Waukegan, IL – Lake County – Part-Time Bilingual Victim Advocate

SALARY: $35,000.00 Annually
LOCATION: Waukegan, IL
JOB TYPE: Part-Time
JOB NUMBER: 02212
DEPARTMENT: State’s Attorney

General Description

Are you looking for a challenging role within an organization that provides rewarding compensation, an excellent benefit package and career growth opportunities? If so, Lake County Government is the place for you. Comprised of nearly 3,000 employees, it is our goal to positively serve the residents of Lake County while working with a purpose. We believe our employees should take pride in the work they accomplish while truly respecting a collaborative work environment.

The Victim Advocate works to provide crisis assessment and intervention, safety planning, referrals for additional services, ongoing support, information and case updates, and court advocacy where necessary to the Hispanic community. Works directly with all Multi-Disciplinary Team (MDT) members to ensure that the child’s and their family’s needs are addressed promptly.

The Lake County Children’s Advocacy Center (LCCAC) Advocate works with the child and non-offending family members from the point of disclosure until an investigation is complete and/or the child and caregivers’ needs have been addressed.

This position pays $35,000/year and is part-time at 20 hours/week.

Essential Functions

• Provide crisis intervention and emotional support to Hispanic victims and non-offending family members during the forensic interview, throughout the criminal investigation, and the duration of any involvement in the services provided at the LCCAC.
• Coordinate emergency assistance, when needed, for families i.e. hotels, transportation, clothing, daily needs, food, etc.
• Participate in after-hours/emergency cases.
• Assess the individual needs and cultural considerations for the child/family served and ensure MDT is addressing needs.
• Assist in procuring concrete services for children and non-offending caregivers.
• Work in conjunction with the LCCAC mental health team for trauma-focused support and case coordination.
• Participate in monthly LCCAC Case Review to communicate and discuss needs of family and ensure coordinated response.
• Participate in LCCAC outreach activities.
• Complete NCA training requirements, including, but not limited to:
  • Dynamics of child abuse
  • Trauma-Informed services
  • Crisis assessment intervention
  • Risk assessment/safety planning
  • Professional ethics
  • Role of MDT response
  • Understanding victim’s legal rights
  • Court education and support
  • Knowledge of community resources
  • Cultural; responsiveness and addressing implicit bias
  • Caregiver resilience
  • Domestic Violence
• Each Advocate must demonstrate a minimum of eight hours of continuing education every two years, through NCA approved entities.
• Maintain grant data and work closely with MDT Coordinator to get grant needs accomplished in a timely manner.
• Have an essential understanding of NCA Standards and implication of best practices and all NCA Accreditation requirements; complete all qualifying NCA reports and data requests.

Functions During Vertical Prosecution and During Criminal Case:

• Maintain contact with the Multi-Disciplinary Team before, during, and after the forensic interview to participate in information sharing, case updates; support family about the coordinated, multidisciplinary response, and assess needs of child and non-offending caregiver.
• During the forensic interview and throughout the investigation, the Advocate will meet with the non- offending family member to provide victim support services and trauma informed care.
• Coordinate forensic medical exams for the victim with specialized medical treatment.
• Be present at the LCCAC during pre-meeting forensic interview process to participate in information sharing with other MDT members.
• Maintain on-going contact with MDT throughout investigation to engage family and help them understand investigation/prosecution process and help ensure understanding of crime victims’ rights, vertical prosecution knowledge.
• Provide regular case status updates to families and investigations when appropriate.
• Accompany family; child to court proceedings.
• Work with Assistant State’s Attorney (ASA) assigned to investigation/criminal case to obtain information on case disposition.
• Maintain contact with law enforcement to provide most up to date information on victim contacts.
• Follows and implements the procedures described in the Rights of Crime Victims and Witnesses Act (725 ILCS 120).
• Counsels the victim/witness on the criminal process and what the witness should expect in court when charged.
• Keeps the victim/witness informed of changes in court dates, procedures, reasons for postponements and delays.
• Assesses the service needs of the victim/witness and makes the appropriate social service referrals to existing community agencies.
• Assists in the preparation of the victim impact statement.
• Provides orientation and referral to the Victim Compensation Program.

Knowledge Skills Abilities and Education Required

Skills Required:

• Knowledge and sensitivity to family systems and child victimization.
• Ability to work with a variety of professional disciplines.
• Ability to communicate with children.
• Ability to work in a team setting.
• Desire and ability to advocate for children.
• Knowledge of the Lake County CAC/CACI protocols.
• Ability to communicate/and or interact effectively with children, adolescents, and adults that receive services through the LCCAC.
• Excellent written and verbal communication.
• Ability to work well with a variety of disciplines.
• Knowledge of Lake County and the surrounding area community resources.
• Ability to keep, track, and organize caseload data for grant purposes.
• Ability to maintain caseload information.
• Knowledge of Microsoft Excel, OneNote, and SharePoint.
• Ability to balance and maintain personal organization and schedule for LCCAC cases and pending criminal cases.
• Understanding of court etiquette.
• Ability to communicate orally and in written form in Spanish and English.
• Ability to create materials in Spanish.

Minimum Experience/Education Required:

• Master’s degree in counseling, Psychology, Social Work, or related field preferred.
• Bachelor’s degree in counseling, psychology, social work, or related field plus experience working directly with children and experience within the criminal justice field.
• High School Diploma with 8-10 years working directly in child services.

Supplemental Information

This position is under the supervision of the Executive Director of the Lake County Children’s Advocacy Center.

Lake County offers a competitive salary and benefit package. We also offer flexible working hours, and a comprehensive wellness and training program.  Visit our Prospective Employee page to get additional information on why you should work for Lake County!

Any offer of employment is contingent upon the successful completion of a background screening and drug testing.

Lake County is committed to being a diverse and inclusive workplace and is proud to be an equal opportunity employer (EOE).