Court Advocate

YWCA of Spokane•Spokane, WA

1d•Onsite

About The Position

The Court Advocates primary function is to support domestic violence survivors by providing direct services, collaborating with community partners, and handling administrative tasks. Key responsibilities include reviewing police reports and Lethality Assessment Protocols to contact victims, educating them about the criminal justice process, assisting with protection orders, and advocating during court hearings. The advocate acts as a liaison between survivors, prosecutors, law enforcement, and court staff while collaborating with YWCA programs and culturally responsive organizations to offer comprehensive support. Administrative duties include maintaining client records, data entry, and ensuring office efficiency, all while upholding survivor confidentiality.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in social work, criminal justice, or related field preferred.
Experience working with survivors of intimate partner domestic violence, court systems, and/or law enforcement is highly desirable.
Must meet the requirements of YWCA Spokane’s Driver Policy.
Must maintain 20 hours of ongoing training on domestic violence issues annually.
Cultural Humility - Demonstrate a commitment to self-reflection, ongoing learning and respectful engagement with diverse cultural perspectives, emphasizing an awareness of the impact of power dynamics and a willingness to learn from and address them.
Commitment to Equity and Inclusion - Strive to create fair and just conditions for all, while recognizing systemic inequities. Foster a sense of belonging that promotes diversity, works to address barriers, and ensures that everyone, across all backgrounds and identities, has access to the same opportunities and resources.
Trauma-Informed Practice - Create environments and approaches that acknowledge the prevalence and impact of trauma, prioritize safety, and foster healing and resilience. Understand, recognize, and respond to the effects of trauma while actively working to avoid re-traumatization.
Fostering an Empowering Environment - Encourage an atmosphere where individuals feel valued, supported, capable, and resourceful.
Professional Conduct - Consistently act in a manner that is honest, fair, and respectful while taking responsibility for one’s actions and decisions. Maintain integrity and build trust while adhering to the agency's code of ethics and professional guidelines.
Adaptability and Resilience - Demonstrate openness and flexibility to work with changing circumstances and unexpected challenges. Adapt to the current situation by contributing solution-oriented ideas while advocating for the support needed to reset and achieve set goals.
Effective Communication - Communicate clearly, accurately, and in ways that are understood by the intended audience. Actively listen and respond in a constructive, open-minded, and empathetic manner that ensures mutual understanding and respect.
Problem Solving and Critical Thinking - Help identify potential solutions to challenges proactively. Contribute ideas, perspectives, and strategies that contribute toward informed decisions that align with the agency’s mission and values while helping to achieve set goals.
Human-Centered Approach - Prioritize providing compassionate, respectful service that aims to create solutions that are not only functional and effective but also meaningful and engaging for clients, staff, and our community.
Effective Interpersonal Skills - Be supportive, kind, empathetic, and patient with colleagues, administrators, clients, and community partners. Contribute toward a climate of mutual respect and appreciation.
Independent Work Efficiency - Works independently in an efficient and productive manner, utilizing available resources and support as needed.
Reliability and Continuous Improvement - Demonstrate reliability and a commitment to continuous improvement.
Demonstrate Understanding and Acceptance of Mission, Values, Goals, and Objectives - Clearly understand and actively support the mission, values, goals, and objectives of YWCA Spokane and its programs.

Responsibilities

Review Domestic Violence (DV) police reports, Lethality Assessment Protocols, prosecution referrals, and other approved referral sources and establish contact with the victim(s) to check on their status and safety.
Establish timely, ongoing, trauma-informed contact with Domestic Violence survivors to assess safety, identify urgent needs, explain available services, and offer advocacy support through various intervention methods.
Prepare weekly criminal and civil court dockets using various software systems, reviewing court personnel notes, court filings, and survivor input.
Educate survivors about the criminal legal process, protection order process, firearms compliance process, and the role of legal advocacy.
Obtain appropriate releases of information before sharing survivor-identifying information with community partners.
Offer scheduled or walk-in advocacy appointments through various methods (in person, phone, or virtual), ensuring accessibility for survivors unable to meet in person.
Assist DV survivors seeking Domestic Violence Protection Orders and attend DVPO-related court hearings to offer advocacy support.
Attend various criminal court hearings with Domestic Violence survivors and speak on behalf of Domestic Violence survivors in court to ensure their voice is being heard.
Answer inbound calls and return voicemails from Domestic Violence survivors to the Legal Advocacy office.
Engage in team and department meetings, reflective supervision, case consultation, and debriefing to address vicarious trauma symptoms, improve service development and delivery, and support collective growth.
Act as a liaison between the victim(s) in domestic violence criminal cases and the Family Justice Center personnel, including prosecutors, law enforcement, and court administration and staff to coordinate interviews, meetings, court appearances, and relay victim input.
Serve as an ambassador of YWCA Spokane's culture of safety, equity, and dignity with the recognition of intersectional impacts of racism, poverty, disability, gender identity, and trauma in survivors' lives while providing wrap-around services.
Collaborate with other YWCA programs and advocates to provide survivor-centered, trauma-informed services.
Collaborate with other culturally responsive organizations and programs to support clients from marginalized communities.
Participate in required and related training aligned with organizational policies and grant requirements.
Maintain timely, accurate, confidential documentation aligned with organizational policies, funding and grant requirements, and best practices in trauma-informed advocacy.
Maintain organized paperwork, case materials, and mail consistent with organizational policies and grant requirements.
Assist supervisor with data collection, outcome reporting, program evaluation, and other grant-related reporting.
Inform supervisor of urgent safety concerns, client crises, ethical dilemmas, confidentiality concerns, community partner issues, or other activities that are outside the normal scope of work within a timely manner.
Perform other duties as assigned.