JOB TITLE:

Sexual Assault Victim Outreach Advocate

HOURS:

40 hours a week. This position is grant funded with funding guaranteed through December 31st, 2021, with expectations of renewal.

SALARY/ BENEFITS:

$23.00 an hour. Verity provides generous accrual of vacation and sick time prorated at .75 FTE and 12 paid holidays annually. After the 90-day introductory period, the employee may join Verity’s health insurance plan. This position is grant funded with funding guaranteed through September 30, 2022.

REPORTS TO:

Intervention Manager

OVERVIEW:

This advocate will work primarily off-site in the field with a team, implementing crisis intervention to engage homeless and at-risk-of-homelessness victims of sexual assault and other crimes. Sexual assault includes, but is not limited to sexual abuse, human trafficking, commercial sexual exploitation, and rape. This position will provide support, advocacy, information, and connection to resources within the realm of the Family Justice Center of Sonoma County (FJCSC) and the Victim Services Division of the office of the District Attorney. This person will also work with off-site federal grant partners, and present community presentations on the dynamics of sexual assault and related crimes and the effects on homeless or at-risk-of-homelessness persons. Candidates must be committed to working with a diverse client population, providing immediate assessment, and service delivery, as required. The right candidate will have the capacity to work both independently and as a team member and to track data and system delivery daily.

Offer of position is contingent upon completion of Sonoma County District Attorney’s Office Background Check. Upon initial review of background packet, if all appears to be in order, then the paid training period of this position can begin.

MAJOR FUNCTIONS:

Crisis Intervention/Accompaniment/Advocacy Services:

·        Provide outreach services victims of sexual assault, as well as other crimes, to individuals that are homeless, or at-risk of becoming homeless, both in the field and at the FJCSC

·        Coordinate with partner agencies in to ensure broad outreach without duplication of efforts

·        Utilize crisis management skills to help support clients who may come in escalated, upset, have substance abuse, or mental health needs

·        Screen outreach clients with Vulnerability Index Service Priority Decision Assistance Tool, which is the system used to get clients into housing

·        Provide follow up & ongoing advocacy services and referrals via phone and in person to victims via case management as delineated in case notes/client plan

·        Provide accompaniment to law enforcement interviews, medical/forensic exams, court appointments/dates

Administrative:

·        Attend weekly Verity staff meetings, providing input and updates regarding client needs

·        Attend meetings at Victim Services unit of the District Attorney’s office and at least one meeting out of state annually regarding the grant and overall implementation

·        Work as a team player, collaborating effectively with other staff members

·        Collect, maintain and input timely and accurate confidential client information into Verity’s and HMIS database systems

·        Adhere to all Verity personnel policies and protocols

·        Additional duties and responsibilities as required by Executive Director or supervisor to facilitate the overall effective operation of Verity

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

KEY PERSONAL SKILLS

·        Prior experience working or volunteering in related field is required. Examples of acceptable prior experience includes (but is not limited) to previous rape crisis or domestic violence work, work supporting client with mental illness, LGBTQ+ clients, currently or formerly incarcerated clients, and clients experiencing homelessness and/or addiction.

·        State certification as a California Rape Crisis Counselor—if chosen applicant is not currently certified, the candidate must be able to complete Verity’s Crisis Line Counselor training upon hiring.

·        The selected candidate must complete and be able to pass an extensive background check

·        Ability to connect and establish trust with a diverse population of clients

·        Ability to interpret and understand instructions, write reports and document client interactions in a clear and concise manner.

·        Ability to maintain a high level of client confidentiality

·        Ability to manage a high client caseload

·        High School diploma or GED or equivalent

·        AA or BA in related field (social work, psychology, social justice, gender studies) is beneficial, but not required for the position

·        Experience in crisis intervention highly desirable

·        Bilingual in Spanish and English is strongly preferred

·        Case management and/or direct client experience is strongly preferred

·        Experience with data-entry is strongly preferred

·        Knowledge of Sonoma County community resources

·        Knowledge of and sensitivity to culturally diverse groups

·        Possesses strong common-sense skills

·        Treats others with respect, acts in a professional manner

·        Works well on a team

·        Ethical, compassionate, and social-justice-minded