Advocacy Specialist - VAP

Disability Rights Wisconsin•Monona, WI

1d•$51,000 - $67,000•Remote

About The Position

The Victim Advocacy Program (VAP) of Disability Rights Wisconsin works to ensure that survivors with disabilities receive the advocacy, legal representation, services, and support they need to move forward, find justice, and obtain safety and stability in whatever form they require. A primary goal of VAP is to promote self-determination for survivors with disabilities. The Advocacy Specialist is responsible for providing direct advocacy assistance to individuals with disabilities who have been victims of crime on a variety of disability-related and victim service issues. Other duties include administrative tasks related to case maintenance and reporting, information and referral, systems advocacy, and training.

Requirements

At least 6 months of paid or unpaid work providing advocacy and/or support to victims/survivors of crime.
At least 6 months of paid or unpaid experience doing the following: interviewing people; identifying a problem and creating a plan to solve the problem; and negotiating or assisting someone in negotiating to achieve a solution to a problem.
Excellent listening, verbal, and written communication skills.
Basic computer skills, including email, word processing, and use of the internet.
Ability to travel statewide.

Nice To Haves

Fluency or strong proficiency in American Sign Language, Hmong, or Spanish.
Direct paid or unpaid experience with people with mental illness and other disabilities.
Bachelor’s Degree in a field relevant to providing advocacy and support to victims/survivors of crime or people with disabilities.
Working knowledge of state and county victim response programs, services and delivery systems. Familiarity with state laws about victim rights, restraining orders, and divorce.
Familiarity with the Wisconsin criminal legal system.
Demonstrated commitment to social justice issues.

Responsibilities

Participate in intake, referral, case acceptance, and quality assurance functions on the Victim Advocacy team. Collect client information in preparation for team acceptance meetings or meetings with a supervisor, inform the person requesting assistance of the decision to accept or deny the case, and make appropriate referrals.
Extensive direct client contact providing advocacy to individuals with disabilities statewide, including meeting with individuals personally at DRW offices, in client homes, and/or in community settings; this includes making some independent judgments about advocacy strategy in the field.
Provide information, guidance, consultation, and technical assistance over the telephone to individuals who call for help on advocacy issues about people with disabilities who are survivors of crime.
Maintain a caseload of individuals needing advocacy assistance, including: giving information, advice, and self-advocacy assistance in person or over the phone; accompanying clients to court proceedings to obtain restraining orders; assisting clients to navigate criminal justice systems, including reporting crime to law enforcement, discussing charges to be filed with prosecutors, and drafting victim impact statements to be read at sentencing; intervening or collaborating directly with law enforcement, service providers, government/school administrations, and others as necessary.
Participate in interdisciplinary teams as a representative of the Victim Advocacy Program.
Consult and collaborate with other DRW advocates on individual cases and advocacy issues.
Complete required intake and case recording forms and maintain accurate records of client interactions and case progress.
Develop and maintain resource files on topics including legal rights of individuals, victims’ rights, grievance procedures, and other advocacy resources, victim service, and disability related organizations.
Maintain client and project files both electronically and in paper files. Comply with DRW client data reporting requirements, compile and organize statistical data.
As assigned, participate in internal DRW work groups or teams to develop appropriate advocacy strategies and programming for working on behalf of people with disabilities.
Participate in outreach strategies and events.

Benefits

Generous employer contribution for individual and family health insurance, plus a Health Reimbursement Account for uncovered health care costs.
Employer-provided Short-Term and Long-Term Disability Insurance
401(k) Retirement Plan with Employer Contribution
Flex Spending Account
Access to affordable, quality: Dental, Vision Coverage
Additional Life Insurance for the employee, spouse, and children
Critical Illness Insurance
Identity Theft
Pet Insurance
Public Student Loan Forgiveness: Employment at our organization may qualify you for federal student loan forgiveness programs. We do not directly pay for, nor forgive, federal student loans. However, our status as a not-for-profit organization under Section 501(c)(3) makes us an eligible employer. There may be additional factors that determine eligibility.
Generous paid time off policies include: 10 Fixed and 4 Floating Holidays
Leave time for: Medical and Caretaking Vacation Personal Bereavement Leave
Additional benefits include the Employee Assistance Program (EAP).