Victim Advocate (STRIVE)

Family Services Inc. • Poughkeepsie, NY

1d • $25 - $25

About The Position

The STRIVE Victim Advocate supports the Statewide Targeted Reductions in Intimate Partner Violence (STRIVE) program by facilitating interagency collaboration on intimate partner violence cases in designated jurisdictions and providing direct services to victim/survivors. The role conducts lethality assessments, works with law enforcement to build trust with victims assessed as high danger, and participates in community outreach.

The position is full-time, non-exempt, 32 hours per week, with an on-call requirement. It is based in Poughkeepsie, New York, and reports to the Coordinator of Advocacy. The salary is $24.73 per hour. The advocate divides time among community and systems advocacy, meetings with individuals, teamwork at the Center for Victim Safety and Support, documentation and administrative responsibilities, and meetings at Family Services.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in human services or a related field and/or 3–5 years of relevant work experience in human services, counseling, and/or advocacy.
• Communicate clearly and effectively, orally and in writing.
• Work effectively under extreme pressure.
• Work independently and communicate relevant issues to a manager as appropriate.
• Demonstrate resourcefulness, out-of-the-box thinking, and strong advocacy skills.
• Develop and maintain working relationships with community agencies and stakeholders.
• Stay organized and complete documentation and recordkeeping tasks in a timely manner.
• Complete and maintain New York State Department of Health Rape Crisis Counselor training certification.
• Complete mandated reporter training and report suspected or indicated child abuse behavior to the appropriate authorities.
• Travel between various work locations during shifts and outside office hours for on-call purposes, including Family Services, courts, hospitals, police departments, and social services.
• Have strong computer skills, including working knowledge of email and Microsoft Word and Excel.
• Have an established cell phone, be willing to use it for work, and have effective coverage in Dutchess County; work-related use will be reimbursed.
• Be authorized to work in the United States without work sponsorship.

Responsibilities

• Provide direct client services, including crisis counseling, safety planning, advocacy, information and referrals, emergency financial assistance, and claims filing.
• Assist victims who have had police contact or wish to file a police report; review domestic incident reports and lethality screens; and conduct outreach to victims and law enforcement as appropriate.
• Accompany victims of crime to hospitals, police departments, and court, providing crisis counseling, information and referrals, assistance with crime victims compensation claims, criminal justice advocacy, and personal advocacy.
• Conduct case-by-case victim home visits, including scheduled visits and unscheduled visits with law enforcement members.
• Provide information and referrals to clients in need in accordance with agency and department protocols.
• Participate in interagency collaboration to increase offender accountability and enhance victim safety.
• Research community organizations and expand service reach through community outreach, presentations, and tabling events.
• Participate in an on-call rotation for evening and weekend coverage of 24-hour hotlines.
• Complete administrative tasks in a timely manner, including documenting activities, preparing weekly and monthly activity reports, maintaining current case records, and entering information into the client database.
• Maintain statistics, prepare reports as needed, and keep client records up to date.
• Perform other duties as assigned based on program needs.

Benefits

• Medical, dental, and vision coverage.
• 403(b) retirement plan with employer match up to 5%.
• Paid vacation, holidays, sick time, and personal time, including two weeks of vacation in the first year, 13 paid holidays per year, 12 sick days per year, and four personal days per year.
• Access to a Compassionate Leave Program through which employees can donate or receive unused time off.
• Group term life and long-term disability insurance.
• Supplemental life insurance and accidental death and dismemberment coverage.
• Supplemental insurance through Aflac.
• Employee assistance program (EAP).
• Pet insurance.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level