What does a Child Advocate do?

I'm considering becoming a child advocate after high school. Can anyone explain what this job actually involves? What kind of impact do child advocates have, and what kind of skills and education are needed for this career?

A child advocate primarily works to protect children's rights and ensure their well-being. They often work in different environments like family services, schools, and even the legal system.

Their daily tasks could involve meeting with children and teenagers to ascertain their needs, providing professional recommendations, and taking direct action when necessary to safeguard the child's rights. This could mean intervening in situations where child abuse or neglect is suspected.

As for the impact, it's significant. Child advocates play a vital role in child protection services, law enforcement, educational institutions, and social work. They ensure that children's voices and interests are taken into account, which can be pivotal in crafting child protection policies, or even in individual cases during family legal disputes.

Education-wise, generally, a minimum of a bachelor's degree in fields like social work, psychology, or criminal justice is required. Some roles might require a master's degree. Many organizations also require previous experience working with children, and a thorough understanding of child development and family dynamics.

As for skills, you need to have excellent communication and interpersonal skills, as you'll be interacting with children, their families, and various professionals regularly. Emotional intelligence is also crucial as the job can be emotionally taxing. Patience, empathy, and resilience are personal attributes that can make you more effective on this career path.

To gain real-world experience, you might want to consider doing an internship or volunteering at a local child welfare office or a non-profit organization that focuses on child advocacy. This would provide you a first-hand glance at what the job entails and how to engage with children effectively.