Rural Advocate

YWCA Northeast Kansas•Topeka, KS

10d

About The Position

Reporting to the Rural Project Manager, the Rural Advocate maintains a safe, confidential, and trauma-informed environment for clients of YWCA Northeast Kansas’ Center for Safety and Empowerment (CSE). The Rural Advocate provides intensive, survivor-centered case management and advocacy to individuals impacted by human trafficking, supporting safety, stabilization, and long-term independence. This role coordinates across systems, reduces barriers to care, and ensure survivors have access to supports.

Requirements

At a minimum, the Rural Advocate must have a degree in Social Work, Public Health, Human Services, or a related field. Relevant professional experience may be substituted for formal education requirements, depending on the nature and scope of the experience.
Basic understanding of dynamics of domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking, and human trafficking.
Knowledge of local community resources and support services.
Sensitivity to the needs of others.
Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to engage individuals in crisis.
Ability to function well in a crisis setting where interruptions are frequent.
Valid driver’s license, reliable transportation, and the ability to travel within service areas.
Dedication to relationship building and a commitment to working as an integral part of a team, while exercising significant initiative and autonomy.
Commitment to the YWCA mission and values, including a strong focus on racial equity and social justice.
Able to climb flights of stairs multiple times daily.
Pass various background checks.

Responsibilities

Provides crisis intervention, safety planning, and advocacy services to individuals impacted by domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking, and human trafficking within designated rural counties.
Responds to victims/survivors in person and over the phone, including hotline calls, walk-ins, and community-based settings.
Provides advocacy and/or transportation to community appointments (e.g., medical, legal, housing, court) to ensure access to services and a supportive presence.
Attends domestic, criminal, and Protection From Abuse (PFA) dockets in rural communities to offer support, information, and connection to services.
Facilitates individual supportive counseling and support groups, as needed.
Assists victims/survivors with completing and filing Protection Orders and navigating the legal system.
Carries a caseload of clients, providing ongoing advocacy and service coordination based on individual needs.
Ensures services are accessible, flexible, and responsive to the unique barriers faced by rural survivors (e.g., transportation, isolation, limited resources).
Maintains regular communication with community partners in rural counties, including law enforcement, courts, healthcare providers, schools, and community-based organizations.
Attends Coordinated Community Response (CCR) Team meetings and other local collaborations to strengthen systems response and referrals.
Participates in community outreach and education efforts to increase awareness of available services and improve access in rural areas.
Refers and coordinates services with community agencies for needs not provided by CSE and follows up to ensure connection.
Builds and maintains a current knowledge of local resources across all assigned rural counties.
Maintains regular communication with community partners regarding available resources.
Refers and coordinates services with community agencies for needs not provided by CSE.
Attends community meetings and collaborates with partner agencies, as needed, to support client services and systems coordination.
Attends all required YWCA Northeast Kansas, CSE, and shelter staff meetings.
Serves in the on-call rotation, including after-hours, overnight, weekend, or holiday availability as required.
Completes all required documentation for each client served in a timely, accurate, and confidential manner.
Enters all client contacts, services, case notes, and outcomes into the agency database in accordance with program and funder requirements.
Maintains strict adherence to confidentiality laws and ethical standards, including VAWA/VOCA/FVPSA protections.
Refrains from assuming any duty that is unrelated to and/or interferes with the responsibilities of the position.
Advocates, promotes, and practices cultural sensitivity and responsiveness in day-to-day interactions.
Performs other duties assigned by the supervisor or CEO. The job description does not state or imply that these are the only activities to be performed by the employee holding this position.