TANF Advocate

YWCA of Spokane•Spokane, WA

1d•$20 - $24

About The Position

The TANF Advocate provides direct advocacy and support services to survivors of intimate partner domestic violence referred through DSHS Community Service Offices (CSOs). This role is responsible for developing individualized Family Violence Service Plans, offering crisis intervention, safety planning, and resource navigation, and maintaining a regular presence at designated CSO locations. The TANF Advocate collaborates closely with CSO staff through case conferencing, WorkFirst Partner meetings, and the distribution of educational materials to increase awareness of domestic violence. Additionally, the Advocate ensures accurate documentation and reporting of services and actively participates in team coordination and agency meetings to support integrated service delivery.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in the Social Work field or related field or equivalent combination of education and experience required.
Must meet the requirements of YWCA Spokane’s Driver Policy for transportation between the agency and other locations.
Must be 21 years of age or older
Must have valid driver’s license
Must have active personal auto insurance
Satisfactory motor vehicle report (no more than 1 moving violation in the past 12 months) OR probationary motor vehicle report (no more than 2 moving violations in the past 24 months)
Must maintain 20 hours of ongoing training on domestic violence issues annually.
Cultural Humility - Demonstrate a commitment to self-reflection, ongoing learning and respectful engagement with diverse cultural perspectives, emphasizing an awareness of the impact of power dynamics and a willingness to learn from and address them.
Commitment to Equity and Inclusion - Strive to create fair and just conditions for all, while recognizing systemic inequities. Foster a sense of belonging that promotes diversity, works to address barriers, and ensures that everyone, across all backgrounds and identities, has access to the same opportunities and resources.
Trauma-Informed Practice - Create environments and approaches that acknowledge the prevalence and impact of trauma, prioritize safety, and foster healing and resilience. Understand, recognize, and respond to the effects of trauma while actively working to avoid re-traumatization.
Fostering an Empowering Environment - Encourage an atmosphere where individuals feel valued, supported, capable, and resourceful.
Professional Conduct -Consistently act in a manner that is honest, fair, and respectful while taking responsibility for one’s actions and decisions. Maintain integrity and build trust while adhering to the agency's code of ethics and professional guidelines.
Adaptability and Resilience - Demonstrate openness and flexibility to work with changing circumstances and unexpected challenges. Adapt to the current situation by contributing solution-oriented ideas while advocating for the support needed to reset and achieve set goals.
Effective Communication - Communicate clearly, accurately, and in ways that are understood by the intended audience. Actively listen and respond in a constructive, open-minded, and empathetic manner that ensures mutual understanding and respect.
Problem Solving and Critical Thinking - Help identify potential solutions to challenges proactively. Contribute ideas, perspectives, and strategies that contribute toward informed decisions that align with the agency’s mission and values while helping to achieve set goals.
Human-Centered Approach - Prioritize providing compassionate, respectful service that aims to create solutions that are not only functional and effective but also meaningful and engaging for clients, staff, and our community.
Effective Interpersonal Skills - Be supportive, kind, empathetic, and patient with colleagues, administrators, clients, and community partners. Contribute toward a climate of mutual respect and appreciation.
Independent Work Efficiency - Works independently in an efficient and productive manner, utilizing available resources and support as needed.
Reliability and Continuous Improvement - Demonstrate reliability and a commitment to continuous improvement.
Demonstrate Understanding and Acceptance of Mission, Values, Goals, and Objectives - Clearly understand and actively support the mission, values, goals, and objectives of YWCA Spokane and its programs.

Nice To Haves

Experience working in systems advocacy is preferred.
Experience working with survivors of trauma is highly desirable.

Responsibilities

Provide ongoing advocacy for survivors referred from DSHS CSOs through services including systems advocacy, domestic violence education, safety planning, crisis intervention, resource referrals, and goal setting.
Support participants in addressing safety and participation barriers related to domestic violence through implementation of Family Violence Service Plans in partnership with survivors referred by DSHS Community Service Offices; triage and assess the frequency and urgency of ongoing advocacy needs.
Provide continued engagement to help support participant’s self-sufficiency by connecting them with workforce development, financial empowerment, and skill-building resources aligned with their goals.
Inform survivors of their rights and of available services within the DSHS system.
Hold office hours at least three days per week, for a minimum of 24 hours, at either the Maple (1313 N Maple St) or Trent (8517 E Trent Ave) Community Service Offices. Office hours and locations are rotated and coordinated with the other TANF Advocate.
Deliver walk-in support to DSHS CSO teams during office hours for survivors of intimate partner domestic violence, including crisis intervention and resource navigation.
Facilitate access to other YWCA services—including Shelter, Legal, ECEAP, and the Women’s Opportunity Center—by providing survivors with direct referrals and warm hand-offs when appropriate.
Assist survivors in accessing housing resources that strengthen and maintain household stability.
Collaborate with TANF staff to case conference and coordinate services around survivor needs.
Participate in WorkFirst Partner meetings with DSHS CSO teams to stay up to date on resources offered through DSHS and share updates on YWCA programs, including Shelter, Legal, Housing, and Support Services.
Develop and maintain collaborative relationships with DSHS contractors and community partners through ongoing outreach, participation in quarterly WorkFirst Partner meetings, and information sharing to strengthen coordinated services and improve access to resources for participants.
Distribute educational materials to CSO locations to promote public and professional awareness of the barriers faced by domestic violence survivors.
Participate quarterly in the YWCA Safe Shelter house meetings, Wednesdays 6pm - 7pm, or during scheduled office hours to provide information to residents about DSHS TANF benefits, including eligibility, application processes, and client rights. Participation should be coordinated on a rotating schedule to avoid multiple TANF Advocates attending in the same month.
Document survivor services in the DSHS e-JAS and YWCA database systems in a timely and accurate manner.
Prepare and submit monthly statistical and case management reports in alignment with the CSO manual, ensuring submission by the 10th of each month to support accurate program data tracking and accountability.
Maintain and organize client files, ensuring all records comply with YWCA policies and standards.
Participate in biweekly Mobile Team meetings to ensure consistent coordination and service delivery.