Supervising Victim Advocate & CFRT Coordinator

We are seeking a dedicated professional to fill a dual role that impacts the lives of children affected by trauma.  The Supervising Victim Advocate & Child Fatality Review Team Coordinator is a full-time position at WIHD in Valhalla, NY.  The role involved collaboration with the Child Abuse Pediatrics Practice and Westchester County.

At WIHD, which was recently named one of the Best Places to Work by 914Inc., you will find a dynamic environment with staff of diverse backgrounds and perspectives who share a deep commitment to advancing the Organization’s mission.  WIHD provides a positive working environment that promotes employee safety, growth and goal attainment. Our benefit package is generous and provides options to meet the needs of each employee. We offer flexible work schedules for many positions providing a setting with a desirable work-life balance. .

The Supervising Victim Advocate will provide leadership, oversight and supervision to the Victim Advocacy component of the Children’s Advocacy Center/Child Abuse Pediatrics program.  They will work closely with the Director of the Children’s Advocacy Center to set goals and direction for the provision of Victim Advocacy to children and families referred to the program. The Supervising Victim Advocate will also perform direct service responsibilities of the Child Victim Advocate including welcoming and orienting families to the CAC.  They will act as a liaison between the Children’s Advocacy Center and/or Child Abuse Pediatrics (CAP) practice and members of the multidisciplinary teams to ensure that children served by the CAC and patients served by CAP receive necessary supports and services in their own communities and to keep CAP providers apprised of any information that is relevant to medical diagnosis and treatment. They will provide Crime Victims Compensation information to child victims and their non-offending caregivers and follow the National Children’s Alliance guidelines relevant to the role of the victim advocate.

The Child Fatality Review Team Coordinator will coordinate the prevention-related activities for the Westchester County Child Fatality Review Team (CFRT).  The coordinator will follow developments in child death review at the state and national level and manage the team’s CRIBS FOR KIDS safe sleep program.  Additionally, the coordinator will facilitate cooperative working relationships among team members and their agencies.

Major Responsibilities

• Provide training, supervision, oversight and guidance to Victim Advocate working within CAC/CAP model.
• Describe the multidisciplinary team process and the role of the CAC and explain the benefits available to crime victims through the New York State’s Office of Victim Services (OVS).
• Provide client-centered services to children and their families, including assistance with access to emergency food, clothing, transportation and orders of protection, as well as assistance in completing the OVS crime victim application.
• Provide information and support to families around the medical evaluation and referrals for mental health treatment.
• Collaborate and communicate with members of the multidisciplinary team to ensure that children and families are linked to the appropriate team member and responded to in an efficient and expeditious manner.
• Provide short-term counseling, crisis intervention, safety planning and ongoing telephone and in-person follow up support to non-offending family members, keeping them apprised of the status of referrals and/or the status of the investigation, as appropriate
• Provide psychoeducation to children and their non-offending caregivers about the impact of trauma on one’s functioning and can offer parents information about what they can expect from their child(ren) and themselves, in the days and weeks that follow a disclosure of abuse.
• Providing support to the children and their families during the Forensic Interview and Forensic Medical Exam.
• Keeping up to date case information for weekly supervision, case review, and the mental health calls.
• Contacting families before CAP appointment (Westchester, Sullivan, Orange, Rockland, Dutchess, and Putnam) to confirm and a reminder, provide health screen, and offer transportation.
• Transport families to and from Forensic Interview, when needed.
• Call out of county CAP appointments to confirm Advocacy is being provided to the family.
• Document all case related activities in accordance with CAC/CAP protocols and requirements.
• Provide quarterly informational support to families and maintain up-to-date resources for families.
• Plan and facilitate support groups for families.

Child Fatality Review Team Coordinator

• Follow all Westchester County CFRT protocols for calling, scheduling, organizing and chairing meetings related to child fatality reviews.
• Work with team members to identify risk factors and trends to increase public awareness, develop educational materials, create outreach strategies, and/or produce trainings or conferences relevant to child safety.
• Participate in quarterly statewide coordinator conference calls with OCFS and other trainings as required including at least one two-day conference held in Albany.
• Manage the team’s CRIBS FOR KIDS safe sleep program by connecting underserved families with professionals who can provide in-home safe sleep education and resources through the CFRT-sponsored program, including ordering/delivering cribs to regional OCFS offices and keeping inventory.
• Understand and comply with Westchester County’s Child Fatality Review Team protocols as approved by OCFS and educate team members as to the information sharing and case definitions within the protocol.
• Complete administrative tasks regarding CFRT functioning including the drafting and filing of quarterly and annual reports and updating of protocols
• Input data concerning each child fatality reviewed into the online data collection system administered by the National Center for the Review and Prevention of Child Deaths

Education, Knowledge, and Skill Requirements: 

Kind and Length of Experience: Ability to communicate orally and in writing in Spanish. Ability to stay calm in stressful situations and ability to work with a multidisciplinary team of professionals

Knowledge of: Proficiency in Microsoft Office

Education Level: College degree in social work or other related field OR at least two years’ experience working with children and families who have experienced abuse and trauma

WIHD is deeply committed to inclusivity and diversity in the workplace. We welcome and encourage applicants from diverse backgrounds. We seek to ensure that qualified applicants are considered for employment and are not discriminated against with regard to race, color, national origin, citizen status, creed, religion, religious affiliations, age, sex, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, disability, veteran status, pregnancy, or any other status protected by law.

Salary Range:  $63,000 - $69,000 Annually Plus Benefits