Program Coordinator II
There is a Program Coordinator II vacancy with Yakima County Juvenile Court. This position is responsible for acting as Guardian ad Litem (GAL) for the best interest of abused and neglected children involved in the court system. Duties include investigating, facilitating, monitoring, and advocating for the best interest of children, in partnership with other parties to cases in a court involved system. Acts as Volunteer CHILD ADVOCATE supervisor to recruit, train, mentor and monitor community volunteers who fulfill the GAL role.
To complete your application, please upload both a resume and cover letter. Incomplete submissions may not be considered.
Benefits included in position:
- Health Care Benefits (Medical, Dental, Vision, Basic Life and Basic LTD)
- Retirement Benefits
- Paid Vacation
- Paid Holidays
- Paid Sick Leave
Note: This is an AFSCME -87P Juvenile Contract Bargaining Agreement.
This recruitment may be used to fill future vacancies that occur within 90 days of the closing of this position. (This excludes Yakima County Sheriff's Office and Department of Corrections)
Responsibilities:
Responsible for recruiting, training, evaluating and supervising private citizen volunteers who advocate on behalf of abused and neglected children. Develops curriculum, coordinates speakers and facilitates trainings.
Participates in court hearings as an equal party; drafts and prepares written reports, testifies in court and presents documentation as requested; provides information and recommendations to attorneys and judges; prepares and presents recommendations to the Court.
Facilitates staffing and other meetings to encourage team focus on behalf of a child, including the use of mediation; provides administrative and technical assistance to volunteers; submits regular reports including statistical and evaluative data; coordinates activities with outside parties including parents, law enforcement and schools to provide and receive information and to clarify policies and court orders; receives information regarding referrals and case management and acts as an advocate for juveniles.
Acts as liaison between program, community, courts and agencies; speaks to community organizations on behalf of the Yakima County Child Advocate Program, YCCAP) to include fund raising campaigns.
Performs other duties as assigned such as writing or assisting in the writing of grants for Yakima Child Advocate Program and/or other Juvenile Court programs, making presentations in staff meetings, participating as a department committee member, etc.
Education and Experience: Associate degree or two-year technical certificate in Sociology, Social Work, Psychology, Criminal Justice/Law & Justice AND two (2) years of counseling, case work and interviewing experience required; OR an equivalent combination of experience or training which provides the knowledge, skills and abilities sufficient to successfully perform the essential duties of the job.
Required:
Valid Washington State Driver's License and proof of insurance, if requested, at time of appointment.
Successful completion of a criminal background investigation and general employment verification.
Successful completion of Administrative Office of Courts (AOC) mandated training upon appointment.
Applicants selected for final interviews are required to complete a criminal and abuse/exploitation history disclosure statement pursuant to Chapter 486 laws of 87, Sections 1-5. Criminal arrest history or history of traffic offenses may be disqualifying. Final applicant will be fingerprinted and hired subject to the results of a background investigation.
Preferred:
Three years of experience counseling, case work and interviewing experience.
Experience working with family dynamics, child welfare, courtroom experience, chemical dependency, family crisis, and domestic violence, victims of crime, abuse/neglect
Experience in public speaking, coordinating, and facilitating meetings, recruiting volunteers, conducting formal, curriculum-based group training.
Bilingual / biliterate in English/Spanish
Communication Negotiation and Conflict Resolution Training
Equipment Used: Telephone, Copy machine, Voice Mail, Personal Computer/laptop, Microsoft Office Software, vehicle and other general office equipment.
Working Conditions: This position is rated as Sedentary Work, exerting up to 10 pounds of force occasionally and/or a negligible amount of force frequently or constantly to lift, carry, push, pull or otherwise move objects, including the human body. Sedentary work involves sitting most of the time. Jobs are sedentary if walking and standing are required only occasionally and all other sedentary criteria are met.
Environment: Ability to work outside of regular business hours, travel to other work locations and client homes as needed. May be exposed to hostile clients and domestic situations.
Physical Demands: bending, carrying, handling, sitting, standing, walking, fingering, hearing, talking, and visual acuity.
Intellectual Demands: ability to multitask, confidentiality, ability to work under pressure, ability to articulate and communicate information in conversations, ability to follow written instruction, and ability to follow verbal instruction.
Knowledge: Public speaking techniques; group meeting and training facilitation; training models and techniques; project planning methods and techniques; effective interviewing and investigation techniques and methods; social and family dynamics theories; fund raising techniques; volunteer recruitment techniques, customer service and team building concepts; courtroom protocol and procedures; laws pertaining to dependency court.
The job requires the following for full performance:
- Effective public speaking: how to evaluate an audience and prepare for a presentation.
- How to attract and excite people; how to sell ideas; how to personalize the duties of a CHILD ADVOCATE so that people identify.
- How to plan training; how to select and coordinate presenters; how to employ methods that educate adults; how to facilitate discussions; how to make training interactive and involve participants.
- How to communicate with diverse individuals; how to assess training needs and address them; how to write effectively and teach others how to write; how to approach individuals sensitively to correct behavior; how to evaluate performance; how to manage conflict; how to redirect volunteers; how to reward volunteers; how to instill confidence in volunteers; how to foster teamwork among staff and volunteers.
- How to plan a project; how to facilitate a team approach in project design; how to write effectively; how to structure language for the reading audience; how to find corporate and public moneys; how to "give them what they want".
- How to be assertive; how to articulate on the spot; how to assess a witness; courtroom protocol; how to testify; a good understanding of law pertaining to dependency court; how to cross-examine a witness.
- How to assess a child or parent's perspective and emotional condition, using a strength-based lens; how to interview; ability to write clear, objective & professional reports; how to investigate family situations.
- How to find, plan and support a fund raiser; how to assess political climate; how to find resources; how to be creative in soliciting funds.
- How to facilitate group discussions; how to motivate people; how to organize an event for many people; how to take cultural differences into account; how to plan an agenda; how to mediate.
Skills and Abilities: group presentation, computer operation including word and excel programs; report writing, interpersonal communication; time management, decision making; establishing and maintaining effective interpersonal relationships with staff, other agencies, attorneys and the public; counseling and interviewing.
AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER Minorities, Females, Protected Veterans and the Disabled are encouraged to apply. Yakima County ensures equal employment opportunities regardless of a person's age, color, creed, sensory, mental or physical disability, genetic information, marital status, national origin, political belief, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, and military status, or any other protected status under federal or state statute. PAY TRANSPARENCY NONDISCRIMINATION PROVISION The contractor will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant.
In compliance with the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986, Yakima County will hire only United States citizens and aliens lawfully authorized to work in the United States. Yakima County is an E-Verify Employer.