Purpose of the Position: The Indian Child Welfare Advocate reports to the Health and Human Services Director and will be responsible for providing assistance and support to children of the Habematolel Pomo of Upper Lake Tribal Members in difficult family situations, often involving neglect or abuse. The Indian Child Welfare Advocate will recommend the necessary services to ensure the health and safety of our children. All offers are contingent upon signing a confidentiality agreement and satisfactory completion of drug screening and background check, including fingerprints.
Essential Duties

• Knowledge and experience working with Native American communities, culture, customs, and Tribal law.
• Working understanding and knowledge of the Indian Child Welfare Act
• Management of all county referrals and research and management of all community services in areas that are within the HPUL Service Delivery Area.
• Provides caring, steady support for children and youth as they go through court proceedings and counseling sessions.
• Spend time with the child(ren) to ensure they feel safe, including providing comfort for children during medical exams, interviews, and other diagnostic exams.
• Conducts detailed assessments of the childs mental, physical, and emotional states using diagnostic tools, interviews, and psychological testing tools.
• Interview doctors, teachers, family members, and others to evaluate the childs environment, review potential dangers with caregivers, and teach ways to minimize threats to the childs well-being.
• Supervise scheduled visits as needed.
• Provide crisis intervention and informal family therapy, counseling, and recommendation for programs that are necessary for the family to retain custody of the child(ren). Such programs may include counseling, substance abuse, anger management, domestic violence, parenting, or any other program available that will provide the necessary assistance the family or child(ren) need.
• Furnish families and interested parties with contact information and access to basic services such as job training, life skills training, physical and mental health care, parenting assistance, and more.
• Navigate placement of child(ren) in foster care, if necessary.
• Collaborate with outside organizations to provide ongoing support for reintroduction of children into stable home lives.
• Maintain current records on all clients and follows up on active cases to ensure the safety of the child.
• Attend all court hearings pertaining to the welfare of the family and child(ren) involved and provide a recommendation to the court when requested.
• Demonstrate sensitivity to Tribal history, lifestyle, and culture.
• Meet established attendance requirements.
• Maintain strict confidentiality.
• Other duties as assigned.

Education and Experience

• Bachelors degree in child advocacy, family counseling, psychology, behavioral sciences, or social work is required.
• One to Three Years of experience in a child welfare position is required.
• Experience either as a volunteer with child advocacy groups or a background in social work, legal aid, or counseling is preferred.
• Must be trained in victim advocacy and child abuse and victim services.

Skills and Abilities

• Proficient in Microsoft Office, including Word, PowerPoint, and Excel.
• Willing to work with children and families in a wide variety of locations such as a child advocacy center, courthouses, psychologists and counselors offices, and in the home.
• Must be willing to work with hostile and sometimes dangerous individuals in order to protect those who might not be able to protect themselves.
• Must possess exceptional people skills and be able to work with children and adults from all walks of life, and the ability to learn about different approaches to family structure, behavior, and communication.
• Must have excellent communication skills, both written and verbal.
• Must be an exceptional listener, able to ask questions and extract information that the individual may be reluctant to share.
• Must maintain good judgment in crisis situations.
• Must be familiar with child psychology and be able to identify warning signs of abuse, trauma, physical and mental instability, and substance dependency.
• Must be familiar with a wide range of community resources, especially those that tend to children and youth needs.
• Must be able to make objective assessments of each incident, regardless of the parties involved.
• Professional interaction with the public, including Tribal members, their children, family members, Executive Council, Tribal staff, and outside agency staff.
• Must be able to work flexible hours and during emergencies in their assigned cases.
• Must have reliable transportation and means of communication.
• Must demonstrate the utmost discretion and confidentiality as they will have access to confidential information.
• All offers are contingent upon signing a confidentiality agreement and satisfactory completion of drug screening and background check, including fingerprints.

Physical Requirements

• Prolonged periods in a stationary seated position, such as working on a computer.
• Frequently move, transport, and manipulate computer equipment up to 15 pounds.
• Verbal communication sufficient to exchange accurate ideas and information.
• Frequently move, transport, and manipulate equipment and items up to 35pounds.
• Ability to assume postures in low levels to allow physical and visual contact with children, see and hear well enough to keep children safe, and engage in physical activity with children.
• In-person attendance and travel as needed.

Indian Preference
Native American Indian preference shall apply to the position in accordance with Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (42 U.S.C. § 2000e-2(i)), regulations of the Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (41 C.F.R. § 60-1.5(a)(7)), and/or other relevant laws. Applicants claiming Indian preference must submit verification of Indian eligibility with their application.
Drug Screening
Habematolel Pomo of Upper Lake requires the successful completion of a drug screening. The Tribe recognizes the State of California has legalized the use of marijuana; however, as an independent sovereign, the Tribe maintains a prohibition of marijuana use by its employees. Marijuana use is prohibited, and all drug tests will include a screening for THC. The Habematolel Pomo of Upper Lake strictly enforces its drug and alcohol policy, and all employees are required to sign a Consent to Drug and/or Alcohol Testing. Employees may be selected for alcohol and/or drug testing upon reasonable suspicion or accident.
Background Check
Candidates must submit and will be subject to criminal background and reference checks, which may include fingerprinting. Verification of previous employment and education will be conducted after the interview if a conditional offer of employment is being considered.
Confidentiality
Confidentiality is an absolute requirement for this position, and violation of confidentiality standards may be cause for immediate termination if not followed to the highest standards. Given the nature of some positions, violations of confidentiality may also violate applicable federal health privacy laws.

Job Type: Full-time

Schedule:

• Monday to Friday

Work Location: One location

Please Note :
www.epokagency.com is the go-to platform for job seekers looking for the best job postings from around the web. With a focus on quality, the platform guarantees that all job postings are from reliable sources and are up-to-date. It also offers a variety of tools to help users find the perfect job for them, such as searching by location and filtering by industry. Furthermore, www.epokagency.com provides helpful resources like resume tips and career advice to give job seekers an edge in their search. With its commitment to quality and user-friendliness, Site.com is the ideal place to find your next job.