Position Overview

Job Title: Forensic Interviewer

Required Hours:? Full-time, 32-40 hours per week, Non-exempt

Purpose: Responsible for conducting and coordinating child abuse and neglect forensic interviews with children and adolescents, using research-based, best practice interview techniques.?

Reports to: Executive Director

Position Summary

The CAC Forensic Interviewer will be responsible for conducting legally sound and developmentally appropriate interviews of alleged victims of child abuse within the multidisciplinary team structure.

Qualifications

• A minimum of a Master?s degree in social work, psychology or counseling and at least three years of experience in working therapeutically with children (which can include internships) is preferred.?
  
• Experience in the area of child abuse and neglect is preferred.?
  
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills are required.?
  
• The ability to work within a multidisciplinary team structure and interact with many personality types is imperative.?
  
• Ability to maintain strict confidentiality.
  
• Successful clearance of child abuse and criminal background checks.
  
• A minimum of a masters? degree in social work, psychology, criminal justice or related field is required.?
  
• Demonstrated professional experience with children and a demonstrated knowledge of child abuse and neglect issues and child development.?
  
• Ability to communicate with a wide range of children from different cultural backgrounds and with differing levels of development.?
  
• Successful, documented completion of a 40 hour forensic interview training by a nationally recognized organization, or able to successfully complete training.
  
• Cultural awareness of the needs of diverse populations
  
• Strong interpersonal, communication and organizational skills
  
• Strong problem solving and solution-oriented skills
  
• Knowledge of the impact of trauma on childhood development
  
• Oral and written Spanish Fluency preferred (not required)

Responsibilities

• Facilitate multidisciplinary pre- and post-interview case debriefing.
  
• Conduct pre- and post-interview meetings with caregivers.
  
• Conduct forensic interviews of child victims in a manner consistent with the Michigan Protocol on Forensic Interviewing and consistent with the policies and philosophy of the Children?s Assessment Center of Berrien County.
  
• Promote stable and cooperative working relationships between all multidisciplinary team members and community agencies.
  
• Conduct follow-up interviews and /or evaluation when appropriate.
  
• Prepare timely and professional interview reports and distribute to MDT members involved in the case.
  
• Complete all appropriate statistical and case-tracking paperwork and maintain CAC database.
  
• Respond to subpoenas and provide testimony in legal proceedings when requested on relevant cases.
  
• Participate in regular case reviews with multidisciplinary team members.
  
• Maintain an expert awareness of current trends, research, and developments in the fields of forensic interviewing and child sexual abuse.
  
• Attend regular scheduled staff meetings.
  
• Provide reports to the CAC Case Review meeting and the Berrien County Council for Children Board of Directors, as requested.

Knowledge and Experience

• Minimum of one-year post-degree experience conducting child interviews preferred;
  
• Work experience in child abuse investigations;
  
• Training, knowledge, and experience in the following areas:
  
  • Current best practices for child interviews
    
  • Basic child development
    
  • Sexual and physical abuse, neglect, trauma, offender pathology, and other pertinent topics
    
  • Cultural issues related to child abuse/neglect 
    
• Experience working with diverse populations of clients

Download Job Description

To Apply

Please e-mail your resume to info@swmichigncac.org.

Position Summary

The CAC Crisis Counselor will oversee the provision of a comprehensive treatment program for child victims of sexual abuse and their non-offending family members.

Qualifications

• A minimum of a Master?s degree in social work, psychology or counseling and at least three years experience in working therapeutically with children (which can include internships) is preferred. 
  
• Experience in the area of child abuse and neglect is preferred. 
  
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills are required. 
  
• The ability to work within a multidisciplinary team structure and interact with many personality types is imperative. 
  
• Ability to maintain strict confidentiality.
  
• Successful clearance of child abuse and criminal background checks.

Responsibilities

Provide counseling services and case coordination services to clients of the Children?s Advocacy Center.

Therapy

• Provide crisis counseling to child victims and their non-offending caregivers.
  
• Provide trauma-focused therapy services for child and families.
• Provide assessments and on-going counseling to victims of child sexual abuse.
  
• Plan and implement treatment and support groups for children and non-offending caregivers.
  
• Assist clients in obtaining information on crime victim compensation and assist in completing compensation application forms, when appropriate. 
  
• Provide court preparation and court support to children when necessary.
  
• Serve as a liaison for clients to other community resources as appropriate.
  
• Respond to subpoenas and provide court testimony when requested on relevant cases.
  
• Abide by the Code of Ethics of the clinician?s profession.

Immediate Crisis Intervention and Referral

• Involved with Pre/Post forensic interview with caregivers providing crisis intervention, accurate information about child sexual abuse dynamics.
         
  • Observe the forensic interview and making an initial assessment of the child victim and family treatment needs.
    
  • Meet with parents face to face during the forensic interview to provide immediate crisis intervention, explain pertinent information, and support resources. Document this session in Collaborate.
    
  • Document notes regarding medicals, counseling, and any other special case dynamics.
    
  • Responsible for attending 24 hours of training per year pertaining to your role.  Keep up to date training logs and record of all certificates.
    
  • Must keep all certificates and licenses up to date and meet the requirements for full licensure in the state of Michigan.

Therapy and Support Groups

• Accept referrals for therapy.
  
• Arrange therapy sessions with the client.
  
• Complete and submit all required case documentation (file notes and Collaborate).
  
• Facilitate support groups.  Identify needs and create new and exciting group experiences to match the need. 
  
• Maintain clinical licensure and therapy certifications by attending training, participating in supervision, and any additional requirements.
  
• Follow contract guidelines for DHHS contract cases.
  
• Provide additional support for the clinical program as requested.

Maintain proper records, licenses and evaluations germane to counseling services as they relate to the policies and procedures of The Children?s Advocacy Center of Southwest Michigan and the State of Michigan:

• Maintain appropriate case documentation and client files.
  
• Write and submit the required documents and reports.
  
• Develop and maintain counseling skills by attending ongoing training.
  
• Attend and participate in monthly case review meetings.

Follow all policies and procedures of The Children?s Advocacy Center of Southwest Michigan, including:

• Attend required staff meetings and multidisciplinary case review meetings. 
  
• Supervise assigned support employees and/or counseling program volunteers.

Download Job Description

To Apply

Please e-mail your resume to info@swmichigncac.org.

Position Summary

The Intake/Multidisciplinary Team (MDT) Coordinator (Coordinator) provides enhanced coordination of cases with the Children?s Advocacy Center Multidisciplinary Team to ensure timely resolutions, efficient communications, and information sharing. The Coordinator is responsible for client intake and scheduling as well as provide support in direct service, consultation, and case management to the CAC staff.

Primary Responsibilities/Accountabilities

• Establishes and maintains internal and external relationships utilizing a high degree of diplomacy.
  
• Collaborates with all members of the Multidisciplinary Team (MDT) to ensure that all investigations and services are coordinated efficiently and expeditiously.
  
• Facilitates dialogue with MDT partners related to the identification of cases in need of services and coordinates services with MDT partners establishing strong support of the CAC/MDT process.
  
• Collaborates with the CAC staff in preparation and scheduling of MDT Case Review and Case Planning meetings, creating a list of cases to be reviewed.  
  
• Identifies training needs for MDT professionals and disseminates information to team members regarding available training opportunities.
  
• Maintains current knowledge of partner agency personnel assigned to the MDT investigations, including changes to partner agency assignments impacting CAC and MDT.
  
• Assists the Family Advocates with monitoring of forensic interviewing, advocacy, medical, mental health and case management services to families and others involved in ongoing cases.
  
• Coordinate client intake information for referrals to therapy and medical services.
  
• Receive intakes and referrals from MDT to schedule and set up a forensic interview.
  
• Responsible for ensuring MDT are notified and attending the forensic interview.
  
• Maintain records and enters clients and MDT data into the Collaborate system.
  
• Tracking outcomes and contributing to data collection and grant reporting on a regular basis.
  
• Participates in on-going initiatives of program and organization. Continuously reviews systems and processes in order to maximize the effectiveness, creativity, and innovation of a collaborative approach.
  
• Evaluates CAC/MDT processes and work to ensure best practice approaches and adherence with NCA Accreditation Standards.
  
• Position requires strategic planning, tracking cases, reviewing relevant statistical data to inform best practices for community outcomes and to strengthen laws to protect children.
  
• Attend training and conferences as required to meet the required number of training hours.
  
• Various other duties and special projects to be assigned by the CAC Director.

Staff Competencies/Qualities

• Bachelor?s degree in social work, counseling, human service or related field; Previous experience working in a Children?s Advocacy Center environment strongly favored
  
• Minimum 3-5 years of professional experience working with children and families who have experienced abuse and trauma, and/or general mental health practice
  
• Ability to work effectively as a member of a multidisciplinary team with a willingness to appreciate and value different points of view
  
• Excellent organizational and time management skills required
  
• Strong interpersonal relationship and crisis management skills
  
• Sound knowledge of child trauma and victimization issues
  
• Excellent interpersonal, verbal and written communication skills
  
• Maintain confidentiality and adhere to organizational policies and procedures
  
• Displays leadership and professional integrity
  
• Demonstrates the ability to hold self and others accountable

Download Job Description

To Apply

Please e-mail your resume to info@swmichigncac.org.