Sexual Assault Program Advocacy Specialist

Description

Job Type: Full-time

Pay range:  $18.00  per hour Bi-Lingual Differential Available 

Description

We’ve identified the day-to-day responsibilities linked to each position. In addition to the position specific responsibilities provided below, each YWCA Clark County employee must share responsibility for upholding and modeling the organization’s core value on a daily basis. 

General

· Establish and maintain a record of impeccable dependability with regards to punctuality, following call-out procedures, and adhering to the policies, practices, and guidelines of the organization and program. 

· Complete and track required training, including the 1% for social change requirement. 

· Track work hours and update timesheet weekly and by end of month deadline. 

Direct Services Advocacy

· Provide survivor-centered and empowerment-based advocacy including:

1. Responding to survivors on the hotline and for hospital forensic exams.

2. Providing advocacy to survivors who experience barriers to service.

3. Connecting participants with community resources to address needs related to sexual assault.

· Effectively and respectively work with people from diverse backgrounds and provide advocacy support in accordance with the individual’s cultural practices and beliefs.

· Maintain appropriate personal/professional boundaries with participants and co-workers to maintain clear, open, and unbiased lines of communication. 

· Document and report participant related information in a manner that complies with federal and state requirements as well as in conjunction with program and organization policies and procedures.

· Provide emergency financial assistance for victims of sexual assault according to written policy.

· Work with the Director of Sexual Assault program to establish and effectively manage an active case load, providing meaningful advocacy both in person and remotely.

Community Partnership Building 

· Work with partners to enhance our community response to sexual assault with victim/survivors.

· Participate in multijurisdictional meetings as directed, as well as multisystem cross-training opportunities with community partners as needed.

· Attend community events such as resources fairs in coordination with the Director of Sexual Assault. 

Requirements

Required Skills

• Strong problem solving skills: resourceful and able to resolve challenges while knowing when it’s time to stop and ask questions or seek additional guidance. 

• Strong soft-skills: with little to no prompting, adapt work and communication style in order to: 

1. Communicate respectfully and in a solution oriented manner with diverse groups of people. 

2. Address and respond to people in crisis in a calm and compassionate manner. 

3. Adapt work and communication style as needed to meet the needs of survivors.

• Strong interpersonal skills: Maintain appropriate personal and professional boundaries.

• Strong technological skills: effectively use common software programs (like MS Office, Excel, and PowerPoint) to fulfill position related expectations. 

• Strong crisis management skills: effectively and respectfully communicate often-times complex and emotionally charged information to participants, law-enforcement, court officials, co-workers, and supervisor. 

• Ability to work at a higher level: demonstrate unwavering integrity by taking accountability for mistakes, doing what’s needed to correct them, and supporting fellow co-workers to do the same.

Related Education and Experience

• High school diploma or G.E.D. required. Associates and/or Bachelor’s degree preferred.

• At least six months experience providing empowerment based advocacy, preferably sexual assault advocacy. 

Commitment to survivor-centered advocacy 

• Provide advocacy that reflects an awareness of diversity in the lifestyle and cultural background of individuals and families, effectively communicate available resources that support cultural values, beliefs, and customs, and honor the lived experience of every survivor accessing support services. 

Commitment to Racial Equity

• Ensure that issues of diversity and inclusion, disproportionality, and cultural responsiveness are thoughtfully considered and effectively addressed in the program’s internal and external work with volunteers, staff and program participants.