Victim Advocate; DART at Family Services Inc. Poughkeepsie, NY

DART Victim Advocate Rate: $25.93 per hour Status:
Non-Exempt, Full-Time, 32 hours per week, with on-call requirement

Reports to:

Coordinator of Advocacy Function

The DART Victim Advocate acts as the liaison to the police department including co-location at the police department, providing outreach and assistance to victims who have had police contact or wish to file a police report. The DART Victim Advocate will receive referrals directly from the Police Department. This Advocate will be responsible for following up on police referrals and providing casework services to clients including crisis counseling, safety planning, advocacy, information and referrals, emergency financial assistance, and claims filing.

• Must have a bachelor’s degree in the human services or related field.
• Or 3-5 years relative work experience in human services, counseling, and/or advocacy.

• Complete and maintain training certification as NYS DOH Rape Crisis Counselor.
• Complete mandated reporter training;
  Report any behavior or implication of behavior of child abuse to the appropriate authorities.
• Must be able to get to and from various work locations throughout work shift and outside of office hours for on‑call purposes. This includes Family Services, local courts, hospitals, police departments, social services, etc.
• Strong computer skills, including a working knowledge of an e‑mail package and MS software programs:
  Word and Excel.
• Established cell phone, willing to use for work (will be reimbursed), with effective coverage for the Dutchess County area.

• Medical, dental, and vision coverage.
• 403(b) retirement plan with employer match up to 5%.
• Generous paid vacation, holiday, sick and personal time package (2 weeks’ vacation in first year, 13 paid holidays per year, 12 sick days per year and 4 personal days per year).
• Access to Family Services’ Compassionate Leave Program where employees can donate/receive unused time off.
• Group term life and long‑term disability insurance.
• Supplemental life insurance & accidental death and dismemberment coverage (AD&D).
• Supplemental insurance through Aflac.
• Employee assistance program (EAP).
• Pet insurance.

Family Services brings people together to find the support they need, improving their lives and communities, and building a stronger safer Hudson Valley.

Compassion – Extending empathy and understanding to others.

Integrity – Being honest and dependable.

Hope – Believing in the strength of the human spirit and heart, to emerge and thrive when faced with a challenge.

Diversity – Promoting a vision of community comprised of wide‑ranging assets.

Respect – Treating all individuals with dignity and without judgement.

Community – Recognizing and reinforcing the importance of our world as being comprised of people of differing strengths and perspectives.

Justice – Promoting social and economic equity and fairness.

Quality – Aspiring for excellence in every aspect of our work.

• Provide casework services to clients including crisis counseling, safety planning, advocacy, information and referrals, emergency financial assistance, and claims filing.
• Assist victims who have had police contact or wish to file a police report. Review domestic incidents and outreach to victims and officers as appropriate.
• Accompany victims of crime to hospitals, police departments, and court while providing crisis counseling, information and referrals, assistance with crime victims compensation claims, criminal justice advocacy and personal advocacy.
• Provide information and referrals to all clients in need following the agencies and departments protocol.
• Expand service reach by researching community organizations and providing community outreach through presentations and tabling events.
• Establish professional relationships and participate in bi‑weekly meetings with liaisons from the District Attorney’s Office, Police Department, Dutchess County Probation, and other community agencies, as needed.
• Participate in on‑call rotation for evening and weekend coverage of 24‑hour hotlines.
• Complete all administrative tasks as assigned on a timely basis, this includes, but is…