As an Advocate, you play a vital role in advancing KIDS Center’s mission to support children and families impacted by crisis and trauma. Serving as a compassionate guide, you build trusting relationships and provide clear, empathetic communication that honors each family’s unique experiences.

You will welcome families during their initial evaluation, orient them to our evaluation process, and foster an environment where children and caregivers feel safe, respected, and valued. Remain open, reflective, and responsive to the needs of the families you serve, helping to reduce fear and uncertainty while reinforcing dignity, resilience, and hope.

Throughout each case, you maintain consistent and responsive communication, offering timely updates and guiding families through complex systems with professionalism and empathy. You also collaborate with community partners to connect families with meaningful resources and represent KIDS Center in coordinated, multidisciplinary efforts, strengthening relationships across the community and ensuring families receive comprehensive, and responsive client-centered support.

What You Will Do

• Communicate in a compassionate, unbiased, trauma-informed manner across all interactions, including during high-stress or complex situations
• Provide ongoing emotional support to children and non-offending caregivers, both in person and by phone, throughout the evaluation and potential prosecution process
• Assess needs and provide ongoing advocacy, ensuring families are connected to appropriate community resources and supported in navigating medical, legal, and child welfare systems
• Collaborate with community partners to strengthen resource connections, support coordinated care
• Perform detailed, mission-critical administrative work to support organizational effectiveness and high-quality service delivery, including maintaining accurate and timely records, ensuring data integrity, and documenting client interactions in accordance with policy and confidentiality standards
• Support case coordination and evaluation-related tasks, including assisting with intake triage, coordinating MDT communication, and supporting processes such as subpoena tracking and related documentation with accuracy, discretion, and professionalism

What We’re Looking For

• Bachelor’s degree in social work or related field or prior experience in a job that requires HIPAA compliance, critical decision making and collaboration with community partners and agencies. *A combination of education and years of experience may be considered.
• Ability to maintain a professional, calm, and patient manner.
• Ability to work independently with little supervision.
• Strong communication skills.

Preferred Certification and Experience

• Direct social work support / case management experience.
• QMHA/QMHP Certification or ability to become certified
• Bilingual in Spanish

Position Details

Type: Full-time, Hourly
Schedule: KIDS Center Hours are M-F 8-5 based on client and program needs
Location: Bend, OR, on-site work at KIDS Center / Mobile Clinic

Compensation: $52,400 – $60,000 annually

Benefits: KIDS Center is committed to supporting the well-being of our team so you can do this important work in a sustainable way. We offer:

• 100% employer-paid medical, dental, vision and life insurance
• 24 days of PTO to start in addition to 10 paid holidays
• 401(k) retirement plan with 4% employer match
• Ongoing professional development and training opportunities, including support for evidence-based practices
• A supportive, collaborative, and mission-driven work environment

To Apply

If your qualifications, experience, and goals align with this position, please send a resume and cover letter to hrinfo@kidscenter.org.

OUR MISSION:

We lead our region’s response to child abuse.

About Our Services

KIDS Center is the only entity in Central Oregon offering comprehensive child abuse evaluations. Evaluations include a head-to-toe medical exam and child-friendly forensic interview.

To strengthen families and promote long-term healing, KIDS Center also provides family advocacy and mental health services to children and families impacted by abuse.

Children are referred to KIDS Center by community partners in law enforcement, DHS Child Welfare, medical providers, and licensed mental health professionals. Children and families can engage in KIDS Center advocacy and mental health services without participating in an evaluation. All KIDS Center services are provided at no cost.

KIDS Center is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We comply with all applicable laws, including Oregon’s Workplace Fairness Act and Equal Pay Act, and provide reasonable accommodation for qualified individuals with disabilities upon request. Employment with KIDS Center is at-will and may be terminated by either the employee or the organization at any time, with or without cause or notice, in accordance with applicable law.

A state of Oregon and National criminal background check and a Department of Human Services Child Welfare background check are required for employment at KIDS Center