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Setting up a child advocacy office involves careful planning and strategic execution. Key steps include assessing community needs, identifying funding opportunities from local, state, and federal sources, and ensuring proper office setup with the right staff and systems. Building a cohesive team requires a mix of skills and flexibility, while developing partnerships with other agencies is crucial for effective service delivery. It's essential to measure performance, integrate promising practices, and plan for long-term sustainability. This guide offers insights into logistics, policy considerations, and strategies for preventing burnout.
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Setting Up a Child Advocacy Office: Charting Your Course Travis County Office of Child Representation Leslie Hill, Managing Attorney Lynn LeCropane, Senior Staff Attorney
The Beginning: Assessing Community Need • What is the current child welfare system? • What is working well? • What could use some improvement? • How will your team meet the needs?
Identifying Funding Possibilities • Local, state and federal sources • Collaboration with partner agencies
Office Startup 101 • Space • Supplies • Staff • Systems
Open for Business: Now What? • Case Assignment Procedures • Case Organization • Communication • Handling the unexpected
Building a Team • What skills does your team need? • Find the right combination of skills • Behavioral interviewing • Flexibility is a skill
Developing Partner Relationships • Build on your existing networks • Identify common goals and needs • Always look for the bigger picture
What to Measure: And How? • Understand your system’s capabilities • Identify performance measures • Capture the work you are doing • Plan for system updates • Don’t give up!
Incorporating Promising Practices • Know your clients’ needs • Be responsive to clients and community • Develop practice standards for office • Learn from others • Don’t be afraid to change your systems
Meeting Client Needs: Logistics • Planes, Trains and Automobiles • Hospitals • Schools • Detention Facilities • Residential Treatment Facilities
Responding to Crisis and Preventing Burnout • Encourage strong team relationships • Mourn losses • Celebrate successes • Make time for fun
Policy Considerations: Equity for Clients • Identify systemic trends that affect clients • Disproportionality • Educational barriers • Effect of funding changes on services
Planning for Long-Term Success • Productive staff meetings • Team case reviews • Work plans • Policies and procedures • Strategic planning • Seek funding opportunities • Maintain community involvement
Travis County Office of Child Representation P.O. Box 1748 Austin, Texas 78767 Phone: (512) 854-7312 Fax: (512) 854-7316 Leslie Hill, Managing Attorney leslie.hill@co.travis.tx.us Lynn LeCropane, Senior Staff Attorney lynn.lecropane@co.travis.tx.us