Child Advocate/Forensic Interviewer (Dual Role)

Position Title: Child Advocate/Forensic Interviewer (Dual Role)

Reports to: Program Manager

Primary Location: Kids’ Harbor, Inc., St. Robert, Missouri

Designation: Full-Time, Exempt

About Kids’ Harbor, Inc.

Kids’ Harbor, Inc. is a non-profit 501(c)3 child advocacy center that has served 10 counties and the Fort Leonard Wood Military Installation in southwest and central Missouri for over 20 years. Our mission is to provide a coordinated response, healing, and prevention of child abuse.

This dual-role position combines the responsibilities of Child Advocacy and Forensic Interviewing within our multidisciplinary team (MDT) approach to ensure children and families receive sensitive, trauma-informed, and coordinated services.

Position Summary

The Child Advocate & Forensic Interviewer will work within a multidisciplinary team (MDT) to provide both advocacy and forensic interviewing services to children and families impacted by abuse.

As a Child Advocate, the role provides crisis intervention, support, and referral services to child victims and safe caregivers, ensuring they receive needed resources while navigating the investigative and judicial process.

As a Forensic Interviewer, the role conducts legally sound, research-based interviews of children and vulnerable adults regarding allegations of abuse, neglect, exposure to violence, or other victimization. The interviewer documents interviews, participates in case review, and provides testimony as required.

This position requires a compassionate, trauma-informed professional who thrives in collaborative work, demonstrates ethical integrity, and can balance both advocacy and interviewing responsibilities.

Essential Functions

Forensic Interviewing (60%)

• Conduct forensic interviews in accordance with nationally recognized, research-based protocols
• Prepare and maintain accurate documentation, reports, and case data in the case tracking system
• Participate in pre- and post-interview case discussions with MDT members
• Provide court testimony in civil, criminal, juvenile, and/or military court proceedings
• Participate in regular peer review and professional development to strengthen forensic interviewing skills
• Stay current on best practices and research in forensic interviewing and child abuse investigations

Child Advocacy (40%)

• Provide crisis intervention, safety planning, orientation, and resource information to child victims and safe caregivers
• Assist families in accessing services such as counseling, medical care, legal support, and victim compensation
• Advocate on behalf of victims and families, including accompanying them to court or other proceedings
• Reduce barriers to services by coordinating with community resource providers
• Consult with MDT members to support safe caregivers and ensure sensitive, coordinated care
• Maintain timely, accurate case notes and data entry for advocacy services
• Rotate on-call availability to provide emergency advocacy services

Team Collaboration & Professional Development

• Actively participate in multidisciplinary team case review meetings, staff meetings, and supervision
• Facilitate interagency collaboration and communication with law enforcement, prosecutors, medical providers, mental health professionals, and child protection workers
• Contribute to MDT/community training and education efforts on child abuse dynamics and services
• Assist in recruitment, training, and mentoring of interns and volunteers.
• Attend continuing education, conferences, and peer review to maintain skills in both advocacy and forensic interviewing

• Attend annual agency functions, special events, and meetings as necessary and appropriate

• Perform other duties as assigned

Requirements

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in social work, psychology, criminal justice, child development, education, or related field.
• Preferred: direct experience in child advocacy or forensic interviewing, with knowledge of nationally recognized forensic interviewing protocols.
• Knowledge of child abuse dynamics, trauma-informed care, and multidisciplinary investigative processes.
• Familiarity with law enforcement, child protection, and civil/criminal court systems.
• Strong skills in communication, organization, collaboration, and crisis response.
• Ability to engage with children of all ages and empower caregivers in crisis.
• Commitment to trauma-informed care and professional ethics.

Skills & Abilities

• Excellent written and verbal communication; ability to prepare accurate reports and testify in court.
• Ability to balance compassion with professional boundaries in sensitive situations.
• Strong problem-solving, negotiation, and mediation skills.
• Demonstrated resilience and use of self-care in addressing vicarious trauma.
• Flexible and adaptable to changing work environments.

Physical & Other Requirements

• Ability to lift up to 25 pounds, and stand/walk for extended periods when needed.
• Willingness to work evenings, weekends, and holidays as required (on-call rotation).
• Travel within the Kids’ Harbor service area as needed (mileage reimbursed).
• Valid Missouri driver’s license, reliable vehicle, and minimum liability insurance of $50,000/$100,000.
• Successful completion of background checks and child abuse/neglect screenings.

Work Environment & Culture

• Functions in a small but busy, collaborative workplace.
• Adheres to confidentiality, discretion, and the highest professional ethics.
• Contributes to a supportive, trauma-responsive organizational culture.
• Practices teamwork, open communication, shared responsibility, and respect for diverse perspectives.
• Engages in continuous growth, learning, and improvement.

WORK SETTING

Must be able to function amicably in a small, but busy workplace. Must acknowledge and adhere to the agency’s policy and procedures including confidentiality and code of conduct and adhere to the highest professional ethics, confidentiality, direction and judgment.

WORK HOURS

This is a full-time position; business hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Regular evening and occasional weekend work may be required.

TRAVEL

Travel may be required throughout the Kids’ Harbor, Inc. service area for clinical services within school settings, educational opportunities, and/or as the agency deems necessary. Provide own transportation (mileage reimbursed) with valid driver’s license and insurance coverage on vehicle.

PRINCIPLES AND VALUES

Team Work: Balances team and individual responsibilities; exhibits objectivity and openness to others’ views; gives and welcomes feedback; contributes to building a positive team spirit; puts success of the Kids’ Harbor, Inc. team above own interests; able to build morale and group commitments to goals and objectives; supports everyone’s efforts to succeed

Strategic Thinking: Develops strategies to achieve organizational goals; understands organizations’ strengths and weaknesses; identifies external threats and opportunities; adapts strategy to changing conditions

Willing to Grow: Accepts accountability for mistakes and uses the mistakes as an opportunity to learn about self and to change future behaviors.

Safety and Security: Observes safety and security procedures; determines appropriate action beyond guidelines; remedies potentially unsafe conditions

Attendance: Regular attendance is a requirement of this position. Kids' Harbor, Inc. employees, who are full-time, are expected to work a 40-hour work week.

Other: The safety of children is a priority; all new employees must agree to and pass a Children’s Division and law enforcement background check annually due to the sensitive nature of work.

This job description reflects Kids’ Harbor, Inc.’s best effort to describe the essential functions and qualifications of the job described. It is not an exhaustive statement of all the duties, responsibilities, or qualifications of the job. Kids’ Harbor, Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer committed to creating and supporting a diverse staff.

Compensation & Benefits

Kids’ Harbor, Inc. offers a competitive salary and benefits package including:

• Paid medical insurance for employees.
• Paid holidays and generous paid time off.
• Optional medical, dental, optical, life, 403(b), and Flex Spending accounts.

Summary

This dual-role position plays a critical part in advancing Kids’ Harbor’s mission of supporting children and families impacted by abuse. By combining forensic interviewing with child advocacy, the role ensures both compassionate support and effective investigative response in a collaborative, trauma-informed environment.

Reasonable Accommodations Statement:

To accomplish this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform, with or without reasonable accommodation, each function satisfactorily. Reasonable accommodations may be made to help enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the functions required.

Resumes and applications will be considered upon receipt. This position will remain open until filled.