Domestic Abuse Victim Advocate

Chenega Corporation•Montgomery, AL

About The Position

The Department of the Air Force (DAF) Family Advocacy Program (FAP) is designed to identify, prevent, provide treatment to families, couples, and/or intimate partners impacted by domestic abuse (DA). FAP offers the support of Domestic Abuse Victim Advocates (DAVA) to provide DAF personnel, their family members, or intimate partners who are victims of DA (sometimes referred to as domestic violence) non-clinical emergent and urgent service whenever requested. With the exception of mandatory state, federal, and military reporting requirements (i.e., domestic violence, child abuse, and duty to warn situations) the DAVA provides a private and confidential service to encourage victims in seeking assistance.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree from an accredited university in any of the following disciplines: Social Work; Psychology; Marriage, Family, and Child Counseling; Counseling or Behavioral Science; Criminal Justice, or related field.
Minimum two (2) years of full time (40 hours per week) experience providing direct advocacy services to victims of DA or sexual assault.
Ability to clearly read, understand, speak and write English.
Ability to obtain verification for a minimum of 2860 hours of direct services to DV/DA victim services
Ability to obtain the Basic Advocate credential with designation of Comprehensive Intervention Specialist as approved and offered by the National Advocate Credentialing Program, which is overseen by the National Organization for Victims Assistance within six (6) months of hire
Ability to obtain and maintain Basic Life Support (BLS) certification thru either the American Red Cross or the American Heart Association.

Responsibilities

Provides 24 hour/7 days a week response to victims alleging DA by publishing and maintaining an emergency contact number via cell phone provided by vendor.
Establishes a Victim’s Safety Plan on a case-by-case basis.
Partners with the Family Advocacy Treatment Manager (FATM) and Family Advocacy Intervention Specialist (FAIS) or mental health on-call provider if the treatment or case manager is unavailable, to establish safety plans. The victims’ safety is the DAVA’s top responsibility and priority.
Reviews the safety plan during each victim contact.
Develops safety plans based on initial and ongoing risk assessments. If imminent risk of serious harm or death is established, notify the FAO, law enforcement, and Command. If children are involved, the process also includes child physical safety and emotional well-being; refer involved children to the treatment or case manager for follow-on care.
Immediately reports any changes in the victim’s circumstances that changes or impacts the safety plan to the FAP treatment/case manager or mental health on-call provider if the treatment/case manager is unavailable. When determining whether a victim is at imminent risk of serious harm or death, the DAVA will assess the following risk factors:
Advises each victim at the initial contact that:
Advises victims of the military or civil actions available to promote safety (e.g., military order of protection, restraining order, and injunction).
Offers victims information regarding their identified needs (e.g., emergency shelter, housing, childcare, legal services, clinical resources, medical services, transitional compensation).
Offers follow-up DAVA services to each victim:
Advises victims of the impact of domestic violence on children and supports victim’s efforts to have children assessed and treated, as needed.
Accompanies the victim to appointments or court proceedings when requested by the victim.
Collaborates with the FAP treatment/case manager to support the victim and promote safety for the victim and children in the home.
Briefs the treatment/case manager prior to the Clinical Case Staffing (CCS) so that the CCS team has the most current information on the victim and children for staffing. (Note: The DAVA does not have access to information containing Personal Health Information (PHI) and does not attend the CCS).
Establishes a contact file for each victim served that contains minimal information about the allegations or nature of the incident. The primary purpose of the DAVA contact file is to maintain victim’s name and contact information as well as a log of the victim contacts and nature of the contacts or service provided by the DAVA. Information in the DAVA contact file will assist the DAVA in maintaining contact with the victim and will provide continuity of care in the event of DAVA position turnover.
Places the safety plan, Victim Impact Statement and Victim Preference Statement in the DAVA contact file. Provide a copy of items to the treatment/case manager for the FAP Record.
Maintains DAVA contact files in the FAP office under a double lock system and/or DAVA database.
Submits Victim Impact Statement when the victim asks the DAVA to inform the alleged offender’s commander, the FAP treatment/case manager, or the FAO (for presentation to the Central Registry Board) of the impact the maltreatment has had on the victim and/or children. (Note: This form is only required when the victim requests the DAVA share the impact information on the victim’s behalf
Enters victim contact information and perform other activities monthly IAW DAF FAP guidance.
Develops process to keep the FAO and designated POC (e.g., on-call mental health provider, emergency room.) informed of DAVA’s location and timelines when providing DAVA victim services. This process will include purpose, location, arrival, and departure notification.
Supports the Family Advocacy Intervention Specialist (FAIS) to develop System Advocacy, Education and Public Awareness, promoting a coordinated community response to DA. As a system advocate, the DAVA shall:
Is a member of the installation Family Advocacy Committee (FAC) and reports to the FAO. The DAVA participates in the development, implementation, and evaluation of installation DA policies and protocols (e.g., Installation Supplement to AFI 40-301- Family Advocacy, Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs) with local victim shelters, Inter-Service Support Agreements).
Supports the FAP Secondary Prevention and Client Engagement (SPaCE) and New Parent Support Program (NPSP) prevention activities. The DAVA will actively participate in all resiliency initiatives designed to prevent DA.
Partners with the Family Advocacy Nurse (FAN) when the FAN is involved in open partner maltreatment cases.
Partners with the FAIS to promote education about and prevention of DA. Such activities may include outreach programs designed to increase awareness, educational briefings (e.g., restricted reporting option), skill-building classes, and the development of marketing tools and strategies.
An invited member of the Outreach Prevention Management (OPMT), the DAVA shall make every effort to attend OPMT meetings to promote the DAVA-FAIS partnership and the DAVA involvement in DA prevention activities.
Other duties as assigned.