Intake Victim Advocate

Family Services Inc. • Poughkeepsie, NY

4d • $25

About The Position

The Intake Victim Advocate is a front-line advocate, first responder to a victim in need, clinical scheduler, and primary advocate for the Youth Who Witness Violence initiative. The Intake Victim Advocate provides casework services to clients including crisis counseling, safety planning, advocacy, information and referrals, emergency financial assistance, and claims filing. This requires the ability to work quickly and concisely under extreme pressure to provide services and safety to survivors of crime.

Requirements

• Bachelors in human services, Psychology or Social Work field preferred and/or 3 - 5 years relevant work experience.
• Human Services, counseling, and/or advocacy experience.
• Complete and maintain training certification as NYS DOH Rape Crisis Counselor.
• Complete mandated reporter training; Report any behavior or implication of behavior of child abuse to the appropriate authorities.
• Must be able to get to and from various work locations throughout work shift and outside of office hours for on-call purposes. This includes Family Services, local courts, hospitals, police departments, social services, correctional facilities.
• Strong computer skills, including a working knowledge of an e-mail package and MS software programs: Word and Excel.
• Established cell phone, willing to use for work (will be reimbursed), with effective coverage for the Dutchess County area.

Nice To Haves

• Bilingual is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Provide advocacy services to clients, including but not limited to, crisis counseling, safety planning, advocacy, accompaniment, information and referrals, and claims filing.
• Accompany victims of crime to hospitals, police departments, and/or court while providing criminal justice advocacy and personal advocacy
• Meet with clients in person, by phone or through online platforms, such as zoom.
• Attend to incoming calls on the 24-hour Domestic Violence and Rape Crisis/Crime Victims hotlines for a designated period.
• Participate in on-call rotation after hours.
• Meet with client to complete screening for trauma therapy services to assess eligibility and appropriateness for therapy services.
• Manage and organize therapy referrals and the client trauma therapy waitlist.
• Provide information and referrals regarding CVSS therapy and support group services, as well as community providers based on client needs.
• Take on advocacy role for client’s involved with Youth Who Witness Violence initiative.
• Assist in the co facilitation of the Youth Who Witness Violence Support Group
• Establish and maintain liaisons within local school systems, community organizations, police departments, District Attorney’s office, and others.
• Expand service reach by researching community organizations and providing community outreach through presentations and tabling events.
• Assist with fundraisers and special events (some of these may be outside agency hours of operation).
• Maintain an active role in the participation of weekly and/or monthly CVSS staff, clinical staff, and advocacy staff meetings.
• Complete all administrative tasks as assigned on a timely basis, including but not limited to documenting all activities, preparing weekly and monthly activity reports, maintaining up-to-date case records, and inputting documentation into the client database.
• Maintain up to date client records, statistics and prepare reports as needed.
• Other duties as assigned based upon the need of program.

Benefits

• Medical, dental, and vision coverage.
• 403(b) retirement plan with employer match up to 5%.
• Generous paid vacation, holiday, sick and personal time package (2 weeks’ vacation in first year, 13 paid holidays per year, 12 sick days per year and 4 personal days per year).
• Access to Family Services’ Compassionate Leave Program where employees can donate/receive unused time off.
• Group term life and long-term disability insurance.
• Supplemental life insurance & accidental death and dismemberment coverage (AD&D).
• Supplemental insurance through Aflac.
• Employee assistance program (EAP).
• Pet insurance.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Part-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Number of Employees: 101-250 employees