Onsite Victim Advocate, Schofield Barracks, Hawaii

Magellan Health•Schofield Barracks HI 96857 Fed1 2091 Kolekole, HI

3d•Onsite

About The Position

The Victim Advocate provides advocacy, intervention, prevention, education, and training services addressing domestic violence under the Army Family Advocacy Program (FAP). The role supports the Army Victim Advocacy Program (VAP), providing comprehensive services 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, to assist victims of domestic abuse and support their transition to community resources. The advocate serves Soldiers and Army Families on and off the installation in accordance with program protocols. The advocate provides crisis intervention, emotional support, safety planning, risk and lethality assessments, referrals, and help accessing transportation, medical, legal, law enforcement, food, shelter, benefits, protective orders, and other resources. The role coordinates with the Family Advocacy Program Manager (FAPM), installation personnel, community providers, first responders, and multidisciplinary teams. It also includes explaining victim rights and reporting options, providing domestic abuse education and awareness, and supporting families through child abuse investigations and related court or service processes. The position requires timely victim contact, ongoing case management and documentation, and on-call advocacy services. Part-time schedules range from 12 to 35 hours per week and require flexibility, with work primarily at night and on weekends and some daytime hours based on installation needs. The duties listed are representative and may not be all-inclusive. This is a Service Contract Act-covered position; pay rate and health and welfare allowance are specified in the applicable wage determination agreement.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree from an accredited school in social work, psychology, marriage, family and child counseling, counseling or behavioral science, education, community health, or public health; the posting’s education section lists a bachelor’s degree in counseling as required.
At least two years of experience working with victims of domestic abuse or sexual assault, or in victim advocacy services.
Working knowledge of family violence dynamics, safety planning, risk assessments, local community resources, federal and state laws pertaining to domestic abuse or sexual assault, family law, and the Victim Rights Bill.
Ability to intervene in crisis situations using sound professional judgment, ethical practice, and common sense.
Ability to work independently to assess risk and develop, implement, and evaluate safety and intervention plans.
Demonstrated understanding, sensitivity, and empathy for victims.
Ability to develop trusting helping relationships.
Ability to work effectively with individuals and families from diverse racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic backgrounds.
Ability to work cooperatively with military and civilian medical, social service, law enforcement, and legal personnel on behalf of victims.
Valid, unrestricted motor vehicle license, which must be maintained.
Transportation available to transport victims in crisis in non-emergent situations as a last resort.
Ability to provide on-call victim advocacy services 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Understanding of Problematic Sexual Behavior–Child and Youth (PSB-CY).
For the part-time schedule described, flexibility to work primarily nights and weekends and some daytime hours, according to installation needs.

Nice To Haves

Military work experience is preferred.

Responsibilities

Provide crisis intervention and comprehensive services, including emotional support and help arranging transportation, medical, legal, and law enforcement appointments, protective orders, emergency food or shelter, and benefits information.
Advocate for victims’ expressed needs with personnel at intervening agencies.
Assess imminent health and safety risks and make appropriate referrals.
Help victims navigate service systems and connect with appropriate continuing-care resources.
Provide sensitive, confidential, immediate care and treatment support to victims of domestic abuse.
Conduct initial screening, non-clinical risk and lethality assessments, and safety planning.
Provide emotional support, crisis intervention, prevention awareness, and education to victims.
Coordinate with the installation Family Advocacy Program Manager to support comprehensive services and training through a coordinated community response.
Provide crisis intervention and warm handoffs to community resources for victims not eligible for Military Treatment Facility services.
Provide information about victim rights, services, and on- and off-installation resources.
Coordinate procedures with the FAPM to ensure victims receive timely and appropriate information.
Contact victims within 20 minutes by telephone or within 60 minutes face to face when requested.
Explain FAP disclosure and reporting options during initial contact so victims can make informed decisions.
Ensure first responders are contacted immediately in crises involving imminent harm to victims, their children, or program staff.
Operate within FAP and Victim Advocacy Program guidelines, including AR 608-18.
Conduct domestic abuse training and awareness programs for Soldiers, Family members, and Civilians.
Guide client families through child abuse investigations, explain victim rights, and encourage participation in the process.
Develop intervention strategies to improve family coping during child abuse investigations and prosecution.
Identify and attempt to meet the needs of children and families in crisis.
Educate non-offending caregivers about child abuse dynamics and possible long-term consequences.
Assess family needs and encourage non-offending caregivers to participate in recommended services and counseling.
Provide information and assistance with Crime Victims’ Compensation applications.
Liaise between families and multidisciplinary team members and help identify client needs and recommendations.
Represent the child and family’s best interests at multidisciplinary team case review meetings.
Accompany non-offending caregivers to court or other appointments when requested.
Participate in relevant community awareness campaigns and prevention events.
Maintain ongoing case management and complete data entry within three business days.
Maintain daily contact with victims in crisis and contact at least every 30 days when they are not in crisis.
Transfer cases when victims leave the service area and close cases when advocacy services are complete, as appropriate and with FAPM concurrence.
Provide on-call victim advocacy services 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Transport victims in crisis in non-emergent situations as a last resort, using personal transportation.