Special Information

• This position is subject to the availability of funding. The incumbent is not eligible for Service Professional non-renewal notice, or Classified Staff layoff or recall status.
• Travel is a regular part of the position. Arizona Administrative Code Fleet Safety Policy requires all employees who drive, on university business to pass an online defensive driving course and submit their driver's license number for periodic records review. The law affects all faculty, staff and students who drive any university-owned motorized vehicles.  For more information on NAU Authorized Driver Policy

About the Department/College

The Child Welfare Training Project at Northern Arizona University is a collaborative effort between the Northern Arizona University Social Work Department and the Arizona Department of Child Safety (DCS). The goal of the project is to recruit and train bachelor's and master’s level social workers to be competent child protection workers. The mission is to prepare social work students to be effective child welfare workers who are able to promote the well-being of the children and families involved in the public child welfare system.

About the Position

The Client Advocate functions similarly to the DCS Case Aide. This position is responsible for supporting unit staff and students by developing familiarity with community resources and making appropriate referrals; securing client appointments for services; providing and arranging transportation; assisting with visits to parents, foster homes, and community agencies; providing supervision of visits between children and parents; handling document production including confidential reports; maintaining both computerized and paper office records; understanding the referral process for DCS contracted services; providing general office support services.

45% - Visitation Supervision

• Supervises parent/child/family visits and documents interactions to ensure compliance with visitation requirements.
• Reviews and enforces visitation guidelines/expectations with case participants.
• Drives case participants to visitation locations, supervises visits, and documents observations.
• Coordinates with all case participants on a date/time/location for visitation that works for all parties.
• Communicates in a courteous and a respectful manner with birth parents, providers, relatives, team members, co-workers, and the general public.
• Provides one-on-one instruction/role-playing when needed/appropriate during supervised visitation time.
• Will assist case participants when applicable with home management and child development during visitation time.

15% - Case Management Assistance

• Assists case participants with information/guidance and provides community resources when appropriate to increase self-sufficiency.
• Provides assistance to parents, children, family and community partners as it relates to services.
• Participates in a variety of meetings and/or client hearings, as requested.
• Collaborates and provides updates to the assigned case manager as questions/issues/concerns arise.

20% - Clerical Support

• Documents and/or enters case notes into Guardian database.
• Assists Case Managers with filing, disclosers, packets, case notes, referrals, etc.

15% - Student Support

• Assists students in making referrals, navigating Guardian database, contacting clients, scheduling appointments, etc.

5% - Other Duties

• Other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in related field.
• 1 year of relevant experience.
• *A combination of related education, experience, and training may be used as an equivalent to the above Minimum Qualifications.

Preferred Qualifications

• Degree in counseling or related field.
• Bachelor of Social Work Degree.
• One year working with Department of Child Safety.
• Demonstrated knowledge of current Arizona Department of Child Safety policies and procedures as applicable and pertaining to case aide assignments.
• Two or more years working with children and families from diverse cultural and socioeconomic backgrounds.
• Experience in: Microsoft Applications (MS Word) and DCS Guardian Program.
• Evidence of effective verbal and written communication skills.

Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities

Knowledge

• Knowledge of current physical health, mental health, alcohol and drug use, and social issues on university campuses.
• Knowledge of advocacy principles and practices.
• Knowledge of patient rights, patient consent, confidentiality and Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA).

Skills

• Customer service skills.
• Effective interviewing skills.
• Active listening skills.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint).

Abilities

• Establishes and maintains effective working relationships.
• Communicates effectively.
• Possesses strong problem solving, organizational, and analytical capabilities.

Compensation

Salary range begins at $44,422. Annual salary commensurate with candidate's qualifications and related experience.

Pre-Employment Check

Northern Arizona University requires satisfactory results for the following: a criminal background investigation, an employment history verification and a degree verification (in some cases) prior to employment. You may also be required to complete a fingerprint background check. Also, as an employer in the state of Arizona, NAU is required to participate in the federal E-Verify program that assists employers with verifying new employees' right to work in the United States.

This position has been identified as a safety/security sensitive position. Therefore, per AZ Revised Statute, Northern Arizona University requires satisfactory results for the following: a criminal background investigation, employment history investigation, degree verification (in some cases) and fingerprinting. If you are applying for a job that requires a CDL, you will be required to register with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration Drug & Alcohol Clearinghouse and adhere to the clearinghouse requirements.

Notice of Availability of the Annual Fire and Security Report

Each year Northern Arizona University releases an Annual Security Report. The report is a result of a federal law known as the Clery Act. The report includes Clery reportable crime statistics for the three most recent completed calendar years and discloses procedures, practices and programs NAU uses to keep students and employees safe including how to report crimes or other emergencies occurring on campus. In addition, the Fire Safety Report is combined with the Annual Security Report for the NAU Flagstaff Mountain Campus as this campus has on-campus student housing. This report discloses fire safety policies and procedures related to on-campus student housing and statistics for fires that occurred in those facilities. If you would like a free paper copy of the report, please contact the NAUPD Records Department at (928) 523-8884 or by visiting the department at 525 E. Pine Knoll Drive in Flagstaff.

Immigration Support/Sponsorship

NAU will not provide any U.S. immigration support or sponsorship for this position.

Submit your Application

To apply for this position, please click on the "Apply" button on this page. You must submit your application by the application deadline.

If you are an individual with a disability and need reasonable accommodation to participate in the hiring process, please contact the Disability Resources Office at 928-523-8773, DR@nau.edu, or PO Box 5633, Flagstaff AZ 86011.