Advocate Case Manager - Child Advocacy Center (CAC)

Job Summary

Coordinates visits of all patients to the Child Advocacy Center. Provides families and children support and advocacy including crisis intervention, education, and referrals to community resources. Provides brief case management and follow up following the initial CAC visit. Under the direction of the CAC Manager performs psychosocial evaluation of children and families seen at the CAC. Serves as a liaison between the family/child and investigating agencies.

Essential Functions

- Understands and satisfies the needs of the neonatal, infant, toddler, pre-school, school-age and adolescent patient with regard to their growth and development process, including offering counsel specific to the impact of the health care experience.
- Performs psychosocial evaluation of children/families referred to the Child Advocacy Center for medical/forensic assessment focused on the identification of factors supportive of abuse/neglect findings, including gathering and evaluating information and drawing meaningful conclusions. Identifies and utilizes individual and family strengths to provide consistent and quality care for each child.
- Provides limited telephone crisis intervention.
- Meets with and orients patients, families and professionals upon arrival to the CAC. Assists family in completion of any paperwork, forms or questionnaires that may be requested. Acts as a support person to facilitate and explain the evaluation process, provide emotional support and counsel throughout the visit. Acts as a liaison between the family and investigators to provide information about the progress of the evaluation.
- Uses good clinical skills and judgment in interacting with patients and families so as to ensure a smooth, timely, and patient-focused center visit. Assesses child and family needs and works closely with clinical staff to ensure that all patient service needs are identified and addressed.
- Provides information to families regarding Crime Victim Compensation and other victim related programs. Assists in completing necessary application forms as requested.
- Identifies and manages potentially unsafe situations. Engages in crisis intervention and de-escalation techniques as needed. Coordinates crisis management in conjunction with the CAC manager and staff per CAC protocol. Assists family with appropriate safety planning and system advocacy.
- Gathers pertinent medical and social history prior to the patient visit and appropriately documents this information. Ensures that this information is conveyed to the appropriate service provider prior to the patient visit.
- Works closely with Child Welfare caseworkers, family members and foster parents to assist in the development of timely and realistic plans to address identified health, mental health, and developmental needs of the patient.
- Provides case management of CAC patients to ensure that identified health problems and service needs are properly addressed following initiation of services. Provides community referrals and resources to patients and families based on their specific needs. Tracks and documents progress during and following CAC visit.

Legacy Essential Functions

- Provides personal advocacy and accompaniment on behalf of crime victims.
- Documents results of professional contact in an effective manner consistent with Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin policies.
- Maintains a positive relationship with county social workers and law enforcement personnel so as to ensure program success.
- Ensures that pertinent documents and materials are available to the appropriate investigators and caseworkers in a timely fashion.
- Maintains current list of providers, insurance panels, and community resources.
- Assists in the gathering and reporting of program data, quality assurance and outcome evaluation.
- In identified CAC locations, complete and maintain training in the Wisconsin Forensic Interview guideline and provide forensic interviews as assigned. The volume and frequency of Forensic Interviews completed monthly is determined based upon coverage and support needs of the location with an identified minimum, so as to maintain skills. Participate in weekly peer review for Forensic Interviewers.
- In identified CAC locations, provide coordination of cases of domestic minor sex trafficking and facilitates involvement and provides support to multidisciplinary team agencies.

Education:

- Bachelor's Degree in social work, psychology or related field. required

Experience:

- 1+ years previous experience providing direct social work services in a community setting. required

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

- Strong communication and interpersonal skills so as to maintain strong, positive relationships with individuals of diverse backgrounds and experiences.
- Adequate writing skills so as to complete forms, reports, and written materials.
- Demonstrates strong and creative problem solving skills.
- Strong organizational skills.