CASA Community Outreach Coordinator

Employer: Children First, Inc. 
Position: Athens Oconee CASA Community Outreach Coordinator (Recruitment and Training Adult Volunteers) 
Status: Full-time 
Interview Process begins February 20th. 
Pay Range: 40,000 - 43,000  
Benefits: Including health insurance, retirement, 15 days of paid time off the first 2 years and over 15 days of scheduled holidays a year. 
 
Organization Overview 
Through advocacy and mentorship, the Athens Oconee Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) organization empowers community members to stand up for a foster child and champion their rights in court. CASA recruits, trains and provides ongoing support to community volunteers serving as officers of the court to advocate for the best interests of abused and neglected children in the foster care system. Through sustained, personal attention, CASA creates positive change in children’s lives, providing children with hope, stability, and opportunities to thrive in preparation for healthy, productive adult lives. More information can be found at www.childrenfirst-inc.org   
 
Position Overview 
The Community Outreach Coordinator conducts and leads volunteer training, recruitment activities, external community relationships, and public relations for the Athens-Oconee CASA Program. This role entails identifying, recruiting, screening, and training Volunteer Advocates to support the goal that every child in the Western Judicial Circuit that enters foster care and experiencing abuse and/or neglect shall be appointed a CASA. The Community Outreach Coordinator is responsible for leading engagement activities for prospective and current volunteers including volunteer recruitment, screening, as well as coordinating training, public education, and volunteer reporting requirements. The incumbent provides mentoring and supplemental supervisory support for Volunteer Advocates in collaboration with the Advocacy Team and Program Director. This individual manages recruitment and all aspects of training to ensure that the process is as smooth as possible for other CASA Staff and the volunteers.    
 
A great applicant would be someone that has had experience in public speaking, is comfortable leading adult learners and is familiar with the Athens and/or Oconee community. We are looking for an enthusiastic, go-getter, and self-starter. Please submit your application, resume, and cover letter on our website, located here: https://www.childrenfirst-inc.org/casa-community-outreach-coordinator.html 
 
Responsibilities: 
Community Outreach, Education, and Recruitment 

• Responsible for volunteer recruitment related activities to ensure a sufficient number of Volunteer Advocates. 
  
• Develops and implements annual Recruitment Plan and calendar, including managing progress, reporting, and routine updates to the Program Director. 
  
• Develops a process to ensure ongoing development for recruitment of prospective volunteer base. 
  
• Coordinates, plans, and attends outreach events and meetings to recruit and build community awareness of child abuse and neglect. 
  
• Provides presentations to current and potential volunteers and community groups. 
  

• Creates multi-media communications plan targeting Volunteer Advocates, Board members, and Stakeholders in order to highlight community resources, events, and agency news.  
  
• Responds to individual and community inquiries regarding volunteer opportunities. 
  
• Utilizes databases such as CASA Manager and Eleo for tracking recruitment events, volunteer inquiries and timely follow­ up. 
  
• Collaborates with the Advocacy Team and Program Director in efforts of ongoing volunteer appreciation and recognition systems and activities. 
  
• Create and participate in Children First, Inc. and Athens-Oconee CASA marketing campaigns and committees.  
  

• Have a working knowledge of social media platforms and how to utilize them for recruitment and community outreach. This includes but is not limited to Canva, Instagram, Facebook, Tic Tok, Volunteer Match, Handshake, Google etc. 
  
• Exercise discretion and independent judgment to assist new advocates in creative problem solving, utilizing Agency and community resources and ensuring accuracy and consistency with dependency permanency planning law and best practices. 
  
• Facilitate and mediate relationships between advocates and professionals as needed. 
  
• Identify and share information about specialized services and resources with advocates and CASA staff. 
  

 
Applicant Screening and Interview Process 

• Receives and reviews initial application and autobiographies for potential Volunteer Advocates and responds within 24 business hours. 
  
• Schedules and conducts Pre-Service Interviews for applicants in conjunction with the Advocacy Team. 
  
• Ensures thorough completion of volunteer application package. 
  
• Maintains applicant and Volunteer Advocate data including demographics and contact information in CASA Manager and Eleo in collaboration with the Program Support Coordinator.  
  

• Identifies and documents initial concerns regarding applicants and facilitates discussion with Advocacy Team members as needed. 
  
• Ensures applicant compliance throughout preservice training. 
  

 
Lead CASA Pre-Service Trainer  

• Coordinates and delivers CASA pre-service training in collaboration with the Advocacy Team. 
  

• Maintains pre-service training records, notes, and documents by utilizing existing database system in collaboration with the Program Support Coordinator. 
  
• Receives feedback from Advocacy Team on skill levels/gaps of new and existing Volunteer Advocates for in-service training, revision of pre-service training curriculum, and support purposes. 
  
• Identifies concerns regarding trainees, facilitates discussion, and develops plan of action with Advocacy Team members as needed and during training staffings. 
  
• Facilitates training check ins with each Volunteer Advocate in training to receive and give constructive feedback. 
  
• Partners with Program Director in the transition from trainee to Volunteer Advocate to assess and strategically match Advocates with Advocacy and Peer Coordinators in a timely manner. 
  

• Leads and plans swearing in ceremony in collaboration with the Program Support Coordinator. 
  
• Co facilitates Peer Coordination training in conjunction with the Program Director.  
  
• Identifies and books training space and food resources within the community.  
  

 
Office Operations 

• Answers and returns phone calls or other communication attempts for inquiries and potential volunteers within 24 business hours. 
  
• Answers incoming office phone calls and responds to visitors appropriately and in a timely manner when in the office (i.e. office coverage). 
  
• Attends Children First and CASA staff meetings, External Committee meetings, Marketing Committee meetings, GA CASA state and regional meetings, and other internal or external meetings as needed or assigned. 
  
• Inventories and organizes swag and promotional items within the office and storage unit.  
  
• Utilizes Outlook calendar to manage work activities. 
  

• Monitors volunteer engagement and activity for reporting and improvement. 
  
• Provides volunteer feedback and support as needed. 
  
• Assists with volunteer reporting of hours and miles. 
  
• Collaborate with Program Support Coordinator to organize and track donations and wish lists. 
  

 
Additional Responsibilities 

• Oversee and manage 1 -2 social media interns; this includes creating assignments, overseeing projects, and having weekly meetings to ensure the social media calendar is up to date with relevant information.  
  
• Assist in the CASA intern screening and training; may include communicating, setting up interviews, conducting interviews, training, and providing feedback to Program Director.  
  
• Provide assistance with the continuing education and retention efforts of established advocates. 
  
• Participates in volunteer appreciation activities. 
  

• Establish and maintain effective, collegial working relationships with CASA staff, board and volunteers, as well as with representatives of the respective courts, attorney panel, education service providers and other community service providers and entities. 
  
• Attend and take notes at juvenile court hearings. 
  
• Participate in community meetings as a representative of the agency. 
  
• Participate in agency fundraisers. 
  
• Other duties as assigned; by the Program Director and Executive Director may be assigned from time to time; Athens Oconee CASA is a small non-profit organization requiring flexibility from its staff. 
  

• Candidates will need access to transportation around Clarke and Oconee counties on a weekly basis and then transportation throughout the state up to ten times a year.  
  
• Accepts professional development and life-long learning as a requirement of the job. 
  

 
 Preferred Qualifications 

• Minimum requirement of Associate degree with three years related experience.  
  

• Preferred: Bachelor's degree in marketing, advertising, public relations, education, communications, or a related field and 3 years related experience in recruitment, public speaking, teaching adults, and training. 
  
• Knowledge of social service, and volunteer program management and/or case management.   
  
• Knowledge of the needs and strengths of transitional youth with an appreciation of the middle and late adolescent stages of development; direct service experience supporting youth in foster care strongly preferred 
  
• Strong working knowledge of community resources in the city of Athens and the greater Clarke and Oconee County Areas. 
  
• Must complete all National CASA required pre-service Volunteer Advocate Trainings; and undertake related self-development activities. 
  

• Must pass a comprehensive background check. 
  
• Flexibility with hours, this role will include regular evening and weekend events including recruitment activities, attending and facilitate trainings, as well as work in the community, office and potentially virtually.  
  
• Individual must have an ability to independently manage one’s workload and schedule. 
  
• Have reliable transportation and ability to schedule some travel. 
  
• Spanish-English bilingual candidates encouraged to apply. 
  

 
Traits and Expectations 

• Professionalism: Follows through on commitments. Approaches others in a tactful manner. Reacts well under pressure. Treats others with respect and consideration regardless of their status or position. Accepts responsibility for own actions.  
  
• Teamwork: Creates and maintains a team environment. Gives and welcomes feedback. Contributes to building a positive team spirit. Puts the success of the team above own individual interests. Able to build morale and group commitments to goals and objectives. Supports everyone's effort to succeed. Assumes the best of other people's actions.  
  
• Strong written communication skills, including editing skills; candidates should be prepared to provide a writing sample upon request.  Will need to write clearly and informatively. Can edit work for spelling and grammar. Can vary writing style to meet needs. Must be able to read and interpret written information. Must be able to provide constructive objective feedback.   
  

• Excellent oral communication skills, including the ability to welcome feedback, calmly evaluate and make mindful, strategic decisions in emotionally charged situations and in the absence of complete clarity. Speaks clearly and persuasively in positive or negative situations. Listens and gets clarification. Responds well to questions. Coaches others through situations.  
  
• Delegation: Delegates and monitors work assignments of others. Matches the responsibility to the person. Gives authority to work independently. Can set expectations and provide recognition for results.  
  
• Problem Solving: Identifies and resolves problems in a timely manner. Gathers and analyzes information skillfully. Develops alternative solutions.  
  
• Planning/Organizing: Strong organizational and time management skills. Ability to multi-task, set priorities, and meet deadlines. Prioritizes and plans work activities. Uses time effectively. Can sets goals and objectives. Assists others with organizing their tasks. Demonstrates independent timekeeping skills. Detail oriented. 
  
• Interpersonal Skills: Self-motivated with ability to take initiative. Has desire to surpass expectations. Focuses on solving conflict, not blaming. Listens to others without interrupting. Keeps emotions under control. Remains open to constructive feedback and other's ideas.  
  

• Customer Service: Manages difficult or emotional situations. Responds promptly to client’s and volunteer’s needs. Solicits feedback to improve service. Facilitates communication. Knows that the volunteer and their experience is one of our top priorities.   
  
• Initiative: Volunteers readily. Undertakes self-development activities. Looks for and takes advantage of opportunities. Asks for and offers help when needed. Be willing to take on new tasks even if no prior experience in the task area.  
  
• Must demonstrate follow-through on commitments, with accountability for own actions.  
  
• Possess an ability to independently manage one's workload and schedule while also remaining open to collaboration and teamwork.  Must be available to both independently and collaboratively work in and out of the office environment.  
  
• Project Management: Ability to accomplish projects with little supervision. Strong project management skills, including exceptional attention to detail. 
  

• Team Morale: Having a positive attitude about your employment with the organization, attitude, satisfaction and overall outlook of employment within the organization.  This contributes to building a positive team spirit, help programs meet goals, supports other’s efforts to succeed, excitement and enthusiasm generated, motivation and builds morale.   
  
• Cooperation with Supervisor:  Working together for the same goal, assistance with their requests.  
  
• Leadership: Providing guidance, coaching, facilitation, direction to volunteers, clients, interns, and other staff members when it is an area of expertise and/or you are their direct supervisor. 
  
• Commitment and passion for the mission, vision and value of Children First, Inc. and Athens Oconee CASA   
  
• Client and Stakeholder Engagement:  Builds and maintains relationships with your direct client (families, children, volunteers, staff, board members, interns, program, organization as a whole) and community stakeholders for your program and clients to foster a helpful and productive outcome.   
  

• Computer skills:  The ability to learn and perform the basic tasks on a computer (Microsoft 365, Google Suite, host virtual meetings, sending and receiving emails, uploading data into our management systems, Canva and social media platforms) with the ability to learn and incorporate new technology and software. 
  
• Ability to maintain confidentiality and exercise diplomacy and discretion in communication with others.  
  
• Demonstrated respect of all people regardless of socioeconomic background, race, culture, religion, sexual orientation, disability or gender and experience working with culturally diverse.   
  
• Travel: Ability to travel frequently throughout Clarke and Oconee Counties and occasionally within the state. Some overnight and out of state stays will be required.  
  

Physical Requirements and Work Environment: 

• Ability to sit and type at computer for at least 4 hours per workday. Ability to lift 5-15 pounds of office supplies, AV equipment, or festival supplies occasionally carry out or assist with other duties not listed on this job description. This position requires the manual dexterity sufficient to operate phones, computers, and other office equipment.  
  
• The position requires the physical ability to kneel, bend, and perform light lifting. This person must have the ability to write and speak clearly using the English language to convey information and be able to hear at normal speaking levels both in person and over the telephone. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus. Generally, the working conditions are good with little or no exposure to extremes in health, safety hazards, and/or hazardous materials. Work is performed in an office setting, in homes and in the community. ​
  

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Children First, Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer.