Part-Time Shelter Advocate (Youth Focused

Part-Time Shelter Advocate (Youth-Focused)

This part-time Shelter Advocate position with a focus on youth advocacy provides trauma-informed domestic violence advocacy services for survivors of domestic violence residing in Shelter and in South King County. Sensitive to the emotions and experiences of survivors, the Advocate at Shelter performs crisis intervention, safety planning, resource/information sharing, and advocacy-based counseling. This person is a motivated, energetic, and quick learner driven to end violence in our communities.

Shelter Advocates commonly spend time providing compassionate support to survivors and their children while working with them to identify goals, barriers, and resources. This position will also include youth-based activities such as coordinating age-appropriate engagements and helping children build resilience and connection through creative or educational opportunities.

Benefits Include:

• 1 Self Care Day is available at the beginning of the employee's third quarter.
• Paid holidays when they fall on the employee's regularly scheduled workday.
• DAWN offers a retirement plan (401k) with a 4% company match.
• Mileage reimbursement is available for work-related travel outside the agency, according to DAWN's reimbursement policy, calculated at the current federal IRS mileage rate (excludes regular commuting).

Who We Are Looking For:

We are seeking those:

• Who have a passion for ending domestic violence, gender, racial, and economic inequality and for social justice, along with a commitment to DAWN's mission, vision, values and policies/procedures.
• Who have a deep commitment to the value that survivors know what is best for themselves and their children, and an ability to suspend personal opinions to support survivors in their choices.
• Who value diversity and have a commitment to equity in our community, reflected in both the services offered to survivors and interactions within the team.
• Who are committed to learning, being challenged and growing personally and professionally.
• Who conduct themselves in a professional manner with co-team members, clients, donors, and community members.
• Who are enthusiastic about working within a team environment with dedicated, hardworking, and passionate colleagues.

Advocacy:

• Listen, support, and provide trauma-informed, survivor-centered, empowerment-based advocacy for survivors of domestic violence and their children.
• Partner with survivors to identify safety concerns and develop individualized safety plans based on each survivor's priorities and circumstances.
• Provide information, advocacy, and connections to resources related to emergency shelter, housing, basic needs, legal services, immigration services, mental health, children's services, and other specialized supports as needed.
• Develop strong relationships with service providers and act as a liaison between clients and said providers.

• May facilitate community support groups for survivors.
• Understand institutional barriers to services and support and work with outside systems and/or providers to improve the survivor's experience navigating the system.
• Support other advocates and team members in their work through consultations, training, or providing co-advocacy, especially in the areas where the advocate may have specific expertise or experience.
• Maintain the strictest confidentiality protocols.

Child and Youth Advocacy:

• Provide trauma informed, developmentally appropriate support to children residing in the shelter.
• Support children impacted by domestic violence using strength-based approaches.
• Recognize and respond appropriately to mandated reporting obligations.
• Support children during shelter parenting classes and survivor support groups.
• Offer individual and group engagement opportunities tailored to each child's needs and developmental stage.

Program-Specific Responsibilities:

• Manage an assigned caseload or shift-based workload according to program needs.
• Provide services at shelter and main office, community sites and/or other approved locations. Must be able to travel between assigned service locations.
• Maintain a clean, safe, and sanitary shelter environment by completing assigned cleaning duties, supporting residents in following shared-space expectations, and promptly reporting maintenance, sanitation, or safety concerns to the Shelter Advocacy Supervisor.
• Complete program-specific intakes, assessments, referrals, follow-up, or systems advocacy.
• Transport clients as needed in Shelter Van to approved locations.
• Respond to emergencies (medical, fire, safety/security) in accordance with shelter emergency protocols.
• Provide shift coverage as needed to ensure continuous shelter operations.
• Other duties as assigned.

Crisis Line:

• Answer the 24-hour advocacy and support line during scheduled shifts.
• Voluntary shift allowances may be available for advocates who pick up additional crisis line coverage.

Outreach:

• Represent DAWN at community meetings and events when needed.
• Distribute materials throughout South King County to ensure…