Domestic Abuse Victim Advocate

Togiak Government Services Group•Minot Air Force Base, ND

10d•$30 - $30•Onsite

About The Position

Domestic Abuse Victim Advocates (DAVAs) will work with the United States Air Force (USAF) Family Advocacy Program (FAP) and provide 24/7 non-clinical crisis intervention services and ongoing support to USAF personnel, their family members, or intimate partners who are victims of domestic abuse whenever requested. These services include, but are not limited to: development of safety/risk assessments, explanation of victim's rights, creating safety plans, court/medical/legal accompaniment, and providing information and resources. In addition, DAVAs are required to promote a coordinated community response to domestic abuse and support FAP by providing System Advocacy, Education and Public Awareness services.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in Social Work, Counseling or Behavioral Science, Psychology, Criminal Justice, or Marriage, Family and Child Counseling.
Two years of experience assisting and providing advocacy services to victims of domestic abuse or sexual assault.
Knowledge of military programs, organizations, chain of command, unit missions, life styles, and situations that contribute to family stress, problems and crisis situations.
Proficient in the use of Microsoft Office Suite.
Ability to input, retrieve, and format documentation via various database/software.
Current certification in either the American Heart Association Basic Life Support Course (BLS) (Course C) or the American Red Cross CPR/BLS (Heart Saver) Course (if working within an MTF).
Proof of immunization from Hepatitis B, Varicella, Measles, Influenza, Mumps, Rubella according to CDC guidelines.
Proof of a negative TB Skin test (completed within the past 12 months).

Responsibilities

Provides 24/7 response to victims alleging abuse (these services are provided based on the needs of client via telephone or in-person).
Establish a Victim's Safety Plan on a case-by-case basis. The victims' safety is the DAVA's top responsibility and priority.
Conduct initial and ongoing risk assessments.
Advise victims of the military or civil actions available to promote safety (e.g., military order of protection, restraining order, and injunction).
Offer victims information regarding their identified needs (e.g., emergency shelter, housing, childcare, legal services, clinical resources, medical services, transitional compensation).
Accompany clients to appointments or court proceedings when requested by the client.
Develop process to keep the social work supervisor and designated POC (e.g. on-call mental health provider, emergency room.) informed of DAVA's location and timelines when providing DAVA victim services.
Continually evaluate the quality of the installation's coordinated community response and collaborate with base agencies to improve the system response to victims.
Empower victims to be involved in plans or decisions about the safety of self and children.
Collaborate and establish protocols with Security Forces Squadron (SFS), Office of Special Investigations (OSI), and Military Medical Treatment Facilities confirming.
At the discretion of the Social Work Supervisor, the DAVA may also provide emotional support and information and referral services to the non-offending caregiver in a child maltreatment or youth sexual assault case.