POSITION SUMMARY

The Director of the Jefferson County Child Advocacy Center (CAC) works with the community including and most closely with the countys Multidisciplinary Team (MDT) to develop a CAC that provides coordinated, compassionate services to children affected by abuse and their families. The Director coordinates an MDT comprised of professionals from child protective services, legal/prosecution, law enforcement, medical, mental health, victim advocacy, and other agencies to provide the most appropriate services to victims and their families. The Director develops and oversees a process leading to the formation of an accredited CAC by National Childrens Alliance (NCA) Accreditation Standards by the fall of 2027 or earlier. The position requires a unique understanding of national, state, and local issues to guide and situate the CAC in providing the most appropriate services while adhering to NCA Accreditation Standards. The position requires a process mindset and the ability to manage traumatic and complex matters with the greatest of care for clients, partners, staff, self, community, and the CAC as a whole.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

In adherence to state and federal law, Jefferson County MDT Confidentiality Agreement, and guided by NAC Accreditation Standards, the Director will:

Coordinate the MDT

• Act as a liaison among all MDT partners and relevant outside community agencies to promote effective working relationships, ensure the smooth flow of information, and minimize conflicts between subsystems
• Foster cooperation and increase collaboration among MDT members
• Follow protocols among programs and agencies to increase the effectiveness of comprehensive services
• Uphold and ensure compliance with MDT confidentiality agreement(s)
• Convene MDT every month (or more frequently as needed): schedule meetings, prepare agendas, communicate with all attendees, and make arrangements for any necessary accommodations
• Coordinate and facilitate MDT case reviews
• Coordinate MDT debriefing sessions for difficult or traumatic cases, as needed
• Set up and maintain case tracking software (NCAtrak or similar)
• Gather data for grant reporting, ensuring reports are submitted promptly
• Provide MDT orientation to all new members
• Enhance the professional skills and knowledge of the individual MDT members by researching and providing training opportunities

Develop the CAC

• Directly staff the Coordinate the MDT duties listed above (until a separate MDT Coordinator is hired, if indicated by a yet-to-be-created CAC staffing plan)
• Facilitate the creation of a community-driven, strategic plan to become an NCA Accredited CAC by the fall of 2027
• Oversee the progress of the CAC strategic plan and implement regular evaluation mechanisms to track and guide it towards becoming an NCA Accredited CAC
• Oversee the creation of CAC plans for (1) staffing, (2) procurement (e.g., physical CAC location, equipment), (3) process and policy development, and (4) financial sustainability consistent with becoming an NCA Accredited CAC
• Recruit, hire, and onboard essential staff and ensure required training for all staff
• Oversee the scheduling and coordination of joint forensic interviews and medical examinations with MDT members, CAC staff, and families
• Establish and maintain credibility and good public relations with significant formal and informal partners to mobilize resources for current and future clients
• Develop a check-and-balances mechanism to ensure that the interest and rights of victims are addressed and that processes are improved as needed

Sustain the CAC

• Provide ongoing, direct supervision for management staff and indirect supervision for all staff (e.g., weekly staff meetings)
• Coordinate and provide joint training regarding the MDT and topics relevant to the CAC
• Consult with employees to promote staff development
• Remain current on state and federal policy, requirements, laws, and regulations governing the programs and services
• Remain current on NCA Accreditation Standards and reporting and provide leadership in consistently maintaining the Standards
• Remain current on new research and developments in the areas of forensic interviewing, social work, clinical mental health practices, and other CAC disciplines
• Maintain systems and records that provide for the proper evaluation, control, and documentation of assigned operations, ensuring accountability
• Work with MDT to review and update team guidelines, procedures, agreements, etc. on an annual basis
• In partnership with the YMCA CEO, maintain the financial sustainability of CAC including budgeting, grant management, fundraising, etc.
• Identify and address service gaps and breakdowns in coordination between agencies and individuals
• Ensure culturally competent services are provided to all without regard to race, ethnicity, age, religion, socioeconomic status, ability/developmental/intellectual diversity, gender, or sexual orientation.
• Promote programs and services to the community, attend various public meetings, work with MDT partners to increase public awareness of abuse/violence and programs
• Represent the agency by participating in various committees and organizations to exchange information, provide input, and remain current on program developments

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

Any combination of education and experiences listed below will be considered as long as it provides the desired skills, knowledge, and abilities to perform the Essential Duties and Responsibilities of this job. Reasonable accommodations will be made to ensure individuals with disabilities are to perform essential functions.

Required

• A Bachelors degree in a related field of study
• Acceptable completion of 40 hours of required training within 6 months of hire
• Acceptable completion of 12 hours of required training on child abuse, neglect, and sexual assault within 6 months of hire
• At least 2 years of supervisory experience
• At least 3 years of professional experience working with children and families who have experienced abuse and trauma
• Demonstrated ability to facilitate highly effective, multi-agency programs
• Demonstrated ability to work as part of a team with maturity, professionalism, positive attitude, tact, creativity, and good judgment
• Research and process-oriented, able to think through processes and foresee challenges to develop procedures that meet the unique needs of our county
• Strong critical thinking, organizational, and problem-solving skills
• A thorough ability to handle complaints, mediate disputes, resolve grievances and conflicts, and negotiate with others in unpredictable and stressful situations
• Ability to manage and prioritize simultaneously multiple competing tasks/requirements
• Impeccable ethics
• Valid WA State Drivers License; must have a safe, reliable vehicle with proof of automobile insurance
• Driving Abstract with an acceptable driving report indicating a safe driving history
• Comprehensive Background Check; must have an acceptable report at the time of hire and every two years afterward

Preferred

• A Masters degree in a related field of study
• Experience in grant management
• Professional experience within criminal justice, victim support, and/or the child welfare system

• Knowledge of childhood development and behavior, child maltreatment, family systems, trauma-informed care, and best-practice standards
• Ability to listen to the ideas of others and to accept feedback from others to continuously improve
• Polished, experienced communication and facilitation skills with the capacity to engage diverse constituencies
• Proven, excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Excellent technology skills

WORKING CONDITIONS

• Work is performed primarily indoors
• Work requires driving throughout Jefferson County and beyond
• Work may be performed in other environments where the employee may be exposed to sub-sanitary environments, pets, passive smoking, and/or risks associated with driving
• Exposure to potential verbal and physical aggression with risk of personal safety issues
• Exposure to potential secondary trauma as a result of exposure to disclosed information
• Work may involve frequent situations involving domestic violence, abuse, family breakdown, conflict, and aggression
• Work is always highly collaborative

PHYSICAL ABILITIES
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.

• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to use a computer for extended periods, including long periods of sitting, keyboard entry, use of office equipment, use of a computer monitor
• Ability to speak concisely and effectively communicate
• Be able to communicate using a computer and phone/smart device
• The employee frequently is required to sit and reach and must be able to move around the work environment
• Visual and auditory ability to respond to critical situations ability to act swiftly in an emergency
• Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, and the ability to adjust
• May require physical effort and cardiac endurance while reaching with hands and arms, stooping, kneeling, crouching, standing, walking, balancing, bending, leaning, kneeling, walking, and climbing
• Carrying supplies, up to 25lbs.

YMCA COMPETENCIES (Team Leader):

Mission Advancement: Models and teaches the Ys values. Ensures a high level of service with a commitment to changing lives. Provides volunteers with orientation, training, development, and recognition. Cultivates relationships to support fund-raising.

Collaboration: Champions inclusion activities, strategies, and initiatives. Builds relationships to create small communities. Empathetically listens and communicates for understanding when negotiating and dealing with conflict. Effectively tailors communications to the appropriate audience. Provides staff with feedback, coaching, guidance, and support.

Operational Effectiveness: Provides others with frameworks for making decisions. Conducts prototypes to support the launching of programs and activities. Develops plans and manages best practices through engagement of the team. Effectively creates and manages budgets. Holds staff accountable for high-quality results using a formal process to measure progress.

Personal Growth: Shares new insights. Facilitates change, models adaptability, and an awareness of the impact of change. Utilizes non-threatening methods to address sensitive issues and inappropriate behavior or performance. Has the functional and technical knowledge and skills required to perform well; uses best practices and demonstrates up-to-date knowledge and skills in technology.