Staff Advocate

Location: CASA, San Antonio, TX 78222

Employment Type: Full time

Reports to: Specialty Team Manager 

Salary: $42,000 per year

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You can make an incredible impact at CASA. You will be part of a caring and committed team of individuals working on behalf of children and youth experiencing foster care. To be successful in this role, you must demonstrate and champion alignment with our company’s vision, mission, and values in daily work actions. You must also demonstrate a commitment to complying with CASA’s policies, regulations, processes and participate enthusiastically in CASA’s culture of continual improvement, including support of our Entrepreneurial Operating System (EOS), Values-Based Leadership, and personal development.


This position is an exempt position and will require working hours outside of a typical work week, including evenings and weekends. CASA will accommodate the selected candidate’s work schedule for any additional hours worked after-hours.

Intent of Position

The Staff Advocate will be a positive and influential team member providing critical advocacy and services to vulnerable, at-risk youth, ensuring that their needs and best interests are addressed.

Responsibilities:
  • Identify and advocate for the best interest of the child, considering the child’s expressed objectives.
  • Represent CASA during home placement visits, court hearings, staffings, and other case-related meetings and promptly document all activities in Optima (database system).
  • Assess parents and extended family to make recommendations that are in the best interest of the child.
  • Staff cases with Specialty Team Manager and conduct regular audits on case files to ensure compliance with CASA standards.
  • Assist with CASA events to support Volunteer Advocates and the children we serve.
  • Make recommendations for services for the child and the child’s family, including referrals to existing community services.
  • Monitor implementation of service plans and court orders and assess whether court-ordered services are implemented on time and whether review hearings should be scheduled with the court.
  • Inform the court promptly of important developments in the case through appropriate means as determined by court rules or statutes.
  • Inform families of resources that may be available to them, including assisting them in the completion of Crime Victims’ Compensation (CVC) applications when appropriate.
  • Follow all Child Advocates San Antonio policies, procedures, and standards, and act in a manner that aligns with our mission, vision, values, Guiding Principles and our commitment to Trauma-Informed Care.
  • Participate in advocate pre-service training within six months of hire and then in a minimum of 12 hours of ongoing education per year.
  • Other duties as assigned by your leadership.

Required Education and Experience:

  • High School Graduation or GED.
  • Experience working in a private or public agency, in human services, providing services to children and their families. Lived experience will also be considered.
  • Experience collaborating with different stakeholders to arrive at the satisfactory outcome for the client.
  • Experience building rapport with a broad client base.

Preferred Education and Experience:

  • Bachelor's degree in social work, child development, criminal justice, psychology, or a related field.
  • Case management experience.
  • Advocacy experience.
  • Bilingual in English and Spanish.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

  • Knowledge of MS Office applications, applicant tracking systems, Internet, and email software.
  • Skills in displaying cultural sensitivity towards various populations.
  • Skills in compassionate and efficient customer service to families, colleagues, and stakeholders.
  • Skills in thoughtful written and verbal communication.
  • Skills in time management, organization, and planning.
  • Ability to drive yourself to monthly home placement visits wherever the children may be placed.
  • Ability to work effectively and harmoniously with attorneys, foster parents, families, case workers, children, other child welfare and community partners, colleagues, stakeholders, and clients.
  • Ability to remain objective, professional, and flexible in demanding situations.
  • Ability to fulfill all minimum standards and update each case according to CASA standards.
  • Ability to demonstrate excellent interpersonal skills and to excel as a collaborative part of an energetic team.
  • Ability to complete basic office tasks, including filing and faxing.
  • Ability to process and handle confidential information with discretion.
  • Ability to sit and work comfortably for extended periods of time.
  • Ability to lift materials weighing up to 50 pounds, walking and standing for extended periods, and bending to reach for materials.

Quality Assurance Requirements:

  • Comply with National and Texas CASA standards and applicable grant requirements.
  • Pre-employment drug screening required.
  • Applicants must pass a Criminal Justice Information Systems (CJIS) fingerprint-based background check and maintain CJIS eligibility throughout employment.
  • Applicants must pass a child abuse and neglect registry check and maintain abuse and neglect registry eligibility throughout employment.
  • Possess proof of current automobile insurance and maintain throughout employment.
  • Possess a valid current and unexpired Class “C” Texas Driver’s license and maintain throughout employment.

We are an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disabilities, and/or genetic information (including family medical history), any other characteristic protected by law. We comply with all federal, state and local laws and regulations regarding employment.



Texas Administrative Code (TAC) 377.113(a)(6) job descriptions for employees, directors, and Advocate Volunteers. 

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