Bilingual Victim Advocate

Salary: $19-$20.50 hourly

JOB TITLE: Bilingual Victim Advocate                          DEPARTMENT:  CHIP

LOCATION: Family Crisis Centers and Promise Community Health Center, Sioux Center, IA where you will be advocating for victims and survivors in a clinic setting

REPORTS TO:  Victim Services Coordinator

BENEFITS:  Full time position; Health, Dental & Vision Insurance, Vacation/Sick Leave, Simple IRA, Non-Exempt

PRIMARY OBJECTIVE OF THE JOB:

CHIP is a division of Family Crisis Centers.  The priority of the Community Health Integrative Program (CHIP) is to provide discrete victim services to marginalized communities.  Our division does this through providing advocacy services in free medical facilities across our region.  When a victim discloses abuse to their nurse or provider, our staff is prepared to join the patient and doctor in the exam room.      

AGENCY VALUES:

• Client Centered – Our clients come first. Meeting them where they are in their journey is a priority.  We will always carry our mission forward.
• Family – The greatest resource in carrying out our mission is our staff. Our work family positively supports each other and promotes self-care.
• Integrity – Honesty, transparency and accountability guide actions and decisions. Reliability preserves trust among clients and coworkers.
• Resilience – The ability to adjust and push forward in times of great difficulty. Able to identify, validate and address concerns.
• Synergy – Working collectively through positive collaboration. Considerate of others and use time, talent and treasure for the benefit of all. 
• Self-Awareness – Able to communicate personal limits and implement solutions. Positive contributor and empowered through a strong sense of role. 

Required Duties & Responsibilities: 

1. Provide crisis intervention, options and referrals to current and potential clients who are victims of domestic violence, relationship violence, sexual assault, stalking, human trafficking, homicide, or any other violent crime. Interactions may be in person or on the confidential agency cell phone.
2. Abide by all FCC policies and procedures, federal and state confidentiality laws.
3. Must effectively respond to referrals that arise in clinic settings or externally with the best interest of the clients.

1. Assess immediate crisis needs of clients and address appropriately.
2. Manage incoming calls, walk-ins, and complete necessary documentation including: service logs, client intakes, assessments, confidentiality and releases of information. Enter this information into the confidential database used in compliance with funding requirements and objectives.
3. Participate in staff meetings, case conferences and other meetings as needed.
4. Facilitate support groups as needed.
5. Educate clients about dynamics of domestic violence, sexual assault, and/or other violent crimes and options/resources available.
6. Meet regularly with clients to support case plan accomplishment.
7. Provide crisis intervention, safety planning, needs assessments, client accompaniment, and assist clients in identifying and fulfilling needs.
8. Advocate on clients’ behalf with the police, District Attorney’s Offices, public benefits agencies, courts, medical providers and other relevant organizations.
9. Develop and maintain strong contacts with referral agencies throughout the designated service area and provide clients with information and referrals to outside services for themselves and their relevant family members.
10. Refer clients to other agencies and resources and advocate directly with other agencies as needed to help client access necessary services.
11. Participate in an on-call rotation, if being hired to serve Sioux, Buena Vista, or Clay Counties. An on-call rotation consists of sharing crisis response duties for 7 days at a time as well as rotating Holiday coverage with co-workers. 
12. Assist with community education, trainings, and outreach to community groups and service providers to inform them about FCC and CHIP’s services and relevant issues.
13. Family Crisis Centers (FCC) does not require staff to have vaccinations, but the office location of a CHiP Victim Advocate may require any/all up to date vaccinations.
14. Other duties as assigned by Division Director.

Qualifications:

1. Excellent interpersonal, written, and oral communication skills.
2. B.A. in any human service-related field or equivalent.
3. Bilingual: Fluent in English and Spanish preferred.
4. Must be able to pass criminal and child/dependent adult abuse background checks.
5. Previous employment or volunteer work in human services, community agencies, or other related nonprofit or social change organizations a plus.
6. Excellent computer skills or willingness to learn same.

FCC is an equal opportunity employer. FCC is fair and impartial in all of its relations with its employees and applicants for employment and makes all employment related decisions without regard to race, creed, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, socio-economic status, parental responsibility, language, national origin, age, health status (including HIV-positive), physical or mental disability, or any other categories protected by federal, state, or local law.