Onsite Victim Advocate, Schofield Barracks, Hawaii

Magellan Health•Schofield Barracks, HI

2d•Onsite

About The Position

Provides advocacy, intervention, prevention, education, and training services addressing domestic violence under the Army Family Advocacy Program (FAP). Supports the Victim Advocacy Program (VAP), which provides services 24 hours a day, seven days a week, to assist victims of domestic abuse and connect them with community resources. Serves Soldiers and Army Families living on and off the installation according to program protocol. Provides crisis intervention and comprehensive victim services, including emotional support, transportation arrangements, accompaniment to medical, legal, and law-enforcement appointments when requested, assistance obtaining protective orders, emergency food or shelter, and information about benefits. Assesses imminent health and safety risks, conducts initial screening and nonclinical risk and lethality assessments, develops safety plans, and makes referrals. Advocates for victims’ expressed needs with intervening agencies and helps them navigate available services. Ensures victims receive sensitive, confidential, immediate care and information about their rights, reporting options, and on- and off-installation resources. Coordinates with the installation Family Advocacy Program Manager (FAPM) on comprehensive victim services, training, and procedures for timely and appropriate information. Provides a warm handoff to community resources for victims ineligible for services through a Military Treatment Facility. After contact from a victim, makes telephonic contact within 20 minutes or, when requested, face-to-face contact within 60 minutes. Ensures first responders are contacted immediately in crises involving imminent harm to the victim, their children, or program staff. Works within FAP and VAP guidelines, including AR 608-18, and conducts domestic-abuse awareness and training programs. Supports families during child abuse investigations and prosecution, including explaining victims’ rights, encouraging participation in the investigative process, identifying family needs, educating non-offending caregivers about child abuse dynamics and possible long-term consequences, and encouraging recommended services and counseling. Assists with Crime Victims’ Compensation applications, liaises with multidisciplinary team members, represents children’s and families’ best interests at case review meetings, and accompanies non-offending caregivers to court or other appointments when requested. Participates in community awareness and prevention events. Maintains ongoing case management and completes data entry within three business days. Maintains daily contact with victims in crisis and contact at least every 30 days when they are not in crisis. Coordinates case transfer when a victim leaves the service area and case closure when advocacy services are completed, with FAPM concurrence. This is a part-time position of 12–35 hours per week. A flexible schedule is required, with work primarily at night and on weekends, as well as some daytime hours according to installation needs. The duties listed are representative and not all-inclusive; additional duties aligned with the position may be assigned. This is a Service Contract Act-covered position; pay 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.
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 concerning 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 to transport a victim in a non-emergent crisis situation as a last resort.
Ability to provide on-call victim advocacy services 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Must understand, comply with, and attest to security responsibilities and controls applicable to the position, as well as applicable legal, regulatory, contractual, and internal requirements.

Responsibilities

Provide advocacy, crisis intervention, prevention, education, and training services for victims of domestic abuse.
Provide emotional support and help arrange transportation, emergency food or shelter, protective orders, benefits information, and accompaniment to medical, legal, or law-enforcement appointments when requested.
Screen victims, assess risk and lethality, develop safety plans, and refer victims to appropriate services.
Advocate for victims’ needs with intervening agencies and help them navigate services and community resources.
Provide information on victim rights, services, and reporting and disclosure options.
Contact victims within 20 minutes by telephone or within 60 minutes face-to-face when requested.
Contact first responders immediately during crises involving imminent harm to a victim, children, or program staff.
Coordinate with the FAPM on comprehensive victim services, training, and procedures for timely information.
Provide a warm handoff to community resources for victims who are not eligible for Military Treatment Facility services.
Conduct domestic-abuse training and awareness programs for Soldiers, Family members, and Civilians.
Guide client families through child abuse investigations, explain rights, and encourage participation in the process.
Identify family needs, educate non-offending caregivers, and encourage participation in recommended services and counseling.
Assist with Crime Victims’ Compensation applications and serve as a liaison with multidisciplinary team members.
Represent children’s and families’ best interests at multidisciplinary team case review meetings.
Accompany non-offending caregivers to court or other appointments when requested.
Participate in community awareness campaigns and prevention events.
Maintain case management records and complete data entry within three business days.
Maintain daily contact with victims in crisis and contact at least every 30 days when victims are not in crisis.
Arrange case transfer when a victim leaves the service area and close cases as appropriate with FAPM concurrence.
Provide on-call victim advocacy services 24 hours a day, seven days a week.