Bilingual Family Advocate
Safe Harbor Child Advocacy Center
Position: Bilingual Family Advocate
Status: Full-time; Benefi s eligible; Overtime exempt
Pay Range: $52,000 - $54,000 ($24-$26 per hour)
Location: In office 8:30am-5:00pm, North side of Madison, Wisconsin
Turn compassion into impact.
As a Bilingual Family Advocate, you will help children and families fi nd safety, support, and hope after experiences of abuse, neglect, violence, or exploitation. You will serve as a compassionate guide and advocate for caregivers, helping them navigate complex systems, access critical resources, and understand the path forward. Through crisis intervention, emotional support, and collaboration with multidisciplinary partners, you will help families feel empowered, informed, and connected throughout the healing process. Your work will ensure that children and their caregivers are not facing trauma alone—and that every family receives the support they need to move toward healing and resilience.
About Safe Harbor Child Advocacy Center
Safe Harbor Child Advocacy Center provides coordinated, trauma-informed services for children, youth, and families impacted by abuse and neglect. Through a collaborative, child-centered approach, we partner with community agencies to support safety, healing, and resilience while minimizing trauma associated with investigations.
We serve a diverse population of children and families navigating complex trauma, crisis situations, and systemic barriers. Our center is designed to be a safe, welcoming space where all families feel supported, respected, and heard.
Position Summary
The Bilingual Family Advocate provides trauma-informed advocacy, support, education, and resource navigation to Spanish- and English-speaking non-off ending caregivers of children who have experienced abuse, neglect, traffi cking, internet exploitation, domestic violence, or other violent crimes. Working collaboratively within a multidisciplinary team, the Bilingual Family Advocate assesses family needs, provides crisis intervention and emotional support, facilitates communication among involved systems, and advocates for the best interests of children and their caregivers. This role helps ensure equitable access to services for families by reducing language and cultural barriers, fostering trust, and promoting meaningful engagement throughout the child advocacy process.
Key Responsibilities:
● Meet with non-off ending caregivers during the child’s forensic interview to provide crisis intervention, emotional support, advocacy, and guidance to non-offending caregivers as they navigate the impact of abuse, trauma, and system involvement on their child and family.
● Assess family strengths, safety concerns, risk factors, and service needs, and assist caregivers in identifying protective factors and strategies to support child safety and well-being.
● Educate caregivers regarding child abuse dynamics, trauma, child development, safety planning, the forensic interview process, multidisciplinary team (MDT) roles, legal systems, and available resources.
● Connect children and families with appropriate trauma treatment, victim advocacy, mental health services, and community resources through referrals, care coordination, and follow-up support.
● Serve as a liaison between caregivers and MDT partners by facilitating communication, representing family perspectives and needs, and advocating for the best interests of children and families throughout the investigative and intervention process.
● Participate as an active member of the MDT through case reviews, case consultation, collaborative case planning, and the promotion of trauma-informed, child-centered practices among partner agencies.
Qualifications
● 2+ years direct experience supporting children and families aff ected by abuse, trauma, violence, or other signifi cant life challenges.
● Bilingual fluency in English and Spanish.
● Bachelor's degree in Social Work or a closely related human services fi eld from an accredited college or university, or a minimum of two years of applicable professional social work experience.
● Knowledge of child maltreatment and its associated social, cultural, medical, legal, and mental health impacts.
● Understanding of the eff ects of trauma, neglect, domestic violence, and other adverse experiences on children and families.
● Familiarity with the systems involved in child abuse investigations, including child protective services, law enforcement, district attorneys, medical providers, mental health professionals, and the juvenile and adult criminal justice systems.
● Knowledge of community resources available to children and families in Dane County.
● Strong oral and written communication skills, including the ability to educate families about their rights, available resources, and system processes.
Our clients come from a wide range of backgrounds, and we believe our team should reflect that same depth and diversity. We welcome applications from people of color and LGBTQIA+ individuals, as we know that a diversity of lived experiences strengthens our team and deepens the care we provide.
Physical Demands
The physical demands described are representative of those required to successfully perform the essential functions of the bilingual family advocate role. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform these functions. This position requires prolonged sitting, frequent use of computer equipment and telephone, and regular communication with staff . Occasional lifting up items up to 45 lbs. Specifi c vision abilities include close vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus. Work is conducted onsite in an offi ce setting.
Benefits
We offer a comprehensive benefits package designed to support the health, well-being, and sustainability of our team. This includes health and dental insurance, a fl exible spending account, and a 403(b) retirement plan with a 2% employer contribution, along with short-term and long-term disability coverage, life insurance, and accidental death and disability insurance. In addition, we provide a wellness stipend, fl exible scheduling, and generous paid time off . We are committed to fostering a supportive team environment and off er regular, integrated support to help staff manage the impacts of vicarious trauma.
Application:
Please submit a cover letter and resume to: Emily Oler, Manager of Operations, [email protected]. Please feel free to reach out with any questions about the position.
Priority given to applications received by June 19, 2026
Safe Harbor is an equal opportunity employer, committed to providing a work environment free of discrimination, harassment, retaliation, and other unprofessional conduct based on age, color, ethnicity, family or marital status, gender identity or expression, language, national origin, physical and mental ability, political affi liation, race, religion, sexual orientation, socio-economic status, veteran status, or any other characteristics that may or may not be protected by federal, state, or local law or ordinance or regulation that make our employees and clients unique.
Pay: $52,000.00 - $54,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- Dental insurance
- Employee assistance program
- Health insurance
- Paid time off
- Retirement plan
Work Location: In person
