About the position
Under the direction of the Crisis Response Manager, the Victim Advocate will provide support to victims of domestic violence throughout Fresno & Clovis (shared services). The Advocate will respond out to the scene of DV calls alongside Officers, provide linkages to internal programs and to community partners. The Victim Advocate will provide survivor driven, and trauma informed services to those individuals/families within the community that are in need of Domestic Violence services, and who may be experiencing a DV crisis and/or situation; including inquiry of information about supportive services at the Marjaree Mason Center (MMC). Direct services provided by the victim advocate include but not limited to, court accompaniment, safety planning, crisis intervention and assessment, transportation to court, assistance with domestic violence restraining order applications. The Marjaree Mason Center is 24/7 operation and all employees, at any point of time, may be asked to perform other work duties from those normally assigned such as answering the hotline or working in the shelter.
Responsibilities
- Provide crisis intervention to victims of domestic violence.
- Work as a team and support the mission and goals of MMC.
- Work in collaboration with designated law enforcement agencies.
- Maintain positive working relationships with MMC staff and community partners.
- Provide information on the judicial process and legal advocacy.
- Assist clients with their applications for a Domestic Violence Restraining Orders.
- Facilitate the Legal Options Class that educates clients about various types of restraining order.
- Maintain client files through Apricot System.
- Provide client follow up, as appropriate, when requested.
- Provide court accompaniment to clients attending restraining order hearings.
- Communicate with Crisis Manager, as needed for support and supervision.
- Provide informational presentations on domestic violence as scheduled, to outside groups.
- Provide outreach to facilitate the linkage of services for victims of domestic violence.
- Develop and maintain good networking relationships with community referral agencies.
- Safeguard clients’ security and confidentiality.
- Occasional travel to locations in rural Fresno County to meet with clients.
- Daily preparation/maintenance of client records and files.
- Provide complete, accurate and timely information needed for grant reporting and management.
- Safeguard assets of MMC, including merchandise and other assets.
- Regular attendance and promptness are considered part of each employee’s essential job functions.
Requirements
- Bachelor's degree preferred not required in Social Work, Criminology or other related field.
- Six (6) months of crisis intervention experience required.
- Experience working with law enforcement preferred.
- Experience in public speaking and networking.
- Willingness to work in a team environment and on occasion independently.
- Ability to make decisions, which may have moderate to major impact on the operation of program and/or agency.
- Capacity to problem solve and use deductive reasoning while assisting clients.
- Approach to working with families in an empathic, nonjudgmental, respectful, and professional manner.
- Ability to understand the needs of families and a willingness to address their concerns with action designed to create change.
- Demonstrate ability to work with sensitivity and without discrimination towards people of diverse cultures, races/ethnicities, socio-economic positions, ages, religions, genders, physical/mental challenges/disabilities and sexual orientations.
- Ability to manage high volume of work efficiently and effectively.
- Strong oral and written communication skills.
- Strong interpersonal skills, analytical skills.
- Bilingual Spanish preferred.
- Ability to make presentations to medium to large groups.
- Sensitivity to issues pertaining to domestic violence.
Benefits
- Health (2 options $50 a month (employee only), employer paid dental, Vision & Life)
- 403b with Company Match
