Bilingual Forensic Interviewer
& Prevention Specialist
Title: Bilingual Forensic Interviewer & Prevention Specialist
Mission & Values:
Collins Center is a sexual assault response and advocacy organization that serves Rockingham County, Page County, Warren County and the City of Harrisonburg. Our mission is to promote healing through compassionate and collaborative services to all affected by sexual harm. We pursue our mission by offering a continuum of specialized services with an emphasis on support, advocacy, counseling, education, and a nationally accredited Child Advocacy Center (CAC).
Collins Center operates under a set of core values that include being responsive to suggestions, influences, appeals, and efforts to meet our mission; acting with integrity, and adhering to a strong moral code of ethical professional practice; being accountable to our clients, staff, volunteers, donors, partners, and community; maintaining absolute confidentiality in the delivery of our client services, and engendering trust in all our interactions. These values guide our work with each other and with the communities we serve.
Job Description:
The Bilingual Forensic Interviewer is a full-time position reporting to the Executive Director and working closely with the Forensic Interview Program Manager and the Victim Advocates to support and coordinate services for the CAC. This position is responsible for providing developmentally sensitive, culturally appropriate, legally defensible forensic interviews for children, adolescents, and vulnerable adults when allegations of abuse have been made.
This role is also designed to support the agency’s prevention and community outreach programming, including providing prevention curriculums in English and Spanish. The prevention programming is designed to provide a coordinated and collaborative approach to effective programming that targets multiple domains (e.g., individual, relationship, community, and societal) in an attempt to influence the attitudes and beliefs that contribute to the existence of all forms of violence.
Responsibilities:
Conduct forensic interviews in English and/or Spanish applying forensically sound principles and a trauma-responsive approach, adjusting to the development and other unique needs of each individual.
Collaborate with multidisciplinary partners to provide a proactive and thorough response to child victims of abuse and their caregivers.
Obtain information regarding allegations in conjunction with investigators.
Enter case and interview data into the case tracking system. Review and maintain records of client contacts to produce monthly, quarterly, and annual reports.
Provide court testimony as a lay and/or expert witness pursuant to subpoena.
Participate in supervision, peer review, and other professional development activities.
Work as part of a team with other staff and volunteers in order to achieve the mission of the Collins Center, including assisting with community outreach programs, special events, and/or professional trainings when needed.
Contribute to a positive, supportive working environment and participate in staff, crisis, and supervisory meetings as scheduled.
Shared responsibility to answer Collins Center phones during business hours and provide hotline support to victims. (After hours, on call hotline support is an optional employment opportunity).
Qualifications and Skills:
Training in forensic interviewing through a nationally and/or state recognized organization; or willingness to attend this training and a subsequent forensic interviewing practicum with the Collins Center Forensic Interview Program Manager.
Full professional proficiency in English and Spanish.
Master’s or Bachelor’s degree in social work, counseling, criminal justice, psychology, or related subject area or equivalent professional experience in a relevant field.
Professional and/or educational experience working with children or adolescents who have experienced abuse or violence.
Strong interpersonal skills in listening, conveying warmth and regard, and building rapport with children, adolescents, and their caregivers.
Ability to work collaboratively with coworkers and multidisciplinary team partners, including law enforcement, child protection, prosecution, medical and mental health, advocates, and others.
Knowledge of and sensitivity to family systems and child victimization. Understanding of the criminal justice system, child protection services, and court procedures.
Excellent interpersonal skills; able to effectively communicate with and coordinate between diverse groups and individuals including allied professionals, and primary and secondary victims/survivors.
Excellent organizational skills and the ability to work independently and as part of a team.
Able to work in a flexible work environment, providing on-site, in-person services at Collins Center as well as working remotely.
High standards for integrity, ethical practice, and commitment to ongoing professional growth.
The Collins Center provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability or genetics. In addition to federal law requirements, The Collins Center complies with applicable state and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment in every location in which the company has facilities. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation and training.
Employment is dependent upon the successful completion of a background check, including criminal and CPS clearances.
Email resume & cover letter to Erin Frazier to apply: erin@thecollinscenter.org