Family Advocacy Specialist 1

National Center for Missing & Exploited Children

Position Description

TITLE:                                Family Advocacy Specialist 1

LOCATION:                      Alexandria, Virginia

LAST REVISED:                February 2025

FLSA:                                 Exempt

DEPARTMENT:                Family Advocacy Division

GENERAL DESCRIPTION: 

Position is responsible for assessing family needs, providing crisis intervention and resource allocation services to the families served by NCMEC as well as cases referred by local and federal law enforcement. This service is provided to both missing and exploited children, their caregivers, and helping professionals. This position works closely with other team members within the Family Advocacy Division to support and address concerns from caregivers, law enforcement and/or children regarding the dynamics associated with a missing and exploited child and includes recovery and reunification of children. Position will also be responsible for providing routine clearinghouse assistance (RCA) to social workers, mental health providers, school personnel and law enforcement in the above-mentioned areas. 

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES: 

• Assess the needs of the family and child, provide mental health and therapeutic interventions to caregivers who have a missing child, have recovered a missing child, have been reunited with a missing child or a child who has been sexually exploited. 
• Provide routine clearinghouse assistance (RCA) to the multiple helping professions that could be involved in a missing or sexually exploited child case.  
• Provide support to caregivers and children that contact NCMEC with reports and concerns about their case and safety. 
• Research and liaise with appropriate victim service agencies, mental health providers or crime victim resources who can serve the needs of NCMEC families.  
• Ensure data is accurate and updated and resources are ready to serve families in need.  
• Promote and exhibit loyalty to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children and the cause of protecting children worldwide. 

• Promote a professional image. 
• Communicate with co-workers, management, law enforcement officials, service providers, survivors and others in a courteous and professional manner. 
• Conform with and abide by all regulations, policies, work procedures, and instructions. 

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE: 

• Possess a bachelor's Degree from an accredited college or university in relevant field (Psychology, Social Work, Mental Health, Counseling) focused on advocacy and mental health intervention and prevention. 
• At least (2) years of casework experience in a child and victim services field. 
• Possess experience with trauma, healing and resiliency interventions for children and adults. 
• Counseling or victim advocacy experience preferred. 

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES: 

• Ability to work on a team to build relationships with families and service providers that match NCMEC's mission. 
• Ability to work with individuals in crisis. 
• Ability to work with difficult or disturbing case situations and knowledge of self-care strategies.   
• Ability to research, locate and secure appropriate resources for families/children.
• Adaptability, flexibility and ability to work as part of a team or in an individual capacity. 
• Strong verbal and written communication skills. 
• Be part of a team available as needed to respond to critical/urgent cases.
• Be a critical thinker, able to review current procedures and work within a framework to help develop new work processes. 
• Ability to focus, adapt and complete duties in an ever-changing environment. 
• Document all service contacts on a timely basis including, collateral and networking contacts, and correspondence, and maintain the case notes up to date 
• Knowledge of trauma-focused support, healing and resiliency in crime victim populations. 
• Excellent organizational and interpersonal skills. 
• Ability to prioritize multiple tasks. 
• Demonstrated understanding of online systems to include spreadsheet and database software proficiency, social media and apps used by children to stay connected to peers. 

• Ability to handle and maintain the integrity and confidentiality of highly sensitive material and information. 
• Additional language proficiency a plus. Bilingual in Spanish strongly preferred.