Sojourner Advocate - DVHRT, 40 hours

Sojourner Family Peace Center•Milwaukee, WI

7d•$21 - $22•Onsite

About The Position

The Sojourner Advocate – Domestic Violence High Risk Team will work with specialty client cases to help high risk victims develop a safety plan and access community resources, as well as offer information, support, education and other needed referrals and services. This position will respond to requests for support from internal and external team members, act as a technical resource for the agency and coordinate and implement the dissemination of program information. The DVHRT Advocate will also work closely with key community partners to develop relationships and services to further the agency’s mission and goals, as well as provide community presentations and trainings on domestic abuse, agency services, and other related topics.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree or equivalent in social work, criminal justice, human services, or relevant field.
Two to four years related professional experience; or equivalent combination of education or experience.
Capable of performing each described essential duty satisfactorily.
Working independently and safely in an intense, fast-paced and crises-oriented location.
Handling multiple cases simultaneously with clients who are experiencing trauma and/or crises.
Working cooperatively as a team member, both internally within Sojourner Family Peace Center and externally with existing “systems personnel” (police, courts, DOC, etc.).
Comprehensive knowledge of statutory framework for domestic abuse, harassment and child abuse injunctions.
Knowledge of and experience with legal system, including prior work with victims, police, prosecutors, court commissioners and judges preferred.
Experience working with clients exposed to interpersonal violence.
Ability to make and maintain relationships with community resources.
Ability to listen to and assist clients develop personal plans for safety and support clients as needed.
Strong written and oral communication skills and listening skills are required.
Must be able to read and comprehend instructions, correspondence, and memos.
Capable of preparing letters, completing database entries, preparing reports and writing memos, correspondence, and documentation.
Ability to effectively communicate with clients, professional partners and other employees of the organization.
Ability to respond to common inquiries or complaints from clients, regulatory agencies, or members of the community.
Ability to effectively communicate with all levels of management, all levels of community partners, and other employees of the organization.
Ability to multi-task, attend to details, solve problems and work as a team member is required.
Requires the ability to operate a variety of standard business machines, such as a computer and the job related software, a keyboard, calculator, telephone, FAX, photocopier, postage machine, etc.
Must have reliable transportation, valid Driver’s License, insurable driving record, and automobile insurance with minimum limits of: Liability Coverage: $25,000 per person and $50,000 of 2 or more people for injury or death; Property Damage: $10,000; Uninsured and Underinsured Motorist: $25,000 per person and $50,000 for 2 or more people injured.
Regularly required to sit and use hands to finger, handle, or feel.
Frequently required to talk or hear.
Occasionally required to stand; walk; reach with hands and arms; climb or balance; and stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl.
Must frequently lift and/or move up to 10 pounds and occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds.
Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus.

Nice To Haves

Prior work with victims, police, prosecutors, court commissioners and judges preferred.
Three to five years’ professional experience in advocacy, case management or other related field.
Experience with the issue of family violence preferred.
Familiarity with the child welfare system, family court, children’s court and the child abuse restraining order process is preferred.
Bilingual in any language is a plus.

Responsibilities

Maintain active caseload of specialty clients – homicides, near fatal, high profile and attend necessary case review meetings as work schedule allows. Refer cases as applicable to agency directors and assist in case staffings.
Conduct outreach efforts to victims of domestic violence in an effort to provide information, support and education and safety planning as it relates to each client’s individual situation. This includes but is not limited to outreach via phone and in-person via home visits and on-scene response, according to protocol. This position regularly includes crisis advocacy response, with law enforcement accompaniment, to meet with victims in their homes immediately following law enforcement completing their response to a domestic violence incident.
Inform, educate, and prepare victims regarding offender’s status – in-custody, out-of-custody, bail, warrant status, etc. Register victims for VINE (Victim Information Notification Everyday) if offender is in custody and/or connect them with Probation & Parole, if necessary. Work with clients to develop a personal safety plan while the offender is incarcerated or out-of-custody.
Assess client’s emergency needs and help them access resources available through Sojourner Family Peace Center, the law enforcement system, the court systems (criminal and civil), the Department of Corrections system and within the community.
Assess and identify the individual needs of clients to assist with the development of a personal action plan built on formal/informal supports and community resources. Utilize independent critical skills to provide support to access resources for additional challenges such as AODA and mental health issues that can be present at varying levels of severity.
Give support as needed for client follow-up and ongoing support for cases meeting the criteria for staffing by the High-Risk Team.
Must possess basic knowledge of de-escalation techniques and ability to demonstrate when necessary.
Have working knowledge and ability to perform Danger Assessment, LAP and other relevant screening tools.
Know community resources (within the districts and outside) and maintain active connections to them.
Build and maintain positive communication and professional relationships with law enforcement jurisdictions and external partners.
Assist in the development of an outreach plan, individualized to assigned district, which includes working with neighborhood groups, community based organizations, faith based organizations, etc. to disseminate information on domestic violence, human trafficking/sexual violence and the process of filing for the different restraining orders (i.e. Domestic Abuse, Harassment, Individual At-Risk and Child Abuse).
Accompany clients to court, revocation hearings, and other legal proceedings as requested or necessary and as work schedule allows.
Attend case staffing meetings (internal or external) as needed/requested. Attend and/or follow-up on DVHRT recommendations on client staffed cases.
Maintain client files and computerized data files, including outcome information.
Assist with program development, evaluation, improvement and planning.
Respond to requests from other team members (internally or externally) for support, information, referrals, and/or counsel to meet client needs. Observe MPD or specific suburban law enforcement jurisdiction protocols and follow directives from command staff, as they comply with Sojourner’s mission, policies and goals.
Participate in the implementation of community level initiatives to address domestic violence on a neighborhood level. Provide community outreach and education as applicable.
Work with community prosecution team to identify and connect with clients who have safety planning, community resource and legal assistance needs.
Provide community presentations and trainings on domestic abuse, agency services, systems- related issues, and other related topics.
Ability to work a regular schedule and have regular attendance at the workplace.

Benefits

Competitive Pay, $20.70/hour plus $1.50 for time worked 12am-2am plus $1.50/hour with bilingual skills
Medical, Dental and Vision Insurance on first of the month after 60 days
Short-Term Disability Insurance
Group Life Insurance
403B Retirement Plan with Generous Match
Comprehensive Wellness Program
Flexible Spending Accounts
Generous PTO Policy
2 Wellness Days
Paid Holidays
Employee Assistance Program
Voluntary Benefits through Colonial Life Insurance
Professional Development Opportunities