful in their role.
2. Ensures the high standard of performance of services of CASA of Travis County
   • Models a commitment to child safety, and volunteer engagement.
   • Participates in regular supervision with their Program Manager.
   • Supports team members by providing coverage for meetings and court hearings and with volunteer advocates as needed.
   • Maintains accurate and complete case records by empowering volunteer advocates and ensuring quality.
   • Maintains accurate and complete documentation of volunteer advocate supervision records.
   • Submits accurate and timely case and volunteer report data as directed by Program Manager and/or Director of Data and Evaluation.
   • Attends and participates in continuing education opportunities per policy.
   • Assists with program development and evaluation as directed by Sr. Director of Advocacy and Chief Program Officer.
   • Attends and actively participates in required CASA meetings.
   • Participates in committes as needed.
   • When assignment of a volunteer advocate is not appropriate or possible, serves as the guardian ad litem on assigned cases, meeting or exceeding the minimum expectations of CASA.
3. Other responsibilities include:
   • Assists Director of Volunteer Engagement with volunteer advocate training and retention efforts, which may include some evening and weekend events.
   • Assists with fundraising events as needed.
   • Attends and participates in community meetings as directed by Program Manager or Sr. Director of Advocacy.

• Demonstrated ability to concisely and clearly convey and interpret information to and from others, orally and in writing.
• Demonstrated ability to work under time constraints, be goal-oriented and maintain productive and effective performance and interaction with Volunteer Advocates and clients.
• Demonstrated ability to work respectfully with others, regardless of differing perspectives.

• Demonstrated understanding of child and family advocacy issues as it relates to the child welfare system.
• Demonstrated resilience, flexibility and self-awareness.

The Child Advocacy Specialist will be expected to have daily transportation to attend court hearings, staffings, visitations, fundraising events, etc. The position requires a flexible schedule, as visits with Advocates may occur in the evenings or on weekends. They will spend some time in the office that could involve intermittent physical activities including bending, reaching, sitting and walking during working hours. Additionally, it is anticipated that the person may spend several hours of each day seated at a personal computer.