Advocate

Summary

The advocate provides direct services to victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking and child abuse.

Direct Services:

• Provide crisis intervention services by phone and face to face, to include emotional support, safety planning and emergency services as needed.
• Participate in the crisis line on-call rotation as scheduled.
• Provide client specific advocacy to meet the identified needs of the client/victim
• Provide information about legal services such as protective orders, family court, criminal court, immigration laws, and other legal procedures as needed.
• Assist and prepare clients in completing protective order paperwork. Provide information regarding the filing and court process and assist with violations of protective orders.
• Assist clients in safety planning, identifying danger risk, identifying safe options, and problem solving.
• Prepare and provide educational materials to the clients, as needed.
• Transport clients if needed to court, emergency shelter, long term shelter, or other designated safe place.
• Provide information and referrals for community resources available to the client.
• Serves as a liaison between the victim and other agencies
• Assist victims in completing and submitting applications requesting victims’ compensation.
• Assist victims in completing and submitting applications requesting address confidentiality from the perpetrator.
• Inform clients/victims of their rights and maintain client confidentiality at all times.
• Provide coverage in the Jefferson County - Waurika Office once per week from 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m., unless approved by Executive Director
• Lead facilitator for domestic violence education and trauma group.
• Facilitate sexual assault group, as needed.
• Provide case management services for clients on a case to case basis.
• Serve as a back-up for family advocacy services for families coming for forensic interviews
• Keep the Executive Director informed of high-risk situations pertaining to the clients and the services being provided.

Family Advocate

• Establish a relationship with the child and non-offending caregiver of children seen at the CAC.
• Evaluate services that would enhance the quality of life for the child.
• Provide support and information to parents of newly scheduled forensic interviews.
• Remain apprised of all community services available to the child and non-offending caregiver.
• Contact child/non/offending caregiver after the interview for follow up.
• Maintain follow-up contact(s) with victims and families; offering emotional support, information, and referrals to support family safety: monitor follow-up interactions between family and service providers.
• Distribute evaluation surveys to all families of children interviewed by the center
• When necessary, provide child care for interviews with multiple children.
• Attend all post-interview and scheduled case review sessions, being a voice for the child and non-offending caregiver.
• Act as liaison to the MDT by informing the MDT of significant issues and changes related to the case the child’s well being.
• Prepare timely, thorough and accurate case notes of family advocacy sessions, including data collection, data entry, and maintenance of the computerized case tracking system.
• Provide regular updates to the Director on CAC cases.
• Assist MDT Coordinator with agendas for CAC MDT.
• Coordinate court advocacy with the District Attorney’s Office.
• Provide victims rights to families
• Assist with victims compensation when necessary
• Attend conferences and workshops
• Assist with any other duties and attend meetings as requested by the Executive Director

Advocacy, Outreach, and Organization Representation:

• Provide community education as assigned.
• Provide school age children community education as assigned.
• Provide professional training to community partners as assigned.
• Establish and maintain collaborative relationships with community partners.
• Prepare and provide information and resources to community partners as needed..

Record Keeping and Other Responsibilities

• Initiate and maintain all client records, such as recording and updating services
• Complete all service documentation in a thorough and timely manner, for billing purposes.
• Attend conferences, workshops, training, and continuing education activities as assigned.
• Maintain client confidentiality.

Qualifications:

• An undergraduate degree preferred.
• Be familiar with the dynamics of domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking and child abuse.
• Working knowledge of the legal system and the current state and federal laws.
• Ability to utilize multi-tasking skills and attention to detail.
• Ability to handle high stress crisis situations while utilizing sound judgment and problem solving skills.
• Ability to work sensitively with traumatized victims and to handle the crisis effectively.
• Ability to demonstrate effective written and verbal communication skills with clients, co-workers, and community partners.
• Ability to work independently and as a member of a team.

Must complete the earliest approved domestic violence/sexual assault training prior to providing direct client services. This will be, at a minimum, thirty (30) hours and six (6) hours of sexual assault training, as required by the Attorney General’s office. All employees are required to receive, at a minimum, sixteen (16) hours of annual training, as required by the Attorney General’s office.

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $35,000.00 - $38,000.00 per year

Benefits:

• Flexible schedule
• Life insurance
• Mileage reimbursement
• Paid time off
• Parental leave
• Professional development assistance

Work Location: In person