Advocate

Liberty Resources • Oneida, NY

4d

About The Position

The Advocate supports the Help Restore Hope Program in Madison County, New York, by advocating for and providing direct services to survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, and stalking. The role provides crisis intervention, medical-needs assessment, safety planning, skill development, and service linkage to promote survivors’ self-sufficiency. Services must be culturally competent and draw on clients’ cultural strengths and informal support networks.

The Advocate shares on-call responsibilities and helps ensure crisis hotline coverage, including responding to emergencies and handling incident notifications and debriefings. The role provides continuity of services to survivors and their families, serves as an advocate and primary resource for assigned clients, participates in service planning and program activities, and advocates with courts, law enforcement, medical providers, and the wider community. The Advocate also completes case documentation and provides community education, prevention, and awareness activities about domestic violence, sexual assault, and stalking.

The position requires a high school diploma or equivalent and one year of relevant experience, although life experience may substitute for formal work experience. A valid New York State driver’s license, reliable transportation, and criminal history clearance are required. The Advocate must complete an initial 30-hour Rape Crisis Certification training and 10 hours of relevant continuing education annually. Pay is $39,000 annually or $18.75 per hour.

Requirements

• High school diploma or equivalent.
• One year of experience with a domestic violence program, community-based human services, or a related field; life experience may substitute for formal work experience.
• Valid New York State driver’s license and access to reliable transportation.
• Criminal history clearance.
• Sensitivity to cultural differences and ability to incorporate that understanding into service provision.
• Strong organizational and interpersonal skills.
• Effective oral, written, and public-speaking communication skills, with the ability to communicate courteously and professionally.
• Ability to work independently and with flexibility in days and hours of work.
• Initiative, sound judgment, and understanding of domestic violence and sexual assault issues.
• Complete initial 30-hour Rape Crisis Certification training.
• Complete 10 hours of continuing education annually specific to services for survivors of domestic and/or sexual violence.

Responsibilities

• Share on-call responsibilities and take corrective action to provide crisis coverage, including assessing medical needs and safety; ensure hotline coverage requirements, incident notification, and debriefing.
• Respond to and effectively handle emergencies, with flexibility in time and areas of assignment.
• Ensure continuity and high standards of client services; serve survivors and their families and act as advocate and primary resource person for assigned survivors.
• Participate in service planning, implementation of program goals, and program activities.
• Advocate for survivors with the court system, law enforcement organizations, the medical community, and the community at large.
• Provide educational and support interventions, including crisis intervention, safety assessment and planning, and referral and linkage to other services.
• Complete, maintain, and update required written reports, case files, and summaries in a timely manner and in accordance with program and agency standards.
• Provide community education, prevention, and awareness about domestic violence, sexual assault, and stalking at outreach or tabling events and scheduled presentations coordinated with the Program Supervisor.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Education Level: High school or GED