Victim Studies Jobs (NOW HIRING)

CAC Victim Advocate Intern
Division: Advocacy and Prevention
Program: Children's Advocacy Center
Reports To: Clinical Manager or Coordinator
Degree Program: Required to be currently enrolled in a Bachelor's or Master's degree program in social work, psychology, family studies, sociology, education, or related field.
Exempt Status: N/A - unpaid internship
Required Availability:
Interns need to be available at least 14 hours per week and during our regular business hours Monday through Thursday 8a to 5p.
SUMMARY
Provides specialized and comprehensive advocacy and support to children, youth, and families within the Children's Advocacy Center in order to improve outcomes for the victim and family; minimize the re-victimization and reduce trauma of child victims/witnesses and their protective family members as they go through the criminal and civil investigation, intervention, and prosecution process; providing guidance and navigation regarding the child abuse Multidisciplinary Team (MDT); assesses family for service provision by utilizing ACEs and trauma-informed approaches to individualized action plans; provide education to families and MDT on the prevention, culture, and dynamics of child abuse/neglect; act as a liaison between the family and the MDT.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES include the following:
Direct Client Services

• Responsible for obtaining and assessing pertinent information regarding family history (ACEs) and current functioning of the family
• Evaluate and assess the need for the family to receive supportive services; identify and link family to appropriate services; assist family in accessing service when appropriate.
• Knowledgeable regarding and able to facilitate access to local community resources.
• Offers guidance and support for the child and families throughout the investigation process.
• Act as a liaison between family members and the MDT regarding case disposition within the other agencies involved in the investigation (i.e. law enforcement, Children's Division, prosecution.)

Service Coordination

• Assists with recording and documentation of forensic interviews
• Provides family information, service engagement, and updates to the MDT on a regular basis including case review settings.
• Documents family's progress in obtaining and engaging in services
• Maintains files/database with integrity and accuracy.
• As a member of the CAC team, ensure CAC space is neat and comfortable for family and MDT.
• Participate in defining program outcomes and maintaining all necessary data to comply with grant related outcome measurement information.
• Navigate complex systems and determine areas of strengths and needs for child/youth and family as appropriate. Advocate with or for client to meet needs, assist in service navigation and engagement, and communicate with any multi-disciplinary teams who are engaged with the child/youth and/or family.
• Supports client choice in care, engagement and help-seeking skills.

Supervision and Training

• Participates in supervision for one hour per week with the Field Instructor to discuss families, MDT, and barriers or challenges as well as creative solutions and ideas.
• Attends and engages in statewide and regional meetings, trainings and discussions regarding trends, changes, challenges and solutions to common reluctance or barriers when working with families and children experiencing trauma and possible additional system trauma.
• Participates in professional development and training
• Respect the worth of each person by acting with kindness, empathy and cultural sensitivity.

Self-Management

• Respects confidentiality of client/agency.
• Behaves in honest, fair, and ethical manner; demonstrates consistency in words and actions; models high standards of ethics.
• Treats others with courtesy, sensitivity, and respect.
• Assesses and recognizes own strength and challenges and pursues self-development.
• Deals effectively with pressure; identifies skills to build resiliency in self.
• Listens effectively and communicates clearly and effectively both orally and in writing.
• Adapts to new information, changing conditions, or unexpected obstacles.
• Identifies and analyzes problems; weighs relevance and accuracy of information; generates, evaluates, and recommends alternative solutions.

Performs other duties as assigned.
Principles and Values
Team Work: Balances team and individual responsibilities; exhibits objectivity and openness to others' views; gives and welcomes feedback; contributes to building a positive team spirit; puts success of the Synergy team above own interests; able to build morale and group commitments to goals and objectives; supports everyone's efforts to succeed.
Strategic Thinking: Develops strategies to achieve organizational goals; understands organizations' strengths and weaknesses; identifies external threats and opportunities; adapts strategy to changing conditions.
Willing to Grow: Accepts accountability for mistakes and uses the mistakes as an opportunity to learn about self and to change future behaviors.
Safety and Security: Observes safety and security procedures; determines appropriate action beyond guidelines; remedies potentially unsafe conditions.
Attendance: Regular weekly attendance of practicum hours as determined by the intern's university and field instructor is a requirement of this internship. Internship hours are available between 8am-5pm Monday-Thursday. Full-time 32-40 hour a week internship opportunities will be accepted on a case by case basis.
EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE
Required to be currently enrolled in a Bachelor's or Master's degree program in social work, psychology, family studies, sociology, education, or related field.
LANGUAGE SKILLS
Ability to read, analyze, and interpret common scientific and technical journals, and legal documents. Ability to respond to common inquiries or complaints from clients, regulatory agencies, or members of the community. Ability to effectively present information to top management, public groups, and/or boards of directors.
OTHER SKILLS AND ABILITIES
The intern in this position must have the ability to use audio/video equipment and general office equipment. In addition, the employee must be able to use computer software, including Windows, Word for Windows, EXCEL, and Access.
PHYSICAL DEMANDS
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an intern to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
While performing the duties of this job, the intern is frequently required to talk or hear. The intern is occasionally required to stand; sit; and use hands to finger, handle, or feel. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, and peripheral vision.
WORK ENVIRONMENT
The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an intern encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.
Non-Discrimination:
Synergy Services is an EEO employer. We firmly support the principle and philosophy of equal employment for all individuals, regardless of age, race/ethnicity, religious creed, ancestry, color, sex, disability (including pregnancy), national origin, marital status, political belief, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, genetic testing and screening information, covered veteran status or any other protected category pursuant to applicable federal, state or local laws.
Synergy Services is committed to fostering, cultivating, and preserving a culture of belonging and representation. We feel our staff, interns, and volunteers are among our most valuable assets. We embrace and encourage the differences in life experiences, knowledge, self-expression and unique capabilities that our staff, interns and volunteers bring to their work at Synergy. These aspects strengthen our agency, community, and our work with clients.