Careers

• Conduct forensic interviews using an approved and nationally recognized forensic interviewing protocol.
• Maintain certification/training in a recognized forensic interviewing modality and remain current with required continuing education and professional development.
• Participate in pre- and post-interview consultations with MDT partners.
• Complete accurate and timely interview documentation and summaries.
• Maintain confidentiality and comply with all applicable laws, CAC policies, MDT protocols, and National Children’s Alliance standards.
• Participate in case review/MDT meetings as requested.
• Provide court testimony related to forensic interviews when subpoenaed.
• Maintain professional communication and collaborative relationships with MDT partners.
• Participate in peer review, supervision/consultation, and quality assurance activities as required.
• Complete other forensic interviewing-related duties as assigned.

• Bachelor’s degree in social work, psychology, criminal justice, counseling, or a related field preferred.
• Completion of a recognized forensic interviewing training program.
• Current certification/training in a recognized forensic interviewing modality.
• Previous experience conducting forensic interviews in a Child Advocacy Center or similar setting preferred.
• Knowledge of child development, child abuse dynamics, and the multidisciplinary response to child abuse.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality and exercise sound professional judgment.
• Ability to work independently while effectively collaborating with MDT partners.

Position Summary: AWAKE Children’s Advocacy Center is a nationally accredited child advocacy center serving Jackson and Swain Counties in North Carolina. The Executive Director serves as the chief executive officer of the organization and is responsible for overall leadership, administration, fiscal management, staff supervision, community partnerships, fundraising, grant management, and compliance with applicable standards and requirements.

The Executive Director works closely with the Board of Directors to advance AWAKE’s mission, ensure continuity and quality of services, maintain strong multidisciplinary team (MDT) relationships, support staff and contractors, and promote the long-term sustainability of the organization. The Executive Director may provide direct services as needed and only when appropriately trained and qualified.

Mandatory Training:

• AWAKE Onboarding
• MDT Protocol Review
• CACNC State Standards
• NCA Accreditation Standards
• MDT Facilitator Certification

Essential Job Functions:
Agency Administration

• Ensures the agency, and all services provided within, are available per national accreditation standards.
• Administers operational protocols, policies, and strategic plan goals as approved by the board of directors.
• Oversees direct services, fundraising, and outreach activities to ensure that agency objectives are met.
• Provides guidance and leadership in formulating a fundraising plan that meets the needs of the agency.
• Provides leadership, guidance, and support to agency staff.
• Ensures compliance with funding sources and regulatory requirements.
• Ensures appropriate maintenance of CAC’s facility.
• Maintains accreditation standards as set forth by the National Children’s Alliance and is responsible for writing and preparing the agency’s application of re-accreditation every 5 years.
• Works with the board of directors to develop, implement, and evaluate the organization’s strategic plan, long-term goals, and sustainability priorities.
• Provides leadership in identifying organizational needs, strengthening systems, and recommending improvements to programs, services, policies, and operations.
• Monitors program outcomes and organizational effectiveness and uses available data, partner feedback, accreditation standards, and community needs to guide decision-making.

Program Oversight and Evaluation

• Ensures AWAKE’s programs operate in alignment with the organization’s mission, strategic plan, accreditation standards, grant requirements, and community needs.
• Works with staff, contractors, MDT partners, and the board to identify opportunities for program improvement, service continuity, and responsible growth.
• Monitors program effectiveness, service quality, and outcome data and recommends improvements as needed.
• Ensures that policies, procedures, and professional practices support high-quality, trauma-informed services for children and families.

Direct Program Services

• Ensures appropriate coverage for forensic interviewing, victim advocacy, MDT coordination, and related direct services in accordance with accreditation standards, grant requirements, and AWAKE protocols.
• May serve as a backup forensic interviewer, victim advocate, or MDT facilitator when appropriately trained, qualified, and needed to support service continuity.
• Ensures direct service staff and contractors have appropriate training, supervision, support, and resources to provide high-quality services consistent with AWAKE’s mission and applicable standards.
• Maintains confidentiality of all client services, client records, case management reports, etc.
• Ensures all direct service equipment is operational and functioning within the capacity of providing efficient, quality services to clients (Forensic Interview Equipment, Recording Software, Medical Examination Equipment, etc.)
• MDT/Case Review Facilitator
• Acts as liaison between CAC and MDT partners and other community agencies, identifying issues and collaborating on identified needs.
• Acts as MDT Coordinator, maintaining credentials necessary to meet accreditation standards.
• Maintains Interagency Agreements to ensure that they are current and functional.
• Coordinates and facilitates case review sessions, distributes appropriate case review lists prior to meetings.
• Identifies training needs for staff and team members, provide resources/trainings to meet those needs.
• Ensures that all MDT participants have reviewed and signed a confidentiality statement.

Fiscal Management

• Oversees the organization’s fiscal management in accordance with board-approved policies, grant requirements, internal controls, and applicable law.
• Prepares and recommends an annual budget to the board of directors and monitors performance against the approved budget.
• Ensures accurate financial recordkeeping, reporting, grant tracking, and documentation of income and expenses.
• Works with the Board Treasurer, bookkeeper, accountant, auditor, or other fiscal support professionals as appropriate.
• Ensures the agency complies with all federal and state nonprofit reporting requirements.
• Ensures appropriate fiscal procedures are followed for expenditure approval, income and expense documentation, bank reconciliation, financial reporting, and recordkeeping, with duties assigned in a manner consistent with sound internal controls.
• Provides regular financial reports to the board of directors.

Development & Donor Relations

• Works with the board to develop and implement a comprehensive fundraising and development strategy.
• Develops and maintains relationships with individual donors, foundations, corporate sponsors, government funders, and other funding partners.
• Supports donor stewardship, grantor communications, fundraising events, and community awareness activities that promote the financial sustainability of the organization.
• Identifies, writes, submits, and manages grant applications and funding proposals, or ensures those functions are completed through staff, contractors, or other authorized support.
• Encourages appropriate staff participation in decision-making, promotes clear communication, and delegates responsibility consistent with each employee’s role, training, and experience.

Personnel & Supervision

• Administers board-approved personnel policies.
• Hires, supervises, evaluates, and terminates staff using approved procedures and policies.
• Oversees the writing of job descriptions, assigns appropriate PayScale ranges, conducts performance evaluations, and makes recommendations to the board of directors regarding salary increases that affect the agency budget.
• Ensures adequate training opportunities are available for all staff and contractors.
• Promotes a professional, trauma-informed, ethical, and collaborative workplace culture.
• Supports staff wellbeing, role clarity, accountability, and appropriate supervision in a field involving secondary traumatic stress.
• Encourages appropriate staff participation in decision-making, promotes clear communication, and delegates responsibility consistent with each employee’s role, training, and experience.

Board Relations

• Works with the Board Chair to prepare meeting agendas, reports, and materials for board meetings.
• Reports regularly to the board of directors on the status of the agency, finances, programs, grants, staffing, risks, and strategic priorities.
• Supports board orientation, development, and engagement in governance, fundraising, strategic planning, and community relations.
• Works with the board to meet the fundraising goals of the agency.
• Participates in board and committee meetings as requested and appropriate.
• Other duties as assigned by the Board of Directors.
• Assists the Board in understanding organizational needs, risks, opportunities, and resource requirements necessary to fulfill AWAKE’s mission.

Community & Public Relations

• Serves as the primary spokesperson for the agency and chief liaison to community groups and the press.
• Develops promotional material and marketing items to promote programs and services of the agency.
• Creates and maintains the agency website; oversees all social media publications.
• Oversees development and growth of agency public awareness, including the promotion of child abuse prevention and awareness campaigns.
• Provides presentations, tours, and training to community members as needed.
• Promotes a positive image of the agency and the services provided within.
• Develops and maintains good relations with community members.
• Maintains membership and good standing with national and state organizations that provide guidance, oversight, and accreditation of CAC’s

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree required. Bachelor’s degree in human services, social work, nonprofit management, public administration, criminal justice, psychology, counseling, victim services, business administration, or a related field preferred. A graduate degree in an urelated field may substitute for an undergraduate degree in an unrelated field.
• Knowledge of, or ability to quickly develop knowledge of, child abuse dynamics, victim advocacy, multidisciplinary team response, and child advocacy center standards.
•  Demonstrated experience with staff supervision, fiscal management, budgeting, grant management, fundraising, and community partnerships. Career progression must be evident.
• Excellent leadership, written & verbal communication, relationship building, problem-solving and team management skills.
• Ability to manage sensitive information, maintain confidentiality, and work effectively with law enforcement, DSS, prosecutors, medical providers, mental health providers, schools, funders, and community partners.
• Track record of fund development skills including grants, foundations, fundraising events, etc.
• Ability to work occasional evening or weekend hours and travel locally, regionally, or statewide as needed for meetings, training, outreach, fundraising, accreditation, and agency business.
• Proficiency with Microsoft 365 and ability to use financial, case management, and data systems required for agency operations.
• Valid North Carolina driver’s license or ability to obtain one within a reasonable period after hire.
• Ability to successfully complete post-offer background, reference, and driving record check.
• Reside within a reasonable driving distance to AWAKE’s service area or be willing to relocate.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience leading a nonprofit, victim services organization, children’s advocacy center, or human services program.
• Experience with CACNC standards, NCA accreditation, MDT coordination, forensic interviewing, victim advocacy, or child abuse response.
• Experience with federal, state, local, and private grant funding.
• Knowledge of community resources and partner agencies in Jackson and Swain Counties.
• Experience developing resources, partnerships, and services in rural communities.
• Experience leading teams through organizational change, transition, or growth.

Physical Demands: Standing, sitting, walking including up and down stairs, typing, writing, seeing, reading and viewing documents and videos, verbal and written communication, organization and data entry, operating standard office equipment.

Mental Demands: Good judgement, discernment, critical thinking, empathy, compassion, social and emotional intelligence and regulation, managing secondary trauma responses, providing legally accurate court testimony, team collaboration and ability to follow instructions.

Position Summary:

The Forensic Interview Specialist conducts forensic interviews for children who have experienced all forms of abuse using nationally accredited interview models. Forensic Interviewers participate in the multidisciplinary team (MDT) and monthly case review sessions, maintain standards of the Forensic Interview program established by NCA standards, and oversee any back-up forensic interviewers. Further, Forensic Interview Specialists may be subpoenaed to testify in court. There is 32 hours of specialized training required and provided to perform this role and 8 hours of additional training every two years. All AWAKE Forensic Interview Specialists must be cross trained in victim advocacy (training is required and provided) and assist with community outreach and fundraising efforts to benefit the organization.

Essential Job Functions:

1. Conduct developmentally and culturally sensitive forensic interviews of children in a legally sound manner, meet the needs of prosecution and investigating agencies, and NCA Accreditation standards.
2. Participate in Pre- and Post- case staffing with the MDT at the time of the forensic interview appointment.
3. Complete full summaries following each interview and enter them accordingly into the agency database.
4. Ensure all investigating agencies receive copies/access of the forensic interview.
5. Participate in monthly Case Review sessions as part of the MDT.
6. Update all cases in the agency database related to Forensic Interview data.
7. Provide testimony in court when subpoenaed to do so.
8. Communicate effectively on behalf of the agency with MDT partners and within the community.
9. Schedule investigative appointments to be seen at the CAC.
10. Participate in essential staff meetings, training, and necessary community task force meetings regarding the safety of children.
11. Maintain a positive relationship with MDT members to ensure program success.
12. Work with the Victim Advocate & Medical Director to determine the needs of the victim and their families.
13. Serve as a speaker/presenter, when needed, on topics relating to forensic interviewing of child abuse victims and AWAKE CAC services.
14. Update team members of current interview techniques and protocols, research occurring in the field of forensic interviewing and emerging issues, case law or other challenges to the forensic interview process.
15. Assist in the gathering and reporting of program data, quality assurance, and outcome evaluation as assigned.
16. Supervise interviews that are conducted by back-up interviewers at AWAKE CAC.
17. Be cross-trained and certified in victim advocacy and serve as a Victim Advocate.
18. Attend training to maintain education, licensures, credentials, and certifications required for this position including peer review and mentoring with other CAC forensic interviewers.
19. Consistently demonstrate professional behaviors and leadership skills that are in support of the mission of AWAKE CAC and serves as an advocate for the agency and its clients.
20. Participate in agency fundraising activities and projects.
21. Perform such other duties as assigned by the Executive Director or a designee.

Physical Demands: Standing, sitting, walking including up and down stairs, keyboarding, writing, seeing, reading and viewing documents and videos, verbal and written communication, accuracy, organization and data entry, operating standard and specialized office equipment.

Mental Demands: Good judgement, discernment, critical thinking, empathy, compassion, social and emotional intelligence and regulation, managing secondary trauma responses, providing legally accurate court testimony, rapport building with children, team collaboration and ability to follow instructions.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree
• Willingness and ability to undergo successful training in nationally accredited forensic interviewing models.
• Previous experience in providing social work/legal/advocacy services in a community setting.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills to maintain strong, positive relationships with individuals of diverse backgrounds, cultures, and experiences.
• Ability to understand and utilize forensic interviewing and data management systems and software.
• Ability to work independently while also functioning effectively as part of a team.
• Possess writing and computer skills to complete forms, reports, and other written materials.
• Have a working knowledge of the dynamics of child abuse.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in social work, counseling, criminal justice, psychology, or related field preferred.
• Previous Forensic Interviewing experience.
• Trained in nationally accredited forensic interviewing models.

Position Summary:

The Forensic Interview Specialist conducts forensic interviews for children who have experienced all forms of abuse using nationally accredited interview models. Forensic Interviewers participate in the multidisciplinary team (MDT) and monthly case review sessions, maintain standards of the Forensic Interview program established by NCA standards, and oversee any back-up forensic interviewers. Further, Forensic Interview Specialists may be subpoenaed to testify in court. There is 32 hours of specialized training required and provided to perform this role and 8 hours of additional training every two years. All AWAKE Forensic Interview Specialists must be cross trained in victim advocacy (training is required and provided) and assist with community outreach and fundraising efforts to benefit the organization.

Essential Job Functions:

1. Conduct developmentally and culturally sensitive forensic interviews of children in a legally sound manner, meet the needs of prosecution and investigating agencies, and NCA Accreditation standards.
2. Participate in Pre- and Post- case staffing with the MDT at the time of the forensic interview appointment.
3. Complete full summaries following each interview and enter them accordingly into the agency database.
4. Ensure all investigating agencies receive copies/access of the forensic interview.
5. Participate in monthly Case Review sessions as part of the MDT.
6. Update all cases in the agency database related to Forensic Interview data.
7. Provide testimony in court when subpoenaed to do so.
8. Communicate effectively on behalf of the agency with MDT partners and within the community.
9. Schedule investigative appointments to be seen at the CAC.
10. Participate in essential staff meetings, training, and necessary community task force meetings regarding the safety of children.
11. Maintain a positive relationship with MDT members to ensure program success.
12. Work with the Victim Advocate & Medical Director to determine the needs of the victim and their families.
13. Serve as a speaker/presenter, when needed, on topics relating to forensic interviewing of child abuse victims and AWAKE CAC services.
14. Update team members of current interview techniques and protocols, research occurring in the field of forensic interviewing and emerging issues, case law or other challenges to the forensic interview process.
15. Assist in the gathering and reporting of program data, quality assurance, and outcome evaluation as assigned.
16. Supervise interviews that are conducted by back-up interviewers at AWAKE CAC.
17. Be cross-trained and certified in victim advocacy and serve as a Victim Advocate.
18. Attend training to maintain education, licensures, credentials, and certifications required for this position including peer review and mentoring with other CAC forensic interviewers.
19. Consistently demonstrate professional behaviors and leadership skills that are in support of the mission of AWAKE CAC and serves as an advocate for the agency and its clients.
20. Participate in agency fundraising activities and projects.
21. Perform such other duties as assigned by the Executive Director or a designee.

Physical Demands: Standing, sitting, walking including up and down stairs, keyboarding, writing, seeing, reading and viewing documents and videos, verbal and written communication, accuracy, organization and data entry, operating standard and specialized office equipment.

Mental Demands: Good judgement, discernment, critical thinking, empathy, compassion, social and emotional intelligence and regulation, managing secondary trauma responses, providing legally accurate court testimony, rapport building with children, team collaboration and ability to follow instructions.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree
• Willingness and ability to undergo successful training in nationally accredited forensic interviewing models.
• Previous experience in providing social work/legal/advocacy services in a community setting.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills to maintain strong, positive relationships with individuals of diverse backgrounds, cultures, and experiences.
• Ability to understand and utilize forensic interviewing and data management systems and software.
• Ability to work independently while also functioning effectively as part of a team.
• Possess writing and computer skills to complete forms, reports, and other written materials.
• Have a working knowledge of the dynamics of child abuse.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in social work, counseling, criminal justice, psychology, or related field preferred.
• Previous Forensic Interviewing experience.
• Trained in nationally accredited forensic interviewing models.

Position Summary: The Victim Advocate provides services to child victims and their non-offending caregivers served by the agency and the multi-disciplinary team (MDT) of professionals associated with the case. The Victim Advocate meets the needs of the victims and the non-offending family members according to CAC established guidelines, focusing their advocacy efforts on the judicial process. There is 24 hours of specialized training required and provided to perform this role and a minimum of 8 additional hours of training every two years.

Essential Job Functions:

1. Establish relationships with the child and non-offending caregiver of children seen at the CAC.
2. Contact child/non-offending caregiver within two weeks, or as needed based on case dynamics, of the interview for follow up and thereafter as needed.
3. Provide pertinent case information to the non-offending caregiver upon request.
4. Maintain contact with victims and family throughout the investigative phase and prosecution to inform them of the status of the case, upcoming meetings or court dates, assessing needs of the family and victim, and providing crisis intervention.
5. Accompany the victim and family to legal hearings as needed.
6. Document all services provided to clients in the agency database according to agency requirements and maintain tracking of cases entered in the judicial system.
7. Conduct surveys for the state-wide Outcome Measurement System (OMS) Program through client needs assessments, initial caregiver surveys, and follow-up caregiver surveys, enter survey data into the database in a timely manner for regular statistical reporting.
8. Evaluate services needed by the child/non-offending caregiver and refer and follow through those services (i.e., therapeutic counseling, physical or other mental health, victim assistance, housing assistance etc.).
9. Remain informed of all community services available to the child and non-offending caregiver.
10. Maintain & provide updated informational packets to the non-offending caregiver of child victim.
11. Prepare and maintain initial case file folders.
12. Participate in pre- and post-case staffing and regular case review sessions.
13. Provide court advocacy, court preparation, victim rights and support for victims and families, in coordination with the District Attorney’s Office.
14. Enter and extract information and data from established databases to generate reports as required.
15. Recognize and respect the impact and implication of decisions made by the child and non-offending caregiver.
16. Attend conferences and workshops as assigned.
17. Create accurate documents, lists, charts, and tables.
18. Use designated office equipment (facsimile, copier, phone system, computer) effectively.
19. Establish an effective working rapport with external agencies and personnel.
20. Organize and prioritize assigned work and schedules time to accommodate work demands, turnaround time requirements, and commitment.
21. Understand and comply with policies and procedures related to medical matters, including patient medical records confidentiality and release of information.
22. Actively participate in agency meetings, committees, conferences and in-service trainings.
23. Maintain confidentiality of information.
24. Perform other duties and responsibilities as assigned by the Executive Director or a designee.

Physical Demands: Standing, sitting, walking including up and down stairs, typing, writing, seeing, reading and viewing documents and videos, verbal and written communication, organization and data entry, operating standard office equipment

Mental Demands: Good judgement, discernment, critical thinking, empathy, compassion, social and emotional intelligence and regulation, managing secondary trauma responses, providing legally accurate court testimony, team collaboration and ability to follow instructions.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Associate’s degree
• Experience direct service working with abused children and families.
• Experience with or knowledge of the criminal justice system.
• Knowledge of the multidisciplinary team approach to investigation of child sexual abuse victims and families.
• Ability to work well with other disciplines.
• Ability to communicate well orally and in written form.
• Ability to work independently as well as part of a team.
• Strong organizational skills and ability to manage resource materials.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Associate’s Degree in Human Services or related field with an area of expertise in child abuse and neglect.
• Bi-lingual (English & Spanish) preferred.

Mountain Child Advocacy Center’s Mental Health Coordinator provides support services to caregivers of child victims of abuse with the goal of helping families to engage and remain in mental health services. The Mental Health Coordinator receives referrals directly from the Clinical Family Advocate, Mission Child Safety Team, DHHS, Law Enforcement, and other community agencies. Appropriate referral needs include, but are not limited to: advocacy, therapy services, and resource needs. The Mental Health Coordinator aims to enhance problem solving and coping capacity of the caregivers while linking and improving the systems that may support the family.

Essential Job Functions:

Establish and execute Vision, Mission, and Core Values by:

• Ensuring agency adherence to NCA Child Advocacy Center Accreditation standards, laws, policies, and accompanying procedures
• Developing cohesive forensic/medical/advocacy documentation per grant source, United States, North Carolina, and MCAC standards
• Ensuring the confidentiality of sensitive information
• Supporting a culturally and linguistically competent organization

Deliver a range of clinical services to support families recovering from trauma by:

• Maintain positive professional relationships with colleagues and partner organizations that support MCAC families, including medical professionals, DHHS, GAL, foster parents, law enforcement, attorneys, and therapists
• Foster strong professional relationships with community mental health agencies and referral sources
• Provide assessments and crisis intervention to families and assist in coordinating services
• Conduct biopsychosocial assessments and trauma screenings and connect children and families with appropriate treatment
• Maintain licensure standards and meet all qualification deadlines

Serves as the Referrals Specialist by:

• Providing immediate crisis intervention, emotional support, and advocacy for non- offending caregivers
• Maintaining consistent contact with families, tracking services, and ensuring appropriate referrals are made
• Identifying needs and linking families to mental health, medical, legal, educational, and other community resources
• Staffing referrals with the clinical team to ensure evidence-based practices are maintained
• Navigating EHR and entering notes in a timely and consistent manner

Maintains credentials by

• Engaging in professional development activities
• Submitting CEUs or professional development documentation prior to the deadline
• Providing a copy of current credentials for personnel files
• Maintaining resumes or CVs and providing those updates and training certificates
• Maintaining a clinical knowledge base with a social justice lens

Physical Demands Related to Essential Job Functions:

• Proficient and professional in oral and written communication
• Mastery of client database
• Ability to perform sedentary work, exerting up to ten (10) pounds of force occasionally
• Proficient visual acuity to read, analyze data and figures, operate a computer
• Intermediate computer skills required, including knowledge of Microsoft Office products and ability to use electronic health records

Mental Demands Related to Essential Job Functions:

• Ability to work directly with children and adults in crisis situations
• Proficient in ethical decision-making
• Excellent oral communication and interpersonal skills
• Emotional intelligence within individual, agency team, clients, and MDT partners
• Ability to manage difficult or emotional situations related to trauma
• Maintain professional and therapeutic relationships with ethical and appropriate boundaries
• Excellent organization and time management skills
• Highly self-motivated but work well in a team setting
• Competent in working with people of diverse cultural and ethnic backgrounds

Education and Experience Requirements:

• Master’s degree with provisional license, or ability to be licensed within two months of hire
• Experience in the field of health and human services, such as social work, mental health, or related field
• Experience handling referrals in a workplace
• Knowledge of mental health and social service resources in the local community
• Experience working with children and families who may have experienced trauma, and the ability to discuss difficult subjects with children and their caregivers
• Experience providing crisis intervention and identifying, accessing, and coordinating community mental health and social service resources for children and families
• Proficiency with Microsoft Windows Operating Systems, Word, Excel, Access, PowerPoint, Outlook, and Adobe
• Experience in keeping HIPAA-compliant client and case records

Special Considerations:

• Spanish bilingualism preferred
• The Mental Health Coordinator must be emotionally prepared, daily, to interact with alleged child abuse victims and their families in a professionally compassionate manner
• Mountain Child Advocacy Center is an equal opportunity provider of employment and services and will not discriminate based on race, color, national origin, ancestry, religious creed, sex, age, disability, or veteran status

About One Place:

One Place, a 501C3, believes that one child hurt is too many. For more than 26 years, One Place has focused on ending child abuse, increasing capacity for child mental health, and ensuring educational readiness. At One Place, we create hope for children and families by connecting our community to resources. We seek employees with an entrepreneurial mindset who see transformation possible in our community. Our organization focuses on organizational health internally so we can contribute to wellness in our community.

The Child Advocacy Center provides a compassionate response to the trauma of child abuse in a safe and child friendly environment. Children are referred to the Child Advocacy Center from law enforcement and child protective services due to suspected sexual and physical abuse and/or neglect. Through specialized services such as family advocacy, forensic interviews, comprehensive medical evaluations and mental health services, suspected victims birth through age 17 receive quality and timely care by sharing their story and beginning their path to a healthy future.

The Child Advocacy Center’s mission: Because children are no small matter, together, at One Place, we provide a caring and comprehensive response to children hurt by abuse – Hope and Healing begin here.

Position Summary

Under direction of the CAC Clinical Services Director, the Child Advocacy Center (CAC) Mental Health Therapist provides evidence supported, trauma-focused mental health services to child victims and their supportive, non-offending family members. This position also serves as a back-up forensic interviewer. The primary responsibility of this position is to provide mental health services; additional duties will include forensic interviewing. This position adheres to clinical standards, professional codes of ethics, funders, HIPAA compliance, agency policies and standards set forth by the Onslow County Interagency Agreement & Multidisciplinary Team (MDT) Protocol, the National Children’s Alliance (NCA) and Children’s Advocacy Centers North Carolina (CACNC).

Key Responsibilities

• Provides evidence supported, trauma-focused mental health services, including individual, group, and family therapy to child victims and their supportive, non-offending family members
• Administers evidence-based assessments to inform treatment
• Develops individualized treatment plan for child clients and other family members
• Provide referrals to other community services as needed
• Participate in individual clinical supervision and group clinical supervision
• Participate in peer review and continuing education activities
• Collaborate with all members of the staff and multidisciplinary teams to ensure coordinated comprehensive care for clients
• Provides clinical consultation to CAC Staff and MDT Partners
• Maintains confidential documentation of client case and progress
• Follows all mental health/therapy standards, protocols, policies, and procedures set forth by OPCAC, NCA, and CACNC
• Conducts developmentally appropriate, legally sound forensic interviews on an as-needed basis with children ages 3-17 who are involved in child abuse investigations
• Maintains qualifications through training and participation in quarterly peer review; remains current with forensic interviewing, child abuse and child development research, literature and best practice
• Attend and facilitate trainings as requested
• Provide expert and/or fact testimony in criminal and civil courts regarding child abuse issues
• Participates in on-going initiatives of organization and programs to include philanthropy
• Participates in agency meetings and trainings
• Various other duties and special projects to be assigned by Clinical Services Director

Qualifications

• Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW), Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor (LCMHC) or Licensed Marriage or Family Therapist (LMFT).
• Prior training, credentialing and experience providing evidenced-based treatment modalities for childhood trauma required.
• 2-4 years required of clinical experience providing services to children preferred
• Successful, documented completion of a 40-hour forensic interview training by a national recognized organization or willingness to become trained
• Experience with Children’s Advocacy Centers or with Child Welfare/Human Services is favored
• Excellent interpersonal, verbal and written communication skills
• Ability to plan and prioritize work is essential
• Strong organizational and time management skills
• Ability to work in databases
• Ability to work both independently and as a member of various teams
• Displays leadership and professional integrity
• Demonstrates ability to hold self and others accountable
• Proven ability to work effectively with diverse populations and as a member of multidisciplinary teams with a willingness to appreciate and value different points of view
• Extended work hours are necessary on occasion
• Passion for the work is critical and necessary