Shelter Advocate

Shelter Advocate

Under the direct supervision of the Program Coordinator, the Shelter Advocate provides empowerment based, survivor-defined advocacy and support consistent with Domestic Violence and Rape Crisis best practices to survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, and human trafficking, and their families residing in the Emergency Shelter Program, including assisting shelter residents with daily living needs and providing general support and shelter coverage.

Essential duties and responsibilities include:

• Providing trauma-informed direct services to survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault and human trafficking, and their children residing in an Emergency Shelter.
• Providing support, advocacy, crisis intervention, safety planning, parenting support, information, and referrals.
• Maintaining privacy and confidentiality of all participants in Project Woman programming as required by the Violence Against Woman Act federal statute.
• Utilizing Trauma-Informed Approaches, Crisis Intervention, and conflict management strategies for survivors experiencing trauma reactions.
• Assisting with the daily living needs of shelter residents.
• Providing direct service crisis intervention, resources and referrals to survivor on the 24-hour Crisis Line.
• Providing shelter orientations to survivors upon entry into shelter.
• Completing intakes (both direct service and paperwork) within 24 hours of shelter entry.
• Completing exit surveys with survivors leaving shelter, as well as required exit paperwork.
• Facilitating cooperative living, peer support, and resident participation in shelter programming.
• Modeling and actively promoting positive, nurturing interactions between adults and children in shelter.
• Assisting with the development and achievement of survivor-defined goals.
• Communicating shelter expectations and communal living guidelines to residents as outlined in the shelter intake.
• Promptly addressing difficulties or problems that arise per agency protocol; addressing any communal living conversations with residents and maintaining documentation of discussions.
• Modeling non-violent conflict resolution and using non-violent forms of guidance.
• In collaboration with shelter leadership, taking appropriate steps to deal with emergency situations with the goal of maintaining the safety of all residents.
• Collecting and maintaining survivor level data and documentation, adhering to domestic violence and sexual assault best practice standards, funding requirements, and in keeping with Violence Against Women Act statute requirements.

Other duties include:

• Creating and contributing to daily log entries to facilitate communication with co-workers, regarding survivors or program updates, and reviewing daily log entries at the start of each shift.
• Consulting regularly with Shelter Leadership throughout each shift, as necessary.
• Maintaining record keeping as required and completing all paperwork and entries into the survivor's records database by the end of each shift.
• Completing house checks, as assigned.
• Packing survivors/families' belongings, as needed; cleaning/sanitizing rooms after survivors exit; preparing room for next survivor.
• Addressing emergency facilities issues as they arise.
• Assisting with stocking and distributing food and other supplies for survivors use.
• Maintaining shelter office space in accordance with Shelter Program Procedures.
• Adhering to agency policies and work rules, including strict adherence to Project Woman confidentiality policies and code of ethics.
• Assisting with monthly emergency evacuation/preparation drills.
• Attending agency and shelter meetings, trainings, and continuing education activities, as assigned.
• Maintaining effective and cooperative relationships with community partners, participants, other employees, and volunteers.
• Consistently representing the mission and philosophy of the agency.
• Performing other duties as needed, requested, or as assigned.

Qualifications include:

• Two-year degree in human services-related field, preferred. Relevant work or lived experience may be substituted in lieu of degree.
• Knowledge of domestic violence, sexual assault, or human trafficking issues.
• Experience working in a shelter setting, strongly preferred.
• Experience in crisis intervention strategies, preferred.
• Experience working in working in domestic violence, sexual assault, human trafficking, or related fields, preferred.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Demonstrated problem-solving and organizational abilities.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office and willing to learn new technology platforms.

Knowledge, skills, and abilities include:

• General knowledge of domestic violence, sexual assault, human trafficking, social services, and community resources.
• Ability to establish and maintain professional boundaries in working with survivors and their families.
• Familiarity with Trauma-Informed Approaches, Ohio Rape Crisis Core Standards, and Crisis Intervention.
• Ability to remain calm and responsive in crisis situations.
• Ability to practice good…