Human Trafficking Survivor Advocate

API Chaya•Seattle, WA

6d•$67,786 - $79,083•Hybrid

About The Position

API Chaya supports and empowers survivors of gender-based violence and human trafficking to gain safety, connection, and wellness. We build power by educating and mobilizing South Asian, Asian, Pacific Islander, and all immigrant communities to end exploitation, creating a world where all people can heal and thrive. This work is done through outreach and organizing our communities to end violence and oppression, as well as through support services for survivors. We work in diverse communities, including immigrants and refugees, young people, LGBTQ, faith-based, various ethnic and cultural groups, and people with disabilities. API Chaya is committed to addressing survivor centered and community centered needs as reflected by our strategic direction and theory of change. API Chaya is seeking a Human Trafficking Survivor Advocate who will work within API Chaya’s Human Trafficking Program to provide intensive case management and crisis intervention to survivors of human trafficking. The Advocate should excel at trauma-informed and survivor-centered advocacy, managing competing priorities, and facilitating access to services for clients as well as engaging, building relationships with and communicating effectively with diverse communities and partners. The advocate must have experience working within marginalized communities of color and a commitment to API Chaya’s mission. This position requires thorough knowledge and understanding of a human rights based approach to human trafficking and a strengths-based approach in serving participants. The Advocate should have demonstrated experience in case management skills such as: empowerment based advocacy, harm reduction, professional boundaries, and self-care. A successful candidate should adhere to API Chaya’s client confidentiality policy, enjoy working collaboratively within a diverse team, and have an expressed interest in providing individualized, long-term services to survivors. The candidate should embrace API Chaya's values and possess a thorough understanding of how human trafficking occurs within a complex web of power dynamics and privilege and oppression. This position is based in Seattle, WA but requires some work and travel throughout the Puget Sound area to provide services to trafficking survivors and engage local communities in mobilizing to end human trafficking. The ability to complete the position’s required travel, with or without reasonable accommodation, is essential.

Requirements

Understands and supports API Chaya’s mission, vision and values and commitment to incorporate such values in day-to-day work
Understanding of Asian and Pacific Islander cultures; familiarity with conditions and issues impacting immigrant and refugee communities including understanding how the dynamics of domestic and sexual abuse/violence play out within marginalized communities of color
Commitment to anti-oppression, including anti-racism, and recognizing the intersections of gender-based and state-based violence
Ability to maintain a cooperative, and professional demeanor with participants, partner organizations, volunteers/interns, staff/board, donors, consultants, and members of the public
Bachelor’s degree in social work or a related field, OR at least one year of relevant experience in case management, crisis response, survivor advocacy, or direct-service provision preferably in a community-based organization.
Detail-oriented and focused team-player with superb organizational and communication skills.
In-depth knowledge of labor exploitation and human trafficking, labor and employment rights, human rights issues, and gender-based violence.
Experience with survivor centered advocacy within and a deep demonstrated commitment to marginalized communities of color, immigrant communities, and survivors of violence in the Puget Sound area particularly South Asian Communities
Familiarity with conditions and issues impacting immigrant and refugee communities
Have an understanding of how the dynamics of domestic and sexual abuse/violence and/or human trafficking play out within immigrant and refugee communities
Demonstrated ability to work respectfully and effectively with people across diverse racial, ethnic, religious, cultural, disability, gender-identity, sexual-orientation, national-origin, and socioeconomic backgrounds.
Experience managing crisis situations with professionalism, empathy, compassion, and discernment
Excellent critical thinking skills and works from a needs-based, problem-solving approach to address complex situations.
Proactively seeks support from coworkers and supervisors to address challenges
Demonstrated interpersonal and communication skills, including active listening, reflective communication, empathy, and appropriate professional boundaries.
Highly organized and has experience documenting work, accounting for expenses, and submitting reports on time
Basic proficiency in using current office software and tools
Ability to travel throughout the Puget Sound region for client, community, and partner meetings, averaging approximately 200 miles per month, with or without reasonable accommodation.
Availability to work flexible hours, including some evening and weekend hours

Nice To Haves

Experience collaborating effectively within a team-based work environment.
Experience with advocacy-based counseling and/or other empowerment-based models.
Familiarity with local, regional and state laws, organizations, coalitions, policies and practices regarding domestic violence, sexual assault and human trafficking.
Experience working with interpreters, law enforcement, probation, DSHS, and other government agencies
Knowledge of and a deep demonstrated commitment to working against domestic violence, sexual assault, human trafficking, trauma, victimization and gender-based violence.
Demonstrated sensitivity to and knowledge of issues involved in working with diverse populations and/or with individuals who have limited English proficiency.
Experience facilitating trainings, presentations, or community-education activities related to human trafficking, gender-based violence, or other relevant anti-violence topics. Willingness to learn and engage with new material as requested.
Professional proficiency in Spanish or a South Asian, Asian, or Pacific Islander language is preferred.

Responsibilities

Provide culturally relevant, linguistically appropriate, trauma-informed, and survivor-centered case management to survivors of human trafficking, including U.S. citizens and foreign nationals
Answer Helpline calls from survivors, family and friends of survivors, and other service providers working with survivors
Conduct screenings and assessments, determine program eligibility, complete participant intakes, and provide initial crisis intervention, including safety and service planning.
Provide individualized ongoing case management, which may include: crisis intervention, client accompaniment, advocacy, advocacy based counseling, information and referrals related to health care, mental health, employment, legal services, education, law enforcement, and other community resources.
Assess the need for and distribution of emergency funds and resources to clients
Collaborate with governmental and nongovernmental partners to provide participants with services in a way that protects their confidentiality and rights
Identify barriers to services and advocate for higher quality of services with external service organizations including advocating for culturally and linguistically appropriate and trauma-informed services
Assist participants in developing skills to increase self-sufficiency, and support them to build social networks to reduce isolation
Organize, support and co-facilitate our survivor leadership groups, psycho-educational workshops, and survivor gatherings and support groups
Maintain accurate and timely case records, databases, program statistics, monthly reports, and grant-related documentation in accordance with confidentiality and reporting requirements.
Participate in regular advocacy team meetings, one-on-one supervision meetings, and agency staff meetings
Prepare and distribute materials, cultivate and maintain relationships and occasionally conduct trainings for relevant service providers, ally organizations and community members
Work with API Chaya's Leadership Team to formulate annual Human Trafficking Program goals, evaluate program successes, and ensure ongoing program improvement
Assist with recruiting, training, coordinating and supervising volunteers/interns involved in Direct Services Program.
Provide community-based education and outreach to increase access and referrals to the human trafficking program as appropriate
Train and support other advocates in the field on issues relating to human trafficking, including new advocates at API Chaya
Perform other duties reasonably related to the position, as assigned by the supervisor, and collaborate with the advocacy team to ensure high-quality services for participants.