Advocacy Supervisor

Are you looking for a meaningful career in a position that allows you to make a difference in your community? 

Come work at Voices for Children and be part of a team that makes a difference in the lives of children and families in our community and takes pride in serving our children with the highest level of excellence and care.

Voices for Children is a respected, local nonprofit organization focused on fulfilling our mission to advocate for the needs of children in foster care. Consistently ranked top CASA program out of 1,000 programs nationwide, our team takes pride in serving our children with the highest level of excellence and care. Come to work at Voices for Children and you’ll enjoy a friendly, warm culture with the following generous benefits for our full-time employees:

• 12 vacation days 
• 13 paid holidays
• 5 additional days of paid time off after Christmas Day through New Year’s Day
• Medical (one plan is free), Dental, Vision 
• Flexible spending account
• 403b plan for retirement savings
• A welcoming work environment
• Alternate Work Schedule: Choose from a 4/10 schedule (4 days a week/10 hours a day ) or 5/8 schedule (5 days per week 8 hours per day)
• And more.....

About Us

Voices for Children is the Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) program for San Diego and Riverside Counties. The mission of Voices for Children is to transform the lives of abused children by providing them with Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASAs).  VFC believes that every child deserves a safe and permanent home, and to that end, our vision is to provide a CASA to every child in foster care who needs one, monitor every court file in the system, and advocate to improve the lives of San Diego County’s foster children.

Recruited, trained, and supervised by VFC, our volunteer CASAs interface with key agencies, legal counsel, and community resources to identify and protect the best interests of each foster child.  CASAs act as fact finders for the juvenile court judge to ensure decisions are based on the most current and pertinent information about each child’s situation.  CASAs also provide emotional support as they guide their case children through the complex foster care system.  CASAs strive to ensure that each child’s unique needs are met. 

ABOUT THE POSITION

An Advocacy Supervisor will:  (1) ensure that the dependency children assigned to Court Appointed Special Advocate volunteers receive the advocacy they need; (2) ensure that the children’s best interests are presented to the Court, by Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASAs); (3) ensure that the needs of the volunteers are met and that the volunteers are supported; (4) ensure that the policies and procedures of VFC are followed by all volunteers; (5) carry out all assigned responsibilities; (6) assist with volunteer recruitment, training and retention efforts; and (7) promote the mission of Voices for Children in the community.  

ESSENTIAL DUTIES

Staffing, Supervision & Support

• Maintain an ongoing caseload involving a total of approximately 40-50 CASAs.
• Provide supervision and support to CASAs in the exercise of their duties.
• Establish at least monthly contact with all volunteers and maintain detailed records concerning all contact with volunteers and other parties involved in a child’s case.
• Conduct annual evaluations with each volunteer.   Provide a written record of the evaluation in the volunteer file.
• Provide support to other Advocacy Supervisors and the volunteer recruitment and training staff as needed and as assigned by the program management and/or executive leadership teams.
• Participate in the volunteer candidate interview, screening and selection process.
• Participate in case matching/volunteer assignment process.
• Staff courthouse offices or courtrooms or in rotation with other Advocacy Supervisors or Case Liaisons.
• Attend and support CASAs at any and all team meetings, and Individualized Education Program meetings.  
• Provide support to the program management and/or executive leadership team as needed.

 Documentation

• Review, edit and approve the accuracy and appropriateness of the CASAs’ court reports and related communications to the Court and agencies.  Type, copy, and route reports as necessary.
• Maintain accurate records concerning all cases.

 Organizational & Program Development & Training 

• Assist in the implementation and evaluation of the VFC strategic plan.
• Maintain substantial knowledge regarding the CASA concept and Voices for Children policies and procedures.
• Sustain a working knowledge of court policies and procedures for the purposes of assisting CASAs in the advocacy of their assigned case children.
• Facilitate and/or instruct volunteer training.
• Participate in development and evaluation of volunteer training and continuing education curriculum.
• Plan and facilitate small group and continuing education sessions for volunteers in rotation with other program team staff.
• Serve as a peer mentor to other VFC staff.

 Direct Service

• Provide coverage at courthouse offices or courtrooms or in rotation with other Advocacy Supervisors or Case Liaisons
• Attend court hearings with or in place of CASA volunteers as necessary to advise the Court as to status of a child.
• Participate in case intake and case reviews
• Refer all requests for information that could be construed as legal advice to the counsel representing the child in the relevant case.
• Refrains from providing legal consultation, legal representation and/or preparation of legal documents intended to secure rights for children when providing at all times. Refer all requests of this nature to the counsel representing the child in the relevant case.

 Other

• Serve on internal and external committees and/or working groups as needed.
• Continually work to further the Mission and Vision of Voices for Children.
• All other duties as assigned by Voices for Children’s program management and/or executive leadership team.

JOB QUALIFICATIONS

Essential Criteria

• College Degree or equivalent (e.g. relevant experience in volunteer management, social work, case management, program development, or related field in the public and/or non-profit sector)  
• Proficient with current Microsoft Office Suite, including Excel, Word, and Outlook
• Excellent writing, editing, and proofreading skills
• Willingness to learn and desire to grow professionally
• Access to reliable transportation to occasionally attend events that may not be accessible via public transportation (e.g. bus, trolley)
• Must meet all screening requirements as set down in the California Rules of Court, Rule 5.655.

 Preferred Criteria

• Bachelor’s Degree
• 2 years’ relevant work experience
• Experience working in a non-profit
• Volunteer work experience

COMPENSATION & WORK SCHEDULE

Starting Pay is $21.74+ per hour depending on experience.  Standard work week is 40 hours; however, employees are expected to work any additional time necessary to meet deadlines and complete assignments. Evenings and weekends may be required.  Additional hours are subject to overtime pay. The VFC office is open for business Monday through Friday:  8:00 AM to 5:00 PM.

Physical Demands & Work Environment

The physical demands and work environment described are representative of those that must be met to successfully perform the essential function of this job.  Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals to perform the essential functions.

Physical Requirements

• Able to sit for prolonged periods of time
• Able to sit at a desk and view a computer screen for up to two hours
• Able to speak into and use a telephone for long periods of time

Work Environment

• Professional office environment
• Fast paced working with multi-level distractions

Special Conditions

• Able to work extended hours as needed, with some nights and weekends required during special events
• Positions based in San Diego County: Occasional driving required in San Diego County.

HOW TO APPLY

Please go to the following link  and click “Apply for this Job” to apply: https://jsco.re/9v0ov.   No phone calls, please. Position open immediately and will remain open until filled.

NOTE: Your application should include:

• Cover letter
• Resume

PLEASE NOTE: In addition to your cover letter and resume, you must submit an essay of no more than 500 words describing a difficult decision you have made recently & how you made that decision.

The person who is offered the position will undergo a background check, including a DMV record review, FBI and DOJ fingerprinting, and a check of the Child Abuse Central Index. Our hiring process includes an initial phone interview and at least 2-3 in-person interviews with current VFC staff. Please submit all application materials to be considered. 

EEO STATEMENT

Voices for Children (VFC) is an equal opportunity employer and an inclusive organization whose staff and volunteers value, represent, and serve individuals of diverse backgrounds, identities, cultures, and abilities.  All aspects of employment including the decision to hire, promote, discipline, or discharge, will be based on merit, competence, performance, and business needs. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, marital status, age, national origin, ancestry, physical or mental disability, medical condition, pregnancy, genetic information, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, veteran status, or any other status protected under federal, state, or local law.”

We embrace the guiding principle that all children should be safe, have a permanent home, and have an opportunity to thrive. Inclusivity and equity are essential components of the advocacy for and protection of the children and families we serve. In order to provide high quality advocacy and serve the best of interests of children, we are similarly committed to advancing diversity and inclusion in our workforce. We celebrate and value our differences and are committed to providing an inclusive and welcoming environment.