DIRECTOR OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS

Children’s Advocacy Center of Hamilton County Chattanooga, Tennessee

About Us

The Children’s Advocacy Center of Hamilton County coordinates a compassionate, multidisciplinary response to child abuse. Every year, we serve over 1,000 children and families through our partnerships with law enforcement, the Department of Children’s Services, prosecutors, medical professionals, and victim advocates. Our work ensures that children are heard, believed, and supported throughout their healing journey.

The Opportunity

We’re seeking a strategic and creative Director of External Affairs to lead our organization’s voice in the community. This role is essential to sustaining our $1.5+ million operation and expanding our reach to serve more children. You’ll shape how our community understands child abuse prevention and response, cultivate relationships with donors and partners, and ensure our message inspires action and support.

This isn’t a typical development role—it’s an opportunity to utilize your communications expertise to positively impact lives and enhance a community’s response to its most vulnerable children.

What You’ll Do

Fundraising & Development

• Lead annual fundraising campaigns and donor communications
• Cultivate individual donors, corporate sponsors, and foundation relationships
• Collaborate with the Executive Director on grant proposals and major gift solicitations
• Plan and execute fundraising events and community engagement opportunities
• Manage donor database and acknowledgment systems
• Develop and implement comprehensive donor stewardship strategies that build long-term relationships
• Track fundraising metrics and analyze giving trends to inform strategic decision-making

Strategic Communications & Community Relations

• Develop and execute comprehensive external affairs strategies that elevate organizational visibility and impact
• Craft compelling narratives about our work while protecting client confidentiality and trauma-informed principles
• Manage media relations, press releases, and crisis communications
• Serve as organizational spokesperson when appropriate
• Build and maintain relationships with key community stakeholders, including elected officials, civic leaders, and partner agencies

Marketing & Brand Management

• Oversee all organizational marketing materials, website content, and social media presence
• Create educational content for community awareness campaigns
• Develop materials for volunteers, board members, and multidisciplinary team partners
• Ensure brand consistency across all platforms and communications

Team Leadership & Collaboration

• Supervise external affairs staff and coordinate with program teams
• Partner with the Executive Director and board on organizational strategy
• Represent the CAC at community coalitions and professional networks

Who You Are

You bring a unique combination of heart and skill to this work. You’re moved by our mission but grounded in strategy. You can write a donor appeal that inspires giving, craft a social media campaign that educates without exploiting, and manage agency communication with both sensitivity and professionalism.

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in communications, marketing, public relations, nonprofit management, or related field
• 5+ years of progressive experience in nonprofit communications, development, or related fields
• Proven track record in fundraising and donor relations
• Supervisory experience managing staff and/or volunteers
• Grant writing experience with demonstrated success in securing funding
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills
• Experience managing multiple projects, deadlines, and stakeholders simultaneously
• Proficiency with donor management systems, social media platforms, and marketing tools
• Understanding of trauma-informed approaches and ability to communicate sensitively about difficult topics

Strongly Preferred:

• Experience in child welfare, victim services, or social services sectors
• Knowledge of Hamilton County/Chattanooga community and nonprofit landscape
• Familiarity with child abuse prevention and intervention

What We Offer

• Meaningful work: Every day, your efforts directly support children healing from trauma
• Competitive compensation: Salary range $75,000-$85,000, commensurate with experience
• Comprehensive benefits: Health insurance, retirement plan, generous paid time off
• Professional growth: Opportunities for training and leadership development
• Collaborative culture: Work alongside a dedicated multidisciplinary team committed to excellence
• Flexibility: Understanding that work-life balance supports our ability to do this important work

How to Apply

Submit your resume and a brief cover letter to mkelly@cachc.org

Applications accepted through January 31, 2025
Interviews scheduled for February 2025
Anticipated start date: Early March 2025

The Children’s Advocacy Center of Hamilton County is an equal opportunity employer committed to building a diverse and inclusive team that reflects the community we serve.

Master’s Required- Junior’s House, 17^th Judicial District.

Therapist Job Plan

Position Title: Therapist
Department: Clinical Services
Reports To: Executive Director / Clinical Supervisor
Work Location: Children’s Advocacy Center (Home Office in Shelbyville, TN)- We also serve Marshall, Moore, and Lincoln County
Employment Status: Part- Time

Purpose of the Position:

The Therapist at the Children’s Advocacy Center (CAC) provides trauma-informed, evidence-based mental health services to child victims of abuse and their non-offending family members. The goal is to support emotional healing, build resilience, and promote safety and well-being in collaboration with multidisciplinary team partners.

Key Responsibilities:

🔹 Clinical Services

• Conduct trauma-focused clinical assessments and develop individualized treatment plans for child clients and non-offending caregivers.
• Provide individual, group, and family therapy using evidence-based practices such as Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT), Play Therapy, or EMDR, when appropriate.
• Deliver crisis intervention and short-term stabilization support for children and families following forensic interviews or emergency situations.
• Monitor client progress, revise treatment plans as needed, and prepare discharge summaries upon completion of services.
• Provide safety planning when needed and assist families in identifying coping strategies and support systems.

🔹 Collaboration & Advocacy

• Participate in regular case review meetings with the Child Protective Investigative Team (CPIT).
• Maintain open communication with advocates, forensic interviewers, law enforcement, DCS, and medical providers to ensure comprehensive care.
• Provide expert insight to multidisciplinary team members regarding the mental health needs of the child and family.

🔹 Documentation & Reporting

• Maintain accurate, timely, and confidential clinical records in compliance with organizational policies, legal requirements, and ethical standards.
• Document all client sessions, assessments, treatment plans, progress notes, and reports as required by grant and funding sources.
• Submit monthly service statistics and outcome reports.

🔹 Family Support & Education

• Provide psychoeducation to non-offending caregivers about the effects of trauma on children and available mental health services.
• Support caregivers in developing parenting strategies that promote healing and resilience.

🔹 Professional Development & Compliance

• Attend ongoing trainings in trauma-informed care, child abuse dynamics, and relevant therapeutic modalities.
• Maintain current licensure and certifications as required by state law.
• Comply with HIPAA, mandated reporting laws, and CAC policies regarding confidentiality and professional boundaries.

Required Qualifications:

• Master’s Degree in Counseling, Social Work, Marriage and Family Therapy, or Psychology from an accredited program.
• Current license or license-eligible (LMSW, LCSW, LPC-MHSP, LMFT) in the state.
• Clinical experience with children, preferably in trauma treatment settings.
• Knowledge of child development, child abuse dynamics, and trauma-focused therapy models.
• Ability to work effectively within a multidisciplinary team.
• Strong organizational, communication, and documentation skills.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Certified or trained in TF-CBT, EMDR, or Play Therapy.
• Experience working with child welfare or criminal justice systems.
• Bilingual (Spanish/English) is a plus.

Work Schedule & Compensation:

• Workweek: 20-24 hours (Monday–Friday; flexible schedule as needed (exact schedule to be determined by ED and Therapist)
• Travel: Occasional local travel to serve clients or attend meetings in surrounding counties
• Compensation: 35.00 Per Hour

Performance Goals:

• Maintain a consistent caseload of active therapy clients (as defined by program needs)
• Deliver high-quality, trauma-informed clinical care as evidenced by supervisor reviews and client outcomes
• Submit documentation and reports on time (minimum 95% compliance)
• Attend all required meetings, trainings, and peer consultations
• Contribute to a collaborative and supportive work environment
• Probationary Period: This position includes a one-year probationary period. During this time, employment may be terminated at the discretion of the Executive Director and/or Junior’s House Board of Directors without prior written or verbal warning if job expectations are not met.

To Apply- Email resume and cover letter to administrator@juniorshousecac.org

CHILD PROTECTIVE INVESTIGATIVE TEAM COORDINATOR

ORGANIZATIONAL OVERVIEW:

Nashville Children’s Alliance (NCA) is the child advocacy center for Nashville and Davidson County. NCA serves all children in Davidson County ages 3 – 17 when sexual or severe physical abuse allegations are reported, with the majority of referrals coming from the Tennessee Department of Children’s Services (DCS) and the Metro Nashville Police Department (MNPD). NCA is a child-focused, trauma-informed therapeutic environment designed to serve child abuse victims and their non-offending family members. NCA is involved in child sexual and severe physical abuse cases from the first allegation of abuse  at absolutely no cost to families. Since 1992, NCA has delivered and coordinated the services needed for children to feel safe, begin the healing process and look forward to bright futures.

NCA’s mission is to provide healing and justice for children who have been abused or exposed to violence. NCA is located in Nashville’s Family Safety Center (FSC), a groundbreaking co-working space that facilitates services between Metro Nashville Police Department (MNPD), the Department of Children’s Services (DCS), the District Attorney General’s Office (DA), and various nonprofit organizations. In collaboration with these partners, NCA works with children and non-offending caregivers using three evidence-based approaches: forensic interviews, Child Protective Investigative Team (CPIT) coordination and trauma therapy.

OBJECTIVES:

NCA is seeking a dynamic, self-motivated and outgoing Child Protective Investigative Team (CPIT) Coordinator to assist Nashville’s multidisciplinary team in meeting its goal of an effective, coordinated, and comprehensive multidisciplinary response to cases of child abuse and neglect.   The coordinator provides strategic and operational leadership for the team in a high-volume, urban environment. This position ensures effective coordination of complex child abuse cases across multiple systems, including law enforcement agencies, child protective services, prosecution, medical providers, mental health professionals, and victim advocates.

The Coordinator plays a critical role in promoting child safety, culturally responsive services, and trauma-informed care. This position is responsible for facilitating case review, strengthening interagency collaboration, monitoring protocol compliance, overseeing case tracking and data reporting, and supporting National Children’s Alliance (NCA) accreditation standards.

MDT Leadership & High-Volume Case Coordination

• Facilitate weekly CPIT case review meetings involving severe child abuse cases.
• Develop structured case review processes to ensure efficient use of time and effective decision-making in a high-volume setting.
• Track follow-up action steps and ensure accountability across partner agencies.
• Identify systemic barriers and elevate concerns to CAC and CPIT leadership.

Systems Collaboration & Interagency Engagement

• Serve as primary liaison among law enforcement, CPS, prosecution, medical, and mental health partners.
• Support consistent implementation of interagency protocols.
• Navigate and resolve interagency conflict while maintaining neutrality and professionalism.
• Assist in negotiating and updating MOUs and formal agreements as needed.
• Seek opportunities to cultivate trust and rapport with the team.

Data Management & Compliance

• Maintain accurate, confidential case tracking systems aligned with NCA standards.
• Monitor service timelines (forensic interviews, medical exams, therapy referrals, advocacy contact, etc.).
• Generate regular data reports for leadership, grantors, and accreditation.
• Support compliance with reporting requirements.
• Assist with NCA accreditation and reaccreditation preparation.

Equity & Trauma-Informed Practice

• Promote culturally responsive and equitable case coordination practices.
• Monitor disparities in service access or system response and recommend improvements.
• Support implementation of trauma-informed best practices across CPIT partners.

Training & Capacity Building

• Identify training needs within CPIT.
• Coordinate cross-training among partner agencies.
• Orient new CPIT members to CAC protocols and expectations.
• Support development of advanced training on child abuse dynamics, vicarious trauma, and system collaboration.
• Quality Improvement & Strategic Support
• Monitor CPIT effectiveness and recommend process improvements.
• Participate in strategic planning initiatives.
• Assist in developing performance metrics and outcome evaluation.
• Contribute to grant development and reporting as needed.
• Other Duties as Necessary

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in social work, criminal justice, public administration, psychology, or related field.
• Minimum 2 years of experience in child welfare, criminal justice, prosecution, victim services, or a related field.
• Experience working in or leading multidisciplinary or cross-systems teams.
• Strong facilitation skills in high-stakes, high-volume environments.
• Knowledge of child abuse investigations, prosecution processes, and trauma-informed care.
• Demonstrated ability to manage data systems.
• Excellent organizational, communication, and conflict resolution skills.
• Ability to maintain strict confidentiality.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience working in an urban CAC or similar high-volume setting.
• Familiarity with National Children’s Alliance (NCA) standards.
• Bilingual or multilingual abilities reflective of the community served.
• Experience addressing systemic inequities in service delivery.

INCLUDED BENEFITS:

Nashville Children’s Alliance offers excellent paid time off and recognizes 20 holidays throughout the year. NCA provides insurance options including medical, vision, dental and life. Staff members are granted 1.5 hours of wellness time each week, and NCA’s facility is equipped with a gym for employees to use at no cost.

Nashville Children’s Alliance is committed to diversity, equity and inclusion. NCA does not discriminate in regard to gender, race, sexual preference, sexual identity, national origin, religion, disability, age or marital status in the recruitment, selection, or placement of employees.

HOW TO APPLY:

Please send your resume and cover letter to Barbara Tallent at Barbara.tallent@nashvillechildrensalliance.org with the subject line “CPIT Coordinator”.

Qualifications
• Master’s degree is preferred; bachelor’s degree in an appropriate field of study from an accredited university is required.
• A minimum of three (3) years of experience working in child abuse cases or a related field is required.
• Applicants must be willing to submit to extensive background checks, as well as drug and alcohol screenings.
• Must be willing to be on call for emergency forensic interviews.
• Completion of 40 hours or more of initial forensic interviewer training is required upon hire.
• Completion of 15 hours of annual continuing
education training is required.

The ideal candidate will demonstrate professionalism, integrity, and a commitment to serving children and families in a compassionate, trauma-informed environment.

Please submit your resume to:
Angel Sexton, Executive Director Children’s Center of the Cumberlands P.O. Box 4314, Oneida, TN 37841. Applications will be accepted until noon on Monday, March 16, 2026.

View Full Job Description