Victim Advocate

We are seeking a highly skilled and compassionate Part-time Victim Advocate to join our team at Fort Irwin, California. As a Victim Advocate, you will provide critical support and services to victims of domestic abuse, ensuring their safety and well-being.

• Provide crisis intervention and comprehensive services to victims of domestic abuse, including emotional support, transportation, and accompaniment to medical, legal, and law enforcement appointments.
• Assess imminent risks for health and/or safety of the victim and make referrals as appropriate.
• Assist victims with navigating the system to obtain the services desired and refer victims to the appropriate services for continued care.
• Ensure victims of domestic abuse receive sensitive, confidential, and immediate comprehensive care and treatment needed to restore health and well-being.
• Perform initial screening, non-clinical risk and lethality assessment, and safety planning with victims of domestic abuse.
• Assist victims in developing safety plans, conduct a lethality assessment, and provide emotional support, crisis intervention, prevention awareness, and education to victims.
• Liaison with the installation Family Advocacy Program Manager (FAPM) to ensure that comprehensive victim services and training are provided through a coordinated community response to domestic abuse victims, Family Members, Soldiers, and Civilians authorized to receive services at a Military Treatment Facility.
• Provide crisis intervention and a warm hand-off to community resources for victims who are not eligible for services through a Military Treatment Facility.
• Provide information on victim rights, services, and resources available on and/or off the installation.
• Coordinate with the FAPM to develop procedures that ensure victims of domestic abuse receive timely and appropriate information.
• When contacted by a victim of domestic abuse, make contact either telephonically within 20 minutes or face-to-face within 60 minutes (when requested) by the victim.
• Explain FAP disclosure and reporting options during the initial contact to ensure that the victim makes informed decisions about disclosing information regarding the abuse.
• Ensure that first responders (Emergency Medical Services and/or law enforcement, etc.) are contacted immediately during crisis situations where there is imminent harm to the victim, their children, or program staff.
• Operate within established guidelines of the FAP and the Victim Advocacy Program, AR.
• Conduct domestic abuse training and awareness programs to educate Soldiers and Family members and Civilians.
• Understand Problematic Sexual Behavior-Child and Youth (PSB-CY).
• Guide client families through the investigative process, encourage their participation in the process, and help them understand their rights as a victim of a crime.
• Formulate appropriate intervention strategies to improve a family's coping skills during a child abuse case investigation and prosecution process.
• Identify and make every attempt to meet the needs of children and families who may be in crisis.
• Educate non-offending caregivers about the dynamics and possible long-term consequences of child abuse.
• Assess family needs and encourage non-offending caregivers to participate in recommended services and counseling.
• Provide information and assistance with completing Crime Victims' Compensation applications.
• Serve as a liaison between the family and multidisciplinary team members as needed.
• Assist multidisciplinary team members in identifying client needs and providing recommendations.
• Represent the child and family's best interest at multidisciplinary team case review meetings.
• Accompany non-offending caregivers to court or other appointments, when requested.
• Participate in relevant community awareness, campaigns, and prevention events.
• Maintain ongoing case management, all data entry must be completed within three business days.
• Ensure daily contact with a victim while in crisis and no less than every 30 days when not in crisis.
• When a victim departs the servicing area, case shall be transferred as appropriate, when advocacy services are completed, the case will be closed as appropriate, with concurrence from the FAPM.
• Part-time positions vary in hours from hours per week. Flexible schedule is required for this position, as you will be asked to work primarily nights, weekends, and some hours during the day, depending on the needs of the installation. More information will be provided if you are selected for the interview process.

• Bachelor's Degree from an accredited school in social/work, psychology, marriage, family, and child counseling, counseling, or behavioral science, education, community health, or public health.
• Two years' experience working with victims of domestic abuse/sexual assault violence or victim advocacy services.
• Working knowledge of Family violence dynamics, safety planning, risk assessments, local community resources, and federal and state laws pertaining to domestic abuse or sexual assault, Family law, and the Victim Rights Bill.
• Possess ability to intervene in crisis situations, using sound professional judgment, ethical practice, and common sense.
• Ability to work independently to assess risk, develop, implement, and evaluate safety and intervention plans to meet victim needs.
• Demonstrated understanding, sensitivity, and empathy for victims.
• Possess the ability to develop trusting helping relationships.
• Possess the ability to work effectively with individuals and families from diverse racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic backgrounds.
• Ability to work cooperatively with military and civilian medical, social service, law enforcement, and legal personnel on behalf of victims.
• Must possess and maintain a valid, unrestricted motor vehicle license.
• Must possess transportation to transport victim in crisis (non-emergent) situations as a last resort.
• Must be able to provide on-call 24 hours/7 days per week victim advocacy services.