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Advocacy Specialist

Employer
Georgia CASA
Location
Georgia / Hybrid-friendly
Salary
$57,000 - $60,000
Closing date
Aug 6, 2022

View more

Focus Areas
Human Services
Job Function
Advocacy / Lobbying, Legal, Social Work / Counseling, Volunteer Services
Position Type
Full Time
Degree Level
Bachelors
Willingness to Travel
25 - 50%
Experience Level
Professional

Job Details

The Advocacy Specialist plays an integral role in supporting advocacy and training efforts for a robust statewide network of established local affiliates in their pursuit to improve outcomes and opportunities for children who are experiencing foster care and their families. 

The Advocacy Specialist serves as a resource for state and affiliate staff and volunteers on child welfare policy and practice and well-being-related topics.  This position enhances awareness and understanding of complex issues related to services and interventions, education, health, courtroom advocacy and permanency to improve outcomes for children through quality advocacy.  The Advocacy Specialist supports efforts to strengthen volunteer recruitment, retention, connectedness, and innovation, and serves as a liaison with partners.  This position works directly with the Advocacy Director and Network Services Team. 

Primary Responsibilities:

  • Assist with comprehensive efforts intended to enhance the overall quality of CASA advocacy Lead and assist statewide training efforts for volunteer supervisory staff (advocacy coordinators) and volunteers
  • Provide consultation and support, including facilitating information exchange, in specialized areas of child welfare practice and volunteer coaching
  • Build and maintain relationships with collaborative partners including local and state practitioners including the Department of Children and Family Services (DFCS) education, well-being and permanency teams, education and health advocates, and other appropriate stakeholders dedicated to improving opportunities for success for children and youth in foster care

Specific Responsibilities:

Child Welfare Subject Matter Expertise & Training

  • Participate in quality volunteer advocacy-specific collaboration, training, and support efforts Manage subject matter expertise by creating and managing training calendar, resources, and tools for network to support informed and effective advocacy
  • Co-lead facilitation of the All-Volunteer Supervisor Meeting, Volunteer Supervisor Training, Training of the Facilitator, and other staff training related to improving quality volunteer advocacy
  • Participate in Georgia CASA-sponsored trainings in requested capacities Identify advocacy-related content and resources for Georgia CASA Conference and other training opportunities
  • Assist with leadership development for advocacy coordinators and build and maintain culture of support for advocacy-related staff across the network
  • Support network-wide improvement efforts focused on volunteer management, recruitment, retention, connectedness, and innovation
  • Serve as a liaison and develop and cultivate relationships with key stakeholders and facilitate the development of relationships and opportunities for affiliates to connect with education, health, and well-being partners
  • Provide case consultation and coaching to network staff, including intensive supports and advocacy reviews, specific to case and volunteer management and advocacy efforts for children experiencing foster care
  • Coordinate, facilitate, and disseminate advocacy-related events, trainings, affinity groups, meetings, webinars, and other tasks as assigned
  • Create content for newsletter and other communications materials

Advocacy Advancements and Special Projects

  • Participate in organization planning, innovation, and service provision and in the development and execution of initiatives and projects to advance child welfare outcomes
  • Participate in design and delivery of CASA Day at the Capitol, in close collaboration with Advocacy Director and Network Services Coordinator
  • Maintain an effective working relationship with Georgia CASA staff, board, and stakeholders

Qualifications and Requirements:

  • Bachelor’s degree and a minimum of three years of direct or related experience, or equivalent
  • Demonstrated experience in human services, social work, advocacy or related field
  • Knowledge of child welfare law and policy; DFCS policy, practice and initiatives; case management; and child advocacy
  • Experience in direct roles involving CASA training, support, and courtroom advocacy
  • Demonstrated ability to establish and cultivate relationships with a wide range of constituencies
  • Demonstrated leadership ability
  • Ability to work independently and as a part of a small team supporting a large statewide network
  • Excellent oral and written communications skills
  • Demonstrated experience and interest in leading training and speaking to audiences, virtually and in-person, with ranging sizes
  • Ability and willingness to travel across Georgia for trainings, meetings, and conferences
  • Pass screening requirement, including criminal background checks Basic proficiency in Microsoft Word, Excel, Power Point and Outlook

Travel: 30 – 40% travel, mostly in-state travel for single-day and multi-day visits, trips, statewide meetings and events. 

Office Environment:

  • Mission-focused; affiliate and volunteer-centered
  • Collaborative, supportive, and adaptive
  • Compassionate, inclusive, and connected
  • Hybrid-friendly
  • Flexible

Office Culture:

Georgia CASA is an established, mid-sized nonprofit organization that through its committed, dedicated staff, trusted advocates, board leaders, and network staff, advocate for the best interest of children and their families and work to advance system change. Our work is concentrated on strengthening and supporting the local affiliates, through collaborative efforts, relationships, and appreciation and understanding of community-driven action.

Members of the Georgia CASA team become proficient in recognizing and celebrating the diversity and uniqueness of our state - its people, beauty, and struggles - through our time in service with local advocates, on-site visits and trainings, and ongoing contact with network advocates. We recognize the role of individuals, empowered with knowledge and personal experiences, in effecting change within communities, our organization, and the CASA network.

Together, we uphold an inclusive, welcoming, and compassionate environment in which to serve, grow, lead, and learn. We strive for quality, equity, connectedness, and stability and seek others who share in furthering these attributes. We are accountable to each other, our network advocates, our supporters, the judiciary, our partners and, above all, the children and families of the state.

Georgia CASA is an equal opportunity employer, and as such, takes affirmative action to ensure that discrimination does not occur on the basis of race, creed, color, age, sex, national origin, marital status, sexual orientation, religious or political affiliation, disability, or any other classification considered discriminatory under applicable law.

 

Company

Our Mission

Georgia Court Appointed Special Advocates, Inc. strengthens and supports court-sanctioned, affiliate CASA programs that empower
community volunteers who advocate for abused or neglected children and contributes to advancements within the child welfare system.

Our Vision

All children who experience abuse or neglect have the opportunity to thrive and reach their full potential with the support of permanent connections to family.

 

Company info
Website
Telephone
404.874.2888
Location
75 Marietta St. NW Suite 404
Atlanta
GA
30303
US

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